Member Article

Growth in exports and jobs at technology campus

Companies based at Sci-Tech Daresbury near Warrington created more than 100 jobs in 2014 and saw a 30% uplift in sales to more than £59million, according to a new report.

Described as being ‘the UK’s leading science and innovation campus’ the site is an Enterprise Zone established as a private-public joint-venture partnership between developer Langtree, the Science and Technology Facilities Council and Halton Council.

The new study showed that of the 106 science and technology companies based at the campus, 76 recorded increased sales – worth £59.1 million - during the year.

For the past four years, Sci-Tech companies have averaged a 30% increase in sales per year. Over 60% of the firms included in the study were engaged in export sales, and these grew from 26% to 37% of total sales, equivalent to £21.8 million.

569 people are now employed within business at the site following a reported net increase of 107 jobs in 2014.

Investment also rose, with companies securing a total of £28million during the year, raised from venture capital funds, business angels and grant funding via organisations such as Innovate UK.

John Downes, chief executive of Langtree PP and director of the Sci-Tech Daresbury joint venture company, welcomed the findings.

He said: “These figures highlight the important role Sci-Tech Daresbury plays in creating the right conditions for science and innovation-based SMEs to achieve their growth ambitions.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see the rate of export growth, which is now at a record high, and that businesses are accessing new markets.

“While Europe continues to be the key export market, accounting for 42% of export sales, there has been a strong increase in exports to the Middle East, Africa and Russia.”

Mr Downes said the figures provided further encouragement for the year ahead, with some 71% of companies forecasting the recruitment of a further potential 192 people in 2015.

The report comes as the campus enters its next phase of development with work underway on two new buildings which will it is hoped will deliver up to 350 new jobs.

Galliford Try is expected to complete construction of the new Techspace One and Two buildings by summer 2016.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .