Growth
Happy 20th
Anniversary,
Warwick
Innovation
Centre
Warwick is celebrating its 20th
anniversary by taking its very high
occupancy levels to the maximum
The University of Warwick Science
Park’s Warwick Innovation Centre has
always enjoyed high occupancy, being
between 85% and 99% occupancy at
times over the last 20 years. Now its three
wings have reached the elusive 100%
mark, but with one or two companies
moving to their own premises in
Warwickshire over the summer, there
will be space for new start-ups.
Over the last two decades, more than
150 businesses have been tenants, and
over 1,500 people have worked at the
site in Gallows Hill. Pleasingly, 53% of
Karen Aston, centre manager
of the Warwick Innovation
Centre at the University
companies who outgrew the centre
have remained in the Coventry and
Warwickshire area.
Karen Aston, who was centre manager
at the Binley Innovation Centre in
Coventry for ten years before taking up
the same role in Warwick nearly seven
years ago, said its success was due to a
number of factors.
“We have attracted start-up and
growing businesses in a wide range of
fields due to our flexibility, car-parking
“Here’s to the future!”
Councillor Dan Friend,
Sandwich Town Council
Happy Fifth Anniversary,
Discovery Park, Kent
On 11 September 2017, Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent, celebrated five
years as a Beacon of Opportunity and a multi-business science hub
The five year anniversary celebrations
came as the owners closed in on the
completion of the first phase of a £20m
investment programme.
Growing from just five companies in
2012, the site now has more than 150
5 6 | U K S PA b r e ak t h r o u g h | W I N TER 2 0 17
businesses employing some 3,000 people,
working in a world-class environment.
Toby Hunter, Chief Executive,
Discovery Park, said: “Having been in
property for 30 years, it’s an honour to
say I have never felt so proud to be part
and location to the road network, and
since some of our offices and meeting
rooms have views of Warwick Castle,”
Karen said. “Our links with the University
of Warwick have also proved really useful
to many businesses over the years,
whether it has been help with research
or setting up internships.” ■
For more information visit
warwicksciencepark.co.uk
of a business like I do with Discovery
Park. It’s an amazing place to be and a
fantastic place to work, and everyone
should be rightly proud of what they’ve
created here. So much of what we have
achieved is thanks to the help of Kent
County Council and Dover District
Council. We have never come across
a local authority who is as open for
business as DDC. Similarly, the support
from KCC is wholly down to its strong
and proactive team.”
Councillor Sue Chandler, Chairman
of Dover District Council, added:
“Everyone involved in this journey has
had an unassailable, can-do attitude,
which has brought us here today. The
benefits to our local businesses and local
economy are unquestionable.”
The team is currently working on
50,000 sq ft of new lab space in Discovery
Park House, which will create space for up
to 300 new chemists. Another enquiry for
60,000 sq ft of space is expected to bring
another 400 jobs to the park. ■
For further information visit
discovery-park.co.uk