Investment now

Volume 20 No 3 June/July 2011

ISSN 1475-0813

Patisserie Valerie opens in Peterborough.

CONTENTS People and places in the news .........................................................................pages 2-4 Around the counties .........................................................................................pages 5-9 Universities...................................................................................................pages 10-16

INfocus PEOPLE AND PLACES IN THE NEWS

ECI invests ÂŁ12m million in Stewart Group

ECI, the leading UK mid-market private equity specialist, has invested ÂŁ12m in Croydon-based Stewart Group Holdings Ltd in a BIMBO (buy-in / management buyout) deal that values the business at ÂŁ17m.

Stewart is the UK market leader in the manufacture and supply of technical plastic moulded products for the gardening, home, professional catering and medical storage sectors. The company offers a large range of products in its portfolio ranging from garden planters and propagators, to food containers and specialist storage products for medical applications. The company employs 75 people in Croydon and enjoyed a turnover in 2010 of ÂŁ15 million. Richard Butler, who joins as the Group CEO, brings significant knowledge of the advanced technical plastics sector from working for leading manufacturers in the aerospace and automotive sector.

Lee Mowle, the current owner and CEO, will remain with the business as Managing Director of the gardening and catering divisions and retains a substantial shareholding in the company.

Three other senior managers within Stewart are also becoming shareholders in the business as part of the transaction.

Ken Lindsay and Eleanor Blagbrough led the transaction for ECI, and Ken will join the Board following completion.

Stewart is a very long-established UK manufacturing business. Its clients include the major DIY stores such as Homebase, homeware stores including Wilkinson, wholesalers such as Booker, and more than 600 independent garden centres, with Dobbies among its clients.

Stewart also works with a number of specialist catering distributors. Most people will find they have a Stewart Plastics product somewhere in their home, either in the garden or in the kitchen.

First incorporated in 1945, Stewart has a long and chequered history. Listed on the London Stock Exchange in the

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1960s, it was acquired by Bunzl in 1985 and underwent its first buyout in 1999.

Having seen the business deteriorate and become loss-making, Lee Mowle, the current owner, acquired it with a partner in 2003 and became CEO, taking full ownership in 2008. During this time, Lee reversed the company’s declining fortunes, generating strong growth through a focus on new product innovation and outstanding customer service.

Despite the recession, the company has grown strongly on the back of positive consumer demand for gardening products. Its success is driven by trends

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including an ageing population which has more time to garden, an increasing culture of ‘grow your own’, healthy and organic eating, and growing interest in gardening as a leisure pastime.

With ECI’s investment, the business plans to accelerate its already successful product innovation strategy, and will pursue targeted acquisitions of complementary product businesses in its existing core markets. It will also use Richard Butler’s experience to expand into new markets which can benefit from its unusually strong and wide technical capabilities.

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INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

New patisserie for Peterborough CELEBS retreat, Patisserie Valerie, has opened in Peterborough, creating over 20 – 25 new jobs and bringing a cornucopia of wicked indulgence!

The official opening took place in June in the newly revamped Cathedral Square.

The Peterborough opening comes hard on the heels of a year in which the Company has surged out of its London base and become a truly national presence on High Streets with a 50+% increase in the number of outlets across the Country.

The rapid expansion has already seen thousands of new customers and businesses try its clever combination of early morning breakfasts, delivered catering, wedding cakes and a dazzling array of indulgent offerings.

This combination has seen the chain carving out

a high street niche not met by traditional coffee house chains or cake shops – with plans to continue this expansion for the rest of this year and next.

Patisserie Valerie’s Chief Executive Officer Paul May said: “We are delighted to be opening in Peterborough and have already received lots of help and support from Opportunity Peterborough and a warm welcome from the Mayor’s Office. Now we want to open our doors to the good people of Peterborough.”

Steve Bowyer, Head of Economic Development at Opportunity Peterborough, welcomed the arrival of the new café: “We believe that the works in and around Cathedral Square have transformed it into one of the finest squares in the Country.

“It’s great that Patisserie Valerie has recognised

Peterborough’s potential and is helping to deliver the economic investment that we all hoped for. They are a high quality operator, in a high quality location.”

Paul continues: “Despite the current climate of doom and gloom, we have been able to bring investment and new jobs to the UK’s high streets. If anything the enthusiasm of the public has taken us by surprise.

“We look for high quality shopping venues in which to open and Cathedral Square in Peterborough fits the bill perfectly.”

Founded in 1926 by a Belgian – Madame Valerie, Patisserie Valerie has, over the years welcomed many celebrities though its doors where they and others can indulge themselves, whilst watching the world go by.

