University of Warwick Science Park

University of Warwick Science Park

Type	Private (Limited liability)
Industry	Science and technology
Founded	1984
Headquarters	Coventry, United Kingdom
Key people	Professor Nigel Thrift, Chairman David Grindrod, Acting Director
Products	Property Incubation Technical Marketing Business Angel Network Innovation Consultancy
Number of employees	25
Website	www.uwsp.co.uk

The University of Warwick Science Park (also known as UWSP and Warwick Science Park) was one of the first university based science parks in the United Kingdom when it was opened by the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher in 1984.^[1] It was a joint venture between the University of Warwick, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Barclays. The latter are no longer shareholders having been replaced by WM Enterprise. The University of Warwick agreed in 2011 to purchase the shareholding of Coventry City Council.^[2] The acquisition was completed in 2012 and today the Science Park is wholly owned by the University of Warwick. UWSP currently covers four sites; the main campus abutting the University of Warwick, the Business Innovation Centre in Binley, Warwick Innovation Centre on Warwick Technology Park and Blythe Valley Innovation Centre near Solihull.

UWSP typically provides office and lab space for 145 businesses employing more than 1800 people.

History

The University of Warwick Science Park was established in 1984 by the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick, Lord Butterworth.^[3] The first building, the Barclay's Venture Centre (now the Venture Centre) was formally opened by UK Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher on 24 February 1984. In 2004, UWSP was awarded the 'Incubator of the Year' award by UKBI.^[4] The founding Director of UWSP, David Rowe, was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2006.^[5] In 2012 the University of Warwick acquired sole ownership of the Science Park.

Facilities

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick Science Park’s main 42-acre campus is centred on the Venture Centre. It includes a further twenty buildings, some of which are owner occupied whilst others are leased. Many of the buildings on UWSP's campus are named after old British car models. The main buildings include:
The Venture Centre
Herald Court
Sovereign Court
Riley Court
Vanguard Centre
Viscount Centres

Warwick Innovation Centre

Warwick Innovation Centre opened at Warwick Technology Park in 1997 as a joint venture between UWSP and Warwickshire County Council. Further developments followed in 1999 & 2001 providing 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m²) of lettable space.

Business Innovation Centre

The 34,000 sq ft (3,200 m²) Business Innovation Centre at Binley, Coventry opened in April 2000 as a joint venture between UWSP and Coventry City Council.

Blythe Valley Innovation Centre

UWSP manages the 30,000 sq ft (3,000 m²) Innovation Centre at Blythe Valley Business Park on behalf of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Prologis and British Land.

Activities

In addition to property services, UWSP offers a range of business support activities targeted at innovation led SMEs.

Investment Readiness (Connect Midlands)

Connect Midlands is a not-for-profit network, that supports technology and high growth companies to gain investment through training and mentoring, investment showcasing, and networking between businesses, investors and the professional services community in the Midlands. Since 2001 Connect Midlands has assisted hundreds of companies who have gone on to raise over £200 million in investment.

Access to Finance (Minerva)

UWSP hosts and manages the Business Angel Network, Minerva. MiNErVA is actually an acronym for Midlands Network of Entrepreneurs, Venturers and Angels. In addition to supporting a community of high-net-worth individuals, Minerva undertakes investment readiness consultancy and raises finance from banks and venture capital funds. UWSP has also managed a number of seed investment funds including the fully invested UWSP Concepts Fund and the £7m Advantage Proof of Concept Fund.

Technical Marketing (Techmark)

Techmark has provided marketing services to established, start-up and pre-start technology businesses since 1996. Services include market exploration, market development, strategic planning, marketing execution and overseas market access.

Incubation (Ignite)

Ignite provides mentoring and subsidised incubator space for start-up, knowledge led firms. This is spread across three sites, the main campus, Warwick Innovation Centre and the Business Innovation Centre.

Incubation (Labstart)

Labstart provides subsidised offices and laboratory space for start-up technology businesses on UWSP's main campus.

Incubation (UK Market Access Centre)

The UK Market Access Centre provides a blend of subsidised office space and professional service support for foreign owned companies seeking to establish UK trading arms. Warwick Science Park is one of the founding members of the UK Market Access Program.

See also

• List of science parks in the United Kingdom

References

1. "." Insider Media. Retrieved on 13 July 2011. "Rowe's Rollercoaster""
2. "." BBC News. Retrieved on 13 July 2011. "Plans to Sell off Warwick Science Park"
3. "." University of Warwick. Retrieved on 13 July 2011. "History"
4. "".IC Birmingham Retrieved on 13 July 2011. "Science Park is Best in Country"
5. "." The Independent Retrieved on 13 July 2011. "The Queen's Award"