Sci-Tech Daresbury – inspiring the people of Halton

This is a sentiment shared by Georgia McKnight, a sales administrator at Olsen Actuators. Based at the Innovation Centre, Georgia’s company has many years of experience in successfully developing and producing innovative motion control and automation systems that meet some of the world’s most challenging requirements in the aerospace and defence sectors.

“The campus has a calm, relaxing atmosphere and the people on reception are really nice to chat to,” says Georgia.

Joanne Lawes, a colleague of Georgia’s and operations manager at Olsen, adds that the campus exteriors are also a huge benefit.

“It’s a lovely environment – it's beautiful to go outside and take a walk on the canal.”

Joanne continues: “We often speak to many other businesses at the networking events the campus puts on, usually on the first Friday of the month. Many of us are small businesses so it helps to get familiar with people in likeminded positions.”

Prior to working for Olsen, Joanne had worked for both small and large businesses. After being headhunted, she visited the campus and was extremely impressed.

“I thought it was beautiful. The tower (built in the 1970’s to house the second-generation synchrotron) is amazing – you can see Manchester from there!” she says. “When I’d been looking for work previously, I was intrigued by the site – what happens there, who does it? Now I know that it’s all sorts of people doing all sorts of things – there’s so much diversity and something for everyone.

“My niece is currently working as a mechanical engineering apprentice on the campus and loves it there. There’s funding for training opportunities – it's a very exciting place to work and regardless of what you think you don't need a degree.”

The networking events are also a positive for 27-year-old Runcorn native David Banner. An alumni of Halton High, since October 2019 David has worked at campus company MCS, which aims to decarbonise heat and power in the UK’s homes by certifying low-carbon energy technologies and contractors – including heat pumps, solar, biomass, wind and battery storage. Beginning as a helpdesk analyst, he’s now a team leader.

"In addition to those events, the campus organises things like mental health first aid training and company reps can go and speak to different people in the Innovation Centre,” says David.

“The best thing for me about the campus,” he adds “is the open space. There are always places to go like the canteen, restaurants, and the gym too. It helps that I love my job – MCS is brilliant, helping you advance your career, and getting you on training courses. I didn’t know a lot about renewables before I came here, but it’s definitely a sector I want to stay in.”

Peter’s message to people growing up in Halton today is: “If you feel you need to start working after leaving school, the role for you may be at Sci-Tech Daresbury – at university you get knowledge but not hands-on experience. You learn a lot doing it practically as well as in theory here.”

Indeed, the campus has proven itself to be a location where local people can develop careers that last a lifetime. Married couple Suzanne and Nigel Henshall work as logistics operative and estates maintenance manager for STFC on campus respectively. Suzanne is a Halton native, while Frodsham born Nigel has lived in the area for 34 years. Combined, they have over 50 years of service to Sci-Tech Daresbury.

“A lot of couples have met here just like us, and there’s a lot of camaraderie and friendships. There are fantastic people that work all over on the campus,” says Suzanne. “Everyone is treated well, and the work is great.”

“It’s a family,” agreed Nigel. “Of course, people come and go and there’s always new faces, but the feeling of community doesn’t change.”

During their time in their roles, Nigel and Suzanne have seen many famous faces visit the renowned campus.

“I once shared a lift with David Cameron – I don’t think you’d get that anywhere else!”, says Nigel.

As well as leaders past and present, the campus also encourages the youngsters of today to dream big.

“We do a lot with schools,” says Suzanne. “We have many campus visits and introduce them to science and get them to come in and picture themselves as being the people that will be working here in the future."

Thanks to the ecosystem of support and training that has been created on campus there is every possibility that those Halton children visiting the campus in 2023 can look back in thirty years' time at having built their own lasting career at Sci-Tech Daresbury, with a wealth of roles available for them to achieve their potential.