Europe’s leading science, business and enterprise park is celebrating 2 successful milestones as it completes its first successful year and sees its tenants grow to 50.
Following its launch in August 2012, Discovery Park Enterprise Zone, based at Sandwich in East Kent, is now home to 50 businesses and employs over 1,300 staff in a wide variety of sectors such as life sciences, technology, business and manufacturing, with tenants including Augean, Mylan, LGC, Peakdale Chemistry Services, Reeves, Cleantec Innovation and Digital Detective. In June of this year Estover Energy also announced its proposal to develop a £65 million biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant at the Park to supply power to the site and energy to 20,000 homes.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said:
“A year ago we gave Sandwich the impetus to recover from Pfizer’s departure. Since then Discovery Park has created 1,300 jobs and attracted 50 new companies, turning it into one of the leading science and technology centres in Europe.
“This is further proof that Enterprise Zones are backing the industries of the future, rebalancing the economy by creating new jobs across the country and making the UK a great place to do business.”
Anna Stone, Leasing Manager, Discovery Park, said:
“This has been an exciting year for the whole team as we develop the Park’s reputation as a leading science, technology and business hub, and we are delighted to welcome our 50th tenant on board. The Park is now starting to buzz with new businesses and opportunities, which is great news for the tenants and for the wider area, who will benefit from the investment and business opportunities.
“We believe that offering such a diverse range of services in one location – from laboratories to incubator space, specialist niche manufacturing and research and development facilities to warehouse units and high spec offices – is a unique proposition and one which we sets Sandwich apart from its competitors. In addition, our tenants have been able to take full advantage of the benefits of the site’s Enterprise Zone status, 0% interest loans from Expansion East Kent, and the government funded tax reliefs for science companies as an incentive.
“Our vision is quite simple, to create a world class science, technology and business location, offering excellent facilities – including a gym, an artisan bakery, restaurant and cafés, tenant benefit schemes and high speed broadband across the site. To ensure the Park continues to evolve, we are committed to responding to market demand and offer bespoke, tailored packages to meet the needs of all businesses – large or small.”
Discovery Park is one of the largest business parks in Europe and its specialist focus on science and technology has enabled it to create a unique platform for emerging and established companies in the fields of biotechnology; life science; pharmaceuticals; research and development; science and technology, to connect, share knowledge and expertise. The Enterprise Zone has demonstrated steady growth and it says its aim to generate 3,000 new jobs by 2017 well underway.
For more information see http://www.discovery-park.co.uk/.