Chief Executive of ‘Titanic Belfast’ appointed

BELFAST’S most iconic visitor attraction moves closer to completion with the appointment of Chief Executive, Tim Husbands. In his role of Chief Executive Tim will be responsible for the overall operations of the visitor attraction, including banqueting and conferencing facilities, hospitality and ancillary services.

‘Titanic Belfast’, Northern Ireland’s largest ever tourism project is expected to attract around 400,000 visitors per year.

Overlooking the site where the famous liner was built ‘Titanic Belfast’ is a land-

mark attraction occupying 140,000 sq. ft. over seven floors and will be the cornerstone of the wider Titanic Quarter development.

Building work is on schedule for completion by March 2012, in time to mark the centenary of RMS Titanic’s maiden voyage a month later.

Conal Harvey, Deputy Chairman of Titanic Belfast Ltd (left), welcomes Tim Husbands, the new Titanic Belfast Chief Executive, on board. Titanic Belfast is pictured in the background.

Somerset leads the way in attracting foreign investment NEW changes to the Tier 1 immigration rules will make it easier and faster for foreign entrepreneurs and investors with large amounts of money to invest to come here, in a move aimed to give a boost to the country’s economy and encourage innovation to lift the country out of recession.

For counties like Somerset, which already has a dedicated inward investment team, this is welcome news. The Into Somerset team has been targeting foreign investors for some time in order to raise awareness of the vast range of opportunities within the county, particularly in thriving industries such as renewable and low carbon energy, aerospace and advanced engineering, business services and much more.

Exciting developments in the renewable and low carbon energy markets in particular offer an exceptional opportunity for both UK-based and foreign investors. The renewable energy industry is set for significant growth as traditional energy sources become less readily available and ever more costly, and Somerset is perfectly positioned in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of ideal solar conditions below the M4 corridor, meaning it is a perfect location for harnessing solar energy. It boasts some of the most progressive renewable energy initiatives in the country, including a ground mounted PV array, which will be one of the very first of its type in the country.

Meanwhile, EDF Energy’s plans to build a third-generation nuclear power station at Hinkley Point on the Somerset coast will see £10billion of investment generated between now and 2018 if the project goes ahead. The development would provide 20-25,000 jobs during the

construction phase, with around 5,600 people working on the site during the peak construction period and many more in the supply chain off site. In its initial stages, this would involve a huge range of industries, from design and construction companies to professional services, catering suppliers and much more, providing numerous opportunities for inward investors of all sizes and across a broad range of disciplines.

Rupert Cox, Chief Executive of inward investment body Into Somerset, comments: “At Into Somerset, we have been liaising with overseas companies for some time and welcoming many of them to Somerset to find out more about the vast range of investment opportunities available here. We’ve had a lot of interest, particularly from French investors looking to link into the proposed nuclear new build at Hinkley Point, so these latest changes to the immigration policy are very welcome.”

Somerset is a prime location for inward investment due to its excellent road and rail links, meaning London is only two hours away, whilst a choice of international airports mean that Europe and the rest of the world are within easy reach.

Many entrepreneurs are also attracted to Somerset because of its cost-effective commercial property, which tends to be at least a third cheaper than in London and the South East. Top UK broadband connectivity rates and a strong business support network are also important factors, and Somerset has the advantage of being able to balance all of this with good schools, affordable housing, clean air, low pollution and easy access to both coast and country.

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INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

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The Business Property Register is an ideal point of reference for companies or individuals looking for property in which to start a new business venture, relocate or expand an existing business.

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INfocus AROUND THE COUNTIES County unites behind new drive to ‘Celebrate Cheshire’ PLANS have been unveiled for a major event to showcase Cheshire’s world-class business credentials.

‘Celebrate Cheshire’ – a large-scale, two-day ‘business expo’ at Chester Racecourse – will aim to unify the private, public and voluntary sectors across the subregion behind a dynamic, new approach.

This will see Cheshire taking an unprecedented step in promoting the area nationally and internationally to potential inward investors, as part of a cohesive and coordinated strategy.

Private sector-led, it already has the backing of locally-based blue chip companies, including M&S Money; Birchwood Park, Warrington; Bank of America; Bentley Motors and Grosvenor.

These are alongside Mornflake and Urenco, as well as prominent figures, such as David Briggs, the LordLieutenant of Cheshire, and Neville Chamberlain, Chairman of Cheshire Business Leaders.

Neville Chamberlain explained: “People know Cheshire for the rolling countryside and beautiful views.

But most people are just travelling through by train, road or air.

