The new owner of a science park on Teesside says it wants to take the UK’s science sector out of London and into regions like the North East.
The Wilton Centre, near Redcar, has recently undergone a £2m refurbishment and is under new ownership following the £120m merger between its former owner Trinity IM and BioCity Group.
New owner We Are Pioneer Group (WAPG) is the UK’s largest network of science parks, with nine sites that are home to more than 600 businesses.
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The company says the Wilton site was ideally placed to take advantage of Government investment in the Tees Valley and the creation of Teesside’s freeport.
On a visit to the site, Toby Reid, WAPG’s executive director, said: “The focus for the science industry has been London-centric for far too long. Innovation happens around the UK.
“Through an integrated approach of investment, venture development and real-estate, WAPG creates an ecosystem in which pioneering businesses can scale and grow. From the Wilton Centre, we will build meaningful links to the academics, governments, councils, researchers, and pharmaceutical firms that are critical for success.”
WAPG said its refurbishment is aimed to help companies at the Wilton Centre to collaborate more. It is also offering advice on investment and scaling up to tenants.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has praised the centre, saying: “The Wilton Centre is already home to businesses who are world leaders in finding solutions to some of our biggest challenges – from coronavirus to plastic recycling – and that shows that if you want a rewarding career at the cutting edge of science you don’t have to move to Oxford, Cambridge or London.”
He added: “The new areas are on a par with anything you would see at the HQ of a big city business. They are bound to attract more businesses to the growing success story of the Wilton Centre and the Tees Valley.”
