feature

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary

The Technology Partnership (TTP), one of Melbourn’s largest business residents, is celebrating its 25th anniversary and while you may know where TTP is based, do you know what innovative ideas have been produced from inside Melbourn Science Park? It isn’t all circuit boards and printers, the inventions are surprisingly diverse: from laboratory equipment to lawn mowers, and from digital radios to confectionery packaging.

Over 25 years ago, TTP was established to create a worldleading technology and development organisation. Today that enterprise has evolved and grown into TTP Group, a range of businesses focussed on meeting the needs of companies planning to flourish through the use of technology and innovation.

As the majority of TTP’s ideas are snapped up by household name companies under strict confidentiality agreements, you will not see extravagant advertisements shouting about the work TTP does. Most of the projects are kept secret and will never be discussed outside the walls of the headquarters building, which has gained TTP a great deal of trust with its clients. There are however some products TTP is able to boast about; asthma inhalers that incorporate dosage counters, technology which allows air passengers to use mobile phones that do not interfere with flight equipment, digital print systems that are revolutionising packaging, household energy monitors, DAB radios along with wireless technologies that will take advantage of the whitespaces left behind by unused TV channels.

Besides developing leading technology within a range of industries including engineering, life science and communications, TTP is also dedicated to developing a creative environment at Melbourn Science Park, the company’s home since TTP was first created in 1987. Originally occupying a building known as ‘the rat hole’ due to its dilapidated state, (the building was already earmarked for demolition) staff worked from a makeshift desk constructed out of two trestles and a door in the boiler room. Six months later. they moved into brand new premises and the business growth accelerated.

As the enterprise has grown, new companies have been created, some of which have remained within TTP Group, while others have been sold, demerged or floated. The joint venture, Wavedriver, was formed in 1993; in 1997 The Automation Partnership (TAP) was formed and then demerged in 1998, TAP left the park and are now located in Royston. 1997 also saw the reorganisation of the group under the new parent TTP Group plc. In 1999 the new headquarters were occupied, soon after in 2000, TTPCom was floated on the London Stock Exchange and TTP Group acquired the Melbourn Science Park.

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2001 saw the formation of TTP Labtech Ltd who focus on bringing innovative instrumentation to the life scientist to create process efficiencies. It provides state-of-the-art solutions for specific product areas including: cell-based screening, sample management, liquid handling and the management of analytical automation.

TTP hit a 70% export target in 2008 and gained recognition as a leader in technology export by being awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. 2012 has seen Tonejet, a break-through digital printing company, become a wholly owned subsidiary. The jubilee year also provided a gala celebration for the 25th anniversary being held in London. All 300 staff and their guests were treated to a weekend away in London, including an evening with fine dining, excellent entertainment and dancing into the night.

Since the acquisition in 2000, Melbourn Science Park Ltd have continued to maintain the parkland. The Garden Planning and Design Company have been contracted since 2002 to carry out a rolling program of reinstatement and improvements to ensure that as well as complementing the modern architecture on the park, the landscaping is beneficial to the wildlife habitats. The best example of this is the lake in front of the da Vinci Building which is home to ducks and moorhens, and is regularly visited by the local heron.

To complement the natural beauty of Melbourn Science Park, in 2004 TTP commissioned four sculptures to be designed which would also provide outdoor furniture for staff. Three of the pieces were designed by Ben Fowler of Fowler & Co, and are based on the elements sun, wind and water. The sun is represented by an impressive three metre slate-topped sundial that doubles as a table; the wind shown as a twelve metre long, beautifully finished curved seat that is supported by thirty four-metre-high sweet chestnut poles which respond to the wind; and the water through six highly polished stainless steel benches, positioned in a semi-circle in a clearing, and reflecting (in the same way as water) the trees, grass and sky so that the benches become almost invisible. The fourth item was designed by Petter Southall of the itre studio outside Bridport, Dorset. Southall created a bench featuring solid oak rings using steam bending techniques. TTP’s staff are encouraged to use these pieces and the rest of the parkland, not only during lunch breaks but for informal meetings and creative thinking. There is also a tennis court for staff to use if they need to let off steam.

TTP Group currently inhabits 42% of the buildings on the park; other tenants include Specialist Dental Partners, Elsinore Foods, a specialist food importer, and Prime Physio, whose specially adapted building looks after those with sports injuries or in need of specialist therapy. Earlier in 2012 we had the pleasure of hosting an event with Prime Physio, who were helping to launch the new Ekso exoskeleton to the UK.

As TTP Group has grown, it has created numerous jobs in fields such as engineering, science and business services. Many of the staff employed live locally and are able to take advantage of the excellent travel links and facilities available on their doorstep. By supporting local facilities such as the Melbourn Sports Centre, TTP are able to provide their staff with access to swimming, squash and gym facilities; as well as taking advantage of the amenities in the village. Impromptu meetings in the local pubs are a regular occurrence.

Outside Melbourn Science Park, TTP is an active supporter of charities and community projects including Wallace Cancer Care, Cambridge Wordfest and the Cambridge Film Festival, and of course, the award winning Melbourn Magazine. For more information about TTP visit www.ttp.com

Black Horse Melbourn

It’s been six months since Steve and Kerry Harrington took over the reins at The Black Horse and what a six months it has been.

Steve and Kerry came to Melbourn nearly two years ago to take over the management of the then refurbished Dolphin Public House. They both very quickly settled into the Melbourn way of life and decided there and then that this was the place that they finally wanted to call home. That opportunity arose when the occupancy of The Black Horse became available.

Steve says “It was a risk for us as we were leaving the security of a big company to take on what was a run down village pub. The main attraction for us was the very loyal following that the pub had from a small pocket of locals and that there was plenty of scope to build upon.”

Steve and Kerry have seen a complete refurbishment of the pub including a completely new bar that has pool, darts and live sporting events shown. They have gone back to the old fashioned way of running a pub with two bars. This allows the younger clientele to watch football or play a game of pool without interfering with anyone else. Regular entertainment has been introduced with acoustic nights, quiz nights and discos. They also offer a selection of traditional home cooked food lunch times and evenings. (for times, visit their website www.theblackhorsemelbourn.co.uk)

They have had the most fantastic Christmas and New Year and thanks to the support given by the villagers, the pub has seen a significant increase in its trade which if it continues will secure the pubs future whilst so many other village pubs are closing.

Steve and Kerry’s philosophy is that this is a local’s local purely for the use of the villagers.

Coming up for the summer months will see a new petanque court being built in the garden and a new BBQ area for those long lovely summer evenings.

Steve Kerry and their staff offer a warm and friendly welcome to this pretty picturesque village local

The Black Horse – The Local’s Local