Bringing Science Back to Science Parks

Despite continuing depressed economic conditions impacting on regional growth, there are a huge number of success stories across the Science and Technology sector where start-ups and SME’s have been able to take advantage of development grants and support from UKTI and the private sector. The success of Science Parks in attracting companies over the last decade has varied considerably and remains highly competitive with contrasting outcomes. Agenda 1 is a thriving Bradford-based analytical services lab which is at the forefront of a encouraging
other scientific companies to take up occupancy at the Listerhills Science and Technology Park.

Adjacent to the University of Bradford and one mile from Bradford City, the park had originally been home to bio pharmaceutical company, Nektar Therapeutics, their facilities consisting of several million pounds worth of state of the art equipment, including a ‘clean room’ for drug product manufacture. When the company closed 60 jobs were lost, offices were left empty and thousands of pounds worth of equipment removed.

Ian Siragher, Managing Director of Agenda 1, said: “I still remember the frustration I felt as £1million pounds worth of investment was ripped out to meet the landlords (quite correct) requirements to return the premises to their original condition. A necessary step – but a great loss to the Bradford area in terms of capabilities – the next such facility is
probably 50 miles away.”

Now occupying nearly half of the square footage left by Nektar, Agenda 1 has invested around £500,000 in new equipment and provides bespoke analytical solutions to clients locally and internationally; but it remains as one of
the very few companies focused on the science industry today. The company is actively encouraging other scientific
businesses to the site by offering access to fully equipped labs which are maintained to cGMP quality standards.

“Bio-incubator provision for start-ups will often supply the shell of a building with basic services, but the companies may still need to provide their own equipment,” Ian Siragher commented. “As an R&D centre at Listerhills, we can provide start-ups with a walk-in facility where they can drop in and run their experiments; we can also perform the
analytical work so they can concentrate on research and getting the science right without having to initially invest in costly products and equipment. We can also manage certain aspects of their business for example with ordering equipment and administration tasks.”

He felt Listerhills’ offered potential for more established SME’s with occupancy bringing mutual benefits: “What I would really like to see is a company specialising in synthesis and scale-up processes to locate at the park
which could provide a service for next stage development, complimenting the analytical service offerings. Agenda 1 has definitely brought science back to the science park. I urge other science based companies to join us at Listerhills, where we have the nucleus for a thriving science hub.

Bradford’s economy was originally driven by textiles but now its time for science to step forward and take the leading role for the future of the city,” he concluded.