“They know about our excellent transport links – but not about the world-class businesses based here, the world-class innovation taking place here and the worldclass opportunities we have here.

“Now it’s time to tell that story. Cheshire and Warrington’s private sector felt a major event like this was needed to showcase all Cheshire has to offer and to promote the area to a wider audience.

“We believe there is currently a lack of awareness about the type of high-tech companies operating in the Greater Cheshire Region today and the scale and quality that exists in sectors, such as

manufacturing, logistics, innovation and science.

“We want investors and businesses to take a completely fresh look at the unique proposition Cheshire offers.”

More than business space on offer in Warrington WARRINGTON Borough Council launched the Warrington Annual Property Review 2011 at Warrington Business School recently.

The event was attended by agents, developers and property professionals from across the region.

This is the thirteenth year of the market review, compiled by BE Group, which provides an overview on movements in the commercial and industrial property market, together with details of deals and strategic developments within the town.

The key message was that Warrington has more to offer than just business space, and is getting development off the ground to become a more rounded economy.

BE group director Vince Sandwell presented the findings of the report at the event, and Andy Farrall, executive director of environment and regeneration at the council, also gave a presentation.

He highlighted the town’s achievements and gave an update on plans for regeneration and growth already well

underway.

He said: “The word ‘regeneration’ doesn’t really appear any more in what we’re trying to do. It’s about economic growth, both in the sub-region and Warrington itself. We’ve focused on key sites in the town centre and some from outside, like Daresbury, that can make a difference.

“The criticism has always been that Warrington has business space but nothing else, but that is changing. The Orford Park project is coming to fruition, which is a major Olympic legacy project, and Decathlon start onsite with their store next month. A hotel will also be onsite next month at the Gulliver’s Sankey Valley resort, where the corporate offer is being improved and we’re progressing with Peel on the Port Warrington scheme as part of the Atlantic Gateway.”

Big names are still attracted to Warrington though, as evidenced by occupiers Rolls Royce, Asda and The Hut amongst others appearing in the deals tables.

Liverpool Waters chosen as EZ EARLIER this year David Cameron confirmed that an enterprise zone, where tax breaks and fast-track planning will attract new businesses will be set up in Liverpool’s northern docklands. The Liverpool Waters development, earmarked for skyscrapers and 14,000 apartments, was picked as the location for the flagship measure in the Budget. The move will drive attempts to bring more private investment to the £5.5bn scheme.

Companies moving into the enterprise

zone will enjoy business rate relief of £55,000 per year for up to five years, providing a powerful incentive.

Merseyside councils will also keep all the receipts from business rate growth for at least 25 years to spend on their own priorities. The zone will also be eligible for government cash to introduce superfast broadband connections. Chancellor George Osborne said the measure would help struggling areas attract ‘enduring growth and jobs’.

Ambitious plans for the event in late summer were revealed as Cheshire-based businesses, major organisations and local authorities came together for the launch in the Long Room at Chester Racecourse.

The aim of the ‘expo’ will be to highlight the ‘Cheshire Factors’, which have contributed to the subregion’s success as the strongest economy – worth more than £22bn – in the North West of England and will set out Cheshire’s compelling proposition for economic investment and business relocation to as wide an audience as possible The event on September 16 and 17 will promote Cheshire’s successful businesses, its skilled workforce, training and educational facilities, as well as property and development opportunities.

It will also mark one of the first key projects backed

by Cheshire and Warrington’s new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the groundbreaking Festival of Britain, the move will see the Greater Cheshire Region – home to the renowned Daresbury Science & Innovation campus, Capenhurst Technology Park and the world-famous Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics – put its science, skills and innovation credentials to the fore.

It will aim to lure talent and investment through the area’s unique proposition in terms of support and infrastructure for innovation, relocations and new start ups, combined with its promise of some of the best quality of living, as well as education and training facilities.

The project will put Cheshire at the forefront of Government plans for locally-originated growth initiatives backed by effective private and public sector partnership working.

The South of France on your doorstep

GOOD news for holiday makers in the North West looking for a quiet or exciting summer sun holiday on the Mediterranean – The South of France is now on your door step.

This summer the north west now has a direct gateway to the Var region in southern France, following the recent launch of Ryanair’s new route to this famous sunny holiday destination, with fares starting from just £13 one way including taxes, available via Ryanair’s website.

Whether it is for a short break staying in one of the region’s legendary fishermen’svillages, a holiday along the Var’s 400km coastline with creeks, bays and sandy beaches, or a lazy stroll through the preserved nature and hilltop villages of inland Provence, this top French holiday destination can only be reached from the north west by flying direct from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and taking less than three hours.

