Sci-Tech Daresbury has announced the strategic partner organisations which will enhance business support services for high-tech SMEs based on the site.

DWF, Dow Schofield Watts, Giles, Grant Thornton, IBM, Lloyds TSB Commercial, Marks & Clerk and the University of Liverpool have been named as Sci-Tech Daresbury’s Gold Partners for the period 2012 to 2013. 

The Gold Partners are a select group of partner companies which offer high-level strategic support for Sci-Tech Daresbury companies in areas such as intellectual property, risk management, financial and tax management, corporate finance, legal services, scientific research, banking and cloud solutions.

The partners will provide the 110 SMEs based at the science and innovation site with access to specialist skills and advice through free surgery sessions.

John Downes, group chief executive at joint venture partner, developer and investor, Langtree, said:

“High-growth SMEs require better access to high level expertise and strategic business advice, particularly in areas such as CEO-level company management, finance and attracting investment.

“Sci-Tech Daresbury’s Gold Partner scheme addresses those needs directly and gives businesses access to the additional guidance they need at a critical point in their growth. We are delighted to have the eight Gold Partners on board, a number of whom have been working with us on this programme for two years already, and are confident that their varied areas of expertise will prove hugely valuable to the SMEs on site.”

The Gold Partner programme is one of several benefits open to science and technology businesses that start up or relocate to Sci-Tech Daresbury, along with access to a wide-range of opportunities and expertise including access to markets and key customers, business collaborations, funding and investment, and key skills through the Daresbury network. Sci-Tech Daresbury also achieved Enterprise Zone status earlier this year, which allows business rates to be reinvested in the site to provide important new support infrastructure and specialist office, laboratory and technical space.