New developments for Manchester Science Parks

Manchester Science Parks is looking to the future with ambitious expansion and refurbishment plans including a brand new building to act a an ‘innovation hub’, all taking place in the next nine to 24 months.

The msp shareholder structure changed shape in April 2012 when commercial property developer, Bruntwood, acquired 51% of the company.

Since then, msp has a new chief executive in Rowena Burns, also chief operating officer at Bruntwood and chair of CityCo, and has been announced as one of the locations for secret technology project, Tomorrow, the details of which are yet to be announced.

Rowena Burns, msp Chief executive, said: “Our shareholders are passionately committed to the growth of the business, and believe that the opportunity is there to double the size of the original msp site in ten years. This was the driver behind the decision to bring in Bruntwood as the perfect investment partner, to help us to achieve our vision and to maximise our contribution to the objectives of our partners on the Corridor and the sub-region.  Bruntwood came on board in April 2012 and a new era for msp began.”

The changes on the park will begin in the last quarter of 2012 with a general refresh of existing buildings, including improvements to reception areas and common parts, to improve the working and collaborative environments for companies to help support business growth.

More extensive work will take place in the Greenheys building, where a meeting and events space will be created to form an interim central hub for the site, before the development of a new building takes place.

msp has also recently published a review of 2011 that details the achievements of its companies.

Rowena Burns said: “msp is an absolute hotbed of innovation activity, with companies developing around 200 products and services last year alone. We are passionate about emphasising the value and importance of cross sector collaboration and, as a result, two thirds of our companies have working relationships with each other.

“Those that filled in our last annual survey gave a combined annual turnover of £160m and the mean wage was £44,857, compared to the mean wage in Greater Manchester of £29,339. Over 80% of companies are more than five years old and have better than average survival rates  - the message is clear; companies based at msp do better.

“We have ambitious growth plans . We will extend our office and laboratory space and develop a heart for the Park, where businesses, academics, freelancers, clinicians, inventors and more can come together, find common purpose, collaborate and do business.

“We are moving away from traditional landlord-tenant relationships and developing a community whose own networks, shared services and local contracting arrangements are an intrinsic part of its identity, and whose members can access services and facilities according to their needs at any given point.

“We will improve our buildings to reflect their use and make them desirable, modern places. As the figures show, we are building on great foundations and the new developments will capitalise on msp’s existing success as home to a vibrant and active community of innovative businesses.”

msp’s 2011 Review is available to read online under the ‘About msp’ section of the website.

Ends.

www.manchesterscienceparks.co.uk
@McrSciParks

To arrange an interview with Rowena Burns, for more information on msp, or for a hard copy of the review, please contact Gemma Hargreaves: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 0161 232 4595