Starting your journey couldn’t be easier too with the convenience of departing from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

With its recent improvements to passenger facilities, the airport offers the region’s passengers a relaxed, hassle free start to their holiday. With the added convenience of ample, great value, on-site parking plus new rail services now calling at nearby Liverpool South Parkway, the Airport is better connected than ever with the region’s transport network.

Estuary Commerce Park, South Liverpool

CENTRIC Property Group have acquired a 1.86 hectare site at Estuary Commerce Park, South Liverpool.

The land, close to Liverpool Airport, was acquired from Liverpool Vision acting on behalf of the North West Development Agency.

Centric, advised by Liverpool property agents Mason Owen, acquired the land for approximately £1.0 million without bank debt.

Centric are proposing to construct a £6.0m speculative development of offices and warehousing totalling over 7,600 m2 The development, to be called Estuary Banks will incorporate sustainable technology to achieve BREEAM Excellent status, a planning application has already been submitted and Barnfield Construction have been appointed as the Building Contractor.

The scheme is to benefit from over £2.535m of funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the development will target a range of occupiers including the bio-pharmaceutical and knowledge sectors. Construction is due to commence later this year.

Estuary Commerce Park is a Strategic Regional Site in the South Liverpool International Gateway, one of five strategic investment areas in Liverpool and recognised for its economic importance not only to the City of Liverpool, but the wider Liverpool City sub region and North West England.

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

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ITC planning application submitted

FOLLOWING the launch of the Peel International Trade Centre concept earlier in the year, The Peel Group has submitted their outline planning application to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. The Peel ITC is located at West Float, Wirral Waters.

The development will be unique in the UK and will bring substantial international investment to an area in need of major regeneration. It has the potential to create over 3,000 new jobs many of which will be available to local people.

Peel Director Lindsey Ashworth commented: “This is a fantastic and exciting project where everybody wins.

All local retailers will have access on their doorstep to high quality products manufactured overseas, and local people will have the opportunity to apply for new jobs that will be created. Peel will

establish stronger business relationships with China and other emerging economies which we believe will be the start of additional overseas joint ventures that move other projects forward and kick-start much needed growth in the Northwest region”.

A Division of The Trade Centre application which is submitted in outline for all phases will comprise four separate multi-level buildings totalling around 230,000 sq. m. of floor space. The four buildings are likely to be phased over the next ten years and it is envisaged that first phase building construction will commence sometime next year.

The Peel ITC will also include associated promotional and exhibition spaces, warehousing, storage and assembly facilities, and thanks to its strategic location will benefit from excellent transport connectivity via road, rail, water and air.

Peel’s Bascule Bridge wins restoration award

A cluster of digital and creative companies such as Signal Films is thriving in the south of the County. © Invest in Cumbria.

Cumbria – the perfect place to mix business with pleasure

by John Grainger, Managing Director of Invest in Cumbria

THE Peel Group’s Bascule Bridge in Liverpool has won a prestigious restoration award at the Historic Bridges & Infrastructure Awards.

The Historic Bridge and Infrastructure Awards (HBIA) were set up in 1998 by County Surveyors Society, English Heritage and The Institution of Civil Engineers Panel for Historical Engineering Works to ‘recognise and encourage excellence and innovation in conservation’.

Nominations were invited for projects involving bridges, aqueducts,

Liverpool Chamber appoints Peel rep to main board

LIVERPOOL Chamber of Commerce has appointed Peel’s Ian Pollitt as a Director on its main board.

The Board is responsible for overseeing the Chamber’s day to day operations.

It meets regularly, approves the Chamber’s business plan and monitors performance against targets set in the plan. It receives reports from Senior Managers and the Chief Executive and is made up of a wide range of expertise from across Liverpool’s business community The role will allow Peel to engage better with the business community of Liverpool and Ian will still be undertaking his role at Peel as Development Investment Surveyor.

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tunnels, and other transport-related structures such as retaining walls, locks, wharves and large station roofs, but excluding buildings.

The nominated project must have involved structural maintenance, strengthening, and restoration or conservation of a structure more than 30 years old and must be within England, Wales or Scotland.

The 78 year old year old Bascule Bridge was closed for inspection and repair in May 2008 and subsequently condemned due to natural corrosion. The owners of the bridge Peel, worked closely with Liverpool Council’s Heritage and Highways Departments to find a solution to safeguard this landmark.

The bridge is the only surviving example of a rolling Bascule lifting bridge in Liverpool and is an integral feature of the Stanley Dock Conservation Area and the World Heritage designation.

