The Chancellor of the Exchequer has Lauded the Start of Enterprise Zone Status

George Osborne made the comments following the news that four new high-tech companies have taken advantage of Enterprise Zone status at Sci-Tech Daresbury since the start of the year.

The businesses join three existing companies at Vanguard House, the first development at the campus to take on Enterprise Zone status. All seven companies will now enjoy the benefits associated with Enterprise Zone status, including eligibility for business rates relief.

The new arrivals, LPW Technology, Inventya, Perceptive Engineering, and the transport sector of Amor Group, come from a variety of sectors, including advanced engineering and materials, business technology and environmental technology.

Mr Osborne said:

“This new high-tech investment is great news for Cheshire and the broader North West. Enterprise Zones such as Daresbury are a key part of the Government’s Plan for Growth, and are giving a shot in the arm to the private sector in regions around the country.”

“The companies investing in Daresbury will be able to benefit from superfast broadband, discounted business rates and simplified planning rules. I wish every success to the companies who are investing.”

Three of the new arrivals have relocated from satellite bases at Sci-Tech Daresbury’s Innovation Centre, after experiencing organic growth and expansion.

LPW Technology, which offers a range of metal powders and consultancy services relating to Laser Metal Deposition and Powder Bed/Additive Metal Manufacture within the Aerospace, Turbine, Medical and Petrochemical industries, has relocated from off campus.

Inventya, market intelligence providers for science, engineering and technology ventures, arrived on campus as a two-person start-up in 2007.

The company, which relocated to Vanguard House from the Daresbury Innovation Centre now has 15 employees and is working on an ERDF-funded project to establish the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation with Lancaster University and the University of Liverpool., amongst other projects.

Specialist Advanced Process Control company, Perceptive Engineering, which has a global scope of operations with key markets in highly energy intensive or high-value manufacturing, has also relocated from Daresbury Innovation Centre.

The transport arm of global business technology solutions company Amor Group has also made the move from Daresbury Innovation Centre, following a multi-million pound acquisition of Daresbury-based airport operational system specialist, FS Walker Hughes, last year.

The new companies join biotechnology firms Byotrol and Arcis Biotechnology and energy management specialists Optimised Energy Solutions, which are already established at Vanguard House.

Enterprise Zone status will allow business rates to be reinvested in the campus to provide important new campus support infrastructure and also specialist office, laboratory and technical space which could create up to 10,000 skilled jobs.

Professor John Womersley, Chief Executive at STFC and Chair of the Sci-Tech Daresbury Joint Venture Board, said:

“This most recent influx of companies to Vanguard House gives us confidence that there will be a strong pipeline of companies wanting to relocate to Daresbury SIC as we develop and expand as part of our growth as an Enterprise Zone.”

“The new arrivals highlight Daresbury’s continuing ability to attract a strong mix of high-tech, high-quality businesses. They also demonstrate the campus’ success at nurturing SMEs and providing an innovative and collaborative environment which allows them to thrive and grow.”

John Leake, Sci-Tech Daresbury Business Development Manager said:

“Enterprise Zone status has allowed Daresbury to think big and expand our horizons – we have a twenty-year vision to create a ‘technology village’ which will deliver as many as 15,000 highly skilled jobs and attract new international technology businesses to the North West.”

“It’s exciting to see our vision starting to take shape at Vanguard House and we are looking forward to seeing more companies relocating to the campus – attracted by our state of the art facilities and the culture of collaboration and innovation which abounds at Sci-Tech Daresbury.”