It is also an important link in the north south highway network.

In addition to repairs and replacement of parts of the steel structure, the timber engine house on top of the bridge has been given a new natural slate roof and aluminium rainwater pipes making it a key feature of the overall design. The motorised equipment has been retained inside the engine room and the bridge has been painted in its original colours.

The bridge was officially re-opened to the public on 25th August 2010 by Liverpool City Council Leader Joe Anderson.

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

IT IS FAIR to the last 12 months have been challenging as business in Cumbria grapple with unprecedented economic turbulence, intensified by the dramatic cuts to public-sector funded business support and regeneration programmes. In spite of the down, there have been many examples of businesses riding the storm and stepping up to push forward Cumbria’s regeneration agenda.

We now have our own Local Enterprise Partnership, which is assisting businesses with Regional Growth Fund bids and pursuing the proposal for Lillyhall Business Park, Workington, and Waterfront Business Park, Barrow, to become Britain’s Energy Coast Enterprise Zone. In West Cumbria, Nuclear Management Partners (owners of the Sellafield site) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority have stepped in to fund a streamlined Britain’s Energy Coast initiative. The vision still centres on nuclear new build and the diversification into other renewable energy technologies, in particular wind, solar and Anaerobic Digestion. In fact Invest in Cumbria was instrumental in securing Energy Coast funding for Farmgen’s AD plant at Silloth – one of five being developed in the County.

Elsewhere, the private sector is doing it for themselves. Iggesund Paperboard will build a £108m biomass plant at its Workington site while M Sport – the company behind Ford’s World Rally teams – will install Cumbria’s largest solar energy plant on the roof of its workshop near Cockermouth. Cumbrian companies are not just rising to the energy and carbon reduction challenges but signalling their intention to stay for the long term.

There is certainly a new confidence in the County as a serious business destination and not just a place to come on holiday. Derwent Forest Development’s plans for an eco hamlet, eco hotel,

conference facilities, and events venue near Cockermouth stand testament to this; a new way of living and working in a new era for Cumbria. With a 25-30 year order book at BAE Systems and nuclear new build on the horizon, we now have the promise of a job almost for life, which is very rare at present and thus gives us a real competitive advantage.

Cumbria is now at the centre of an extensive marine network thanks to a new container handling facility at the Port of Workington with links to the Irish ports and Rotterdam, the biggest in Europe. The Carlisle Northern Development Route is due for completion in January and will open up new business opportunities around Kingmoor Park while Carlisle Airport looks set to finally take off, offering a brand new air link to international markets. Add to this a series of Next Generation Access broadband pilots which will all businesses, in particular the expanding cluster of digital and creative enterprises in the south of the County, and all of a sudden the perception of Cumbria as isolated becomes seriously outdated.

In fact it is our location that is our greatest asset; Cumbria really is the perfect place to mix business and pleasure. With a wide range of industry sectors in which we excel and an unrivalled quality of life, there has never been a better time to invest in Britain’s most inspiring County.

For more information visit www. investincumbria.co.uk.

M-Sport invests in future with renewable energy plant M-SPORT has been granted planning permission to enable work to begin on Cumbria’s largest solar energy plant on the roof of their state-of-the-art workshop at Dovenby Hall, Cockermouth.

The planning permission will help secure M-Sport’s future energy needs by designing and installing the most efficient Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems available to generate clean and efficient electricity.

The plant will see 850 monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) panels fitted to the workshop roof at M-Sport’s Dovenby Hall. After considering the options, MSport decided roof-panels would be the best option – both for their subtle appearance and for their high performance levels.

The project has both economic and financial benefits for M-Sport – it reduces

the company’s carbon footprint and contributes to the Government target of achieving 15% of total energy in UK derived from renewable resources by 2020. The project will also benefit M-Sport financially, saving the company approximately 10% from its energy bills per annum.

As a business, M-Sport is conscious of its CO2 emissions and the scheme will reduce the company’s carbon footprint saving 80,000 kg of CO2 emissions per annum, reduce its reliance upon fossil fuels and generate clean ‘green’ electricity.

Installation and commissioning takes approximately four weeks to complete and work will start immediately. The plant is expected to be up and running by the start of August.

Launch of major logistics initiative THIS initiative has enabled major infrastructure regeneration at the Port of Workington, facilitating the implementation of new and highly improved services, including the arrival of a Liebherr Harbour Mobile Crane and the introduction of a weekly scheduled feeder container service into mainland Europe. These important developments will provide a truly sustainable end to end logistics option for businesses in Cumbria and beyond and will see the Port of Workington become a major player in the European logistics arena.

On Friday the 24th June 2011, Britain’s Energy Coast facilitated Multi-Modal Cumbria – an exciting launch day showcasing this major new North West logistics facility.

The Port, together with its new strategic partners DRS, the UK’s leading national rail freight operator and Nobert Dentressangle, through its wholly owned subsidiary TDG, one of Europe’s leading supply chain specialists, delivered spectacular dockside demonstrations of the new capabilities, that promise to offer North West businesses a seamless and cost effective service across all modes of transport.

Multi-Modal Cumbria 2011 will kick start this new European logistics

gateway, so vital for the future sustainability and growth of businesses in the North West.

Britain’s Energy Coast Chairman, Brian Wilson said, “The new offering at the Port of Workington is a jewel in the crown for West Cumbria as it opens up the area in a way that we’ve not seen before. It has the potential to underpin a number of major projects and commercial opportunities in Cumbria and we are really proud to be part of it.”

FURNESS Enterprise has welcomed the decision of DONG Energy and Scottish Power Renewables to go ahead with the construction of the West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea in a 50:50 partnership and in particular the announcement that “...the operational base for the wind farm will be at the Port of Barrow.”

The DONG – Scottish Power Renewables partnership’s £1.6 billion scheme for 108 Siemens 3.6MW turbines with a total capacity of 389MW, which will be commissioned in 2014, will enable the Port of Barrow to attract further work additional to that supporting the Barrow Walney 1 and Walney 2 wind farms.

Stuart Klosinski of Furness Enterprise said: “Barrow has already demonstrated its capability to act as a long term through operational life support base for DONG’s other Irish Sea

New Foreign Investor contract NEW arrangements to support foreign investors seeking opportunities in the UK have been welcomed by Invest in Cumbria – the County’s inward investment agency.

UK Trade & Investment has signed a three-year contract – worth £13.5m in 2011-12 – with PA Consulting Group, in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce and OCO Consulting. The contract sets out new arrangements for inward investment support that were previously provided by Regional Development Agencies – in Cumbria’s case the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Graham McWilliam, Inward Investment Manager for Invest in Cumbria, said: “We are pleased to see these new arrange-

plank of the Britain’s Energy Coast initiative which aims to transform West Cumbria into a nationally important hub for low carbon and renewable energy generation.

The Construction Skills Centre will be an eco-friendly, purpose designed and built, 3,373 sq. m. facility. Its base at Lakes College, Lillyhall, makes it the ideal location for people across West Cumbria and also makes excellent use of the existing College resources including the library, refectory and leisure facilities.

A SPECIAL groundbreaking ceremony took place in June to signify the main construction works starting on Doncaster’s A6182 White Rose Way improvement scheme.

Mayor of Doncaster Peter Davies, Dave Lowther of Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering and other officials from the council and Balfour Beatty were present to mark this auspicious occasion.

Peter Davies, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “I am delighted we have reached this significant milestone and work to improve one of the key gateways into Doncaster has started. Not only will the scheme improve journey times it will enable a significant number of development sites around Lakeside and the town centre to be redeveloped creating jobs and prosperity for the town.

“Doncaster has always had the right assets in terms of its location and transport links to be a thriving town and

Iggesund Paperboard 100m biofuel investment INVEST in Cumbria has responded with delight at the announcement that Iggesund Paperboard will build a new £108m biofuel plant at its site in Workington, West Cumbria. The plans will make the site – which produces 200,000 tonnes of folding

investments. This new long-term investment in Barrow demonstrates that international energy companies see Barrow as ‘The Gateway to Britain’s Energy Coast’ and the premier location in Cumbria for servicing offshore wind farms.”

Barrow is the ‘Gateway to Britain’s Energy Coast’. The Irish Sea is one of UK’s most important energy and power hubs delivering substantial amounts of natural gas, nuclear energy and wind power into UK. It also has a significant number of large scale manufacturing and process industries based along its Cumbria coast which are able to access large energy supplies and a highly skilled labour force.

The Waterfront Business Park at Barrow adjoins the port quaysides and offers around 60 acres of prime development land suitable for energy based service and high technology manufacturing companies. ments in place for foreign investment and hope these will bring much-needed jobs into Cumbria. It is encouraging that Cumbria Chamber of Commerce will have input into this process, given their local knowledge and contacts.

“Cumbria continues to see a substantial amount of foreign direct investment, particularly along Britain’s Energy Coast, where the abundance of opportunities is attracting an international audience – including companies from Sweden, Norway, the United States, France and Spain. Invest in Cumbria wants to build on this not only in the energy sector but in the many other industry sectors for which we have a strong reputation, such as logistics, specialist manufacturing, food and drink.”

Work starts on Doncaster’s major road scheme

Britain’s Energy Coast Construction Skills Centre out to tender BUILDING contractors have been put on alert by the opportunity to deliver the new £7m Britain’s Energy Coast Construction Skills Centre in West Cumbria.

Work is set to begin this summer to develop the bespoke facility designed to equip local construction businesses and tradesmen with the latest building skills and low carbon construction techniques.

The Centre will also be used to provide the area’s workforce with skills to support the construction of a new nuclear power station near Sellafield; a central

Wind farm’s operational base to be located at Port of Barrow

boxboard each year – energy self-sufficient and also help secure 380 jobs.

The Swedish company, which is part of the European-wide Holmen Group, aims to start work on the facility later this year, with completion due in 2013. The

plant would burn wood to produce electricity and steam which is used in the manufacturing process. Invest in Cumbria works closely with Iggesund Paperboard as a strategically important company for Cumbria.

with the White Rose Way scheme underway and the new link road from M18 to the airport progressing well, Doncaster has a bright future.”

Improving access along White Rose Way will drive the town’s economy forwards. The full scheme will release planning restrictions on 220,000 sq. m. of developable land which could deliver over 2,700 new jobs. More than 2,500 new homes are also expected to be built.

The first phase of works will see a new carriageway built between the Potteric Carr and Lady Bank roundabouts and a new bridge over the East Coast Mainline. These works should be complete by February 2013.

Subject to funding from the Department for Transport (DfT) and further ERDF funding, the second phase should start in April next year. This will involve the construction of new carriageway from Potteric Carr to Junction 3 of the M18 and signalised junctions replacing the roundabouts at Potteric Carr and Lady Bank. All the works should be complete by March 2013.

This project is supported financially by the European Union. To date, the project has attracted £4.6m of investment from the ERDF as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme.

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Doncaster regeneration boosts local commerce

A NUMBER of Doncaster-based companies have been awarded supplier contracts to facilitate the delivery of two of the town’s major regeneration projects.

After tendering for and winning work packages, these local companies will play their part in the construction of Doncaster Council’s £20m new civic offices and the new £10m Campsmount Technology College.

The contractor appointed to build both schemes, Wates Construction, has worked in partnership with the council’s Invest in Doncaster team to ensure local companies have had the opportunity to tender for the available contracts.

Doncaster’s Danum Windows Ltd and its supplier, Senior Architectural Systems, are amongst the local businesses that have secured work for the projects. Both companies are now set to contribute to the construction of the new Campsmount Technology College, with a

contract value in excess of £500,000.

The contracts have come as a result of a Meet the Buyer event, held by Wates in partnership with Invest in Doncaster in January. The event provided local businesses with information on the projects and the chance to become part of the construction process.

Other local companies that will complete work for the projects include scaffolding company, SYS Ltd; commercial cleaners, Solutions 4 Cleaning; Belle Vue-based catering company, Needful Things Catering and Rossington-based FCY Ltd. All of these companies will be involved in the construction of the new civic offices.

Further opportunities will be available as the two projects progress and other elements of Doncaster’s Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ) start, including the town’s first public square and much awaited new performance venue.

Sky moves into Digital Campus

SKY has unveiled their plans to occupy 2,190 sq. m. half the size of a football pitch, at Ventana House, part of the prestigious Sheffield Digital Campus.

The announcement that the entertainment and communications giant would create 500 jobs in the city was made at the end of January, but the exact location has been kept under wraps until now.

Ann Allen, Business Investment Manager at Creativesheffield, commented: “Sky is a great name to be moving into Sheffield’s Digital Campus and will really complement the other creative, digital and new media companies who already operate there. The brand will also help to elevate the profile of the campus to attract further investment to the city. Sky has made a significant investment in Sheffield – which is fantastic news.”

Tramlines Festival

Tramlines The Free For All Music Festival, 22 – 24 July 2011, has announced a partnership with telecommunications company Nokia.

The deal, which was originally initiated by Marketing Sheffield, has allowed Tramlines to expand their online reach and the interactive nature of the festival through the web, film, maps and more.

Nokia will also bring some exciting new content to the festival including The Nokia Unannounced Stage on Fargate.

John Nichols, Marketing Director for Nokia UK, commented: “With its rich musical heritage, we’re delighted to be connecting music fans of Sheffield to this fantastic local event. There’s exciting announcements to come from us in the coming weeks, including unique opportunities for people to see more great acts for free. It’s going to be a fun packed weekend.”

Dave Healy, Festival Director, said: “We are delighted to be working with Nokia for Tramlines 2011. The Nokia brand perfectly complements the Tramlines philosophy of promoting the Sheffield music scene all year round – across the city and beyond.

“From the outset, Nokia have been keen to contribute something that will really add value to the festival in terms of economic benefit and community engagement.

“Expanding our online reach through new media will enable us to access an even wider audience. Those not coming to the

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festival will get a much greater sense of what Tramlines and Sheffield is all about and people attending the event will have the opportunity to learn a lot more about the festival much further in advance.

“The additional entertainment will provide some extra special moments. Watch this space for further announcements!”

Brendan Moffett, Director of Marketing Sheffield, added: “This is a very exciting partnership for the city. Nokia’s endorsement of Tramlines and the increased profile that this brings with it will firmly place this Sheffield event on the UK music festival calendar. Sheffield is really upping its game in terms of improving the quality of its events and festivals programme to attract more visitors to the city.

“The presence of such a significant global telecommunications brand will also be a further reputational boost for Sheffield’s wider creative and digital sector.”

Ventana House now fully let

VENTANA House at Sheffield Digital Campus is now fully let following the completion of three lettings over the past two months. The 50,000 sq. ft. prime office development project, led by Scarborough Development Group and GMI Property Company, has signed new lettings to Sky, Michael Page and Coal Pension Trustees Services between February and April 2011.

The building, situated in the city centre adjacent to the railway station, has helped to create nearly 600 new jobs for Sheffield.

The three new occupiers join existing tenant Kennedy’s, a national firm of solicitors, which opened a brand new 17,000 sq. ft. office in July 2010 creating over 70 new jobs.

Commenting on the lettings James Poskitt, Managing Director of GMI Property, said: “Securing tenants of this standing is a mark of the quality of the

buildings and the location of Sheffield Digital Campus, and reflects well on the City as a whole. Achieving this investment in the City and the additional jobs that it brings is, in this economic environment, something to be proud of.”

Ryden rolls out £900k sale Acting on behalf of United Carpets, Ryden has sold the freehold of the United Carpets and Vets-4-Pets unit on Easterly Road in Leeds for £900,000. The price paid reflects a net initial yield of 8.3%.

The property extends to some 1,026 sq. m. over ground and lower ground floors and is let to United Carpets and Vets-4-Pets Ltd for a further 14 years at a total rent of £79,000 per annum.

Matthew Edwards, regional managing partner at Ryden commented: “The sale reflects the continuing healthy demand we are seeing from private buyers for well-let property investments.”

Council approves one of UK’s biggest port-related developments – worth £100m NORTH Lincolnshire Council has approved plans by Able UK to build a £100m logistics park on the South Humber Gateway – creating over 5,000 much needed jobs. It has the potential to attract £1.5b further investment.

The development by Able UK, covers almost 1,000 acres, and will create transport depots, warehousing, external storage areas, offices, a business park and motel, and energy developments – on land at East Halton in North Lincolnshire.

Prestigious awards ceremony win for region

MAGNA Science and Adventure Centre in Rotherham South Yorkshire is set to be the venue for this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize. The ceremony will take place on 1 October 2011 and will be broadcast as a special edition of BBC TWO’s The Culture Show.

This great win for the city region was derived from the presence of the Sheffield Convention Bureau, part of Marketing Sheffield, at International CONFEX 2010 where discussions began to bring this highly coveted awards ceremony to the area. The city’s presence at this important event was funded by Welcome to Yorkshire.

Gemma Bradshaw, Business Tourism Manager at the Sheffield Convention

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Bureau, said: “International CONFEX which takes place every March is our opportunity to showcase everything the city has to offer to conference and event organisers across the world. We interact with thousands of organisers all comparing different cities and venue options. It’s our job to make sure that Sheffield has a competitive edge in a very aggressive market.

“It’s therefore fantastic to see this work paying off with organisations such as the RIBA choosing to hold their event here. The economic and profile benefits that South Yorkshire receives from such events is undeniably a great boost for Sheffield which, in itself, is an awardwinning city in terms of city regeneration, architecture and design.

Road and rail links to the adjacent ports of Grimsby and Immingham, and to the Humber Sea Terminal will also be provided.

It will pave the way for further investment on the South Humber Gateway and has the potential to attract £1.5b indirect investment.

The development will create 5,363 jobs (including 327 construction jobs).

This massive development further supports an already world-class transport infrastructure in and around the South Humber Gateway. Its central location on the east coast of England and extensive transport infrastructure makes the Gateway a prime location for logistics.

Onwards distribution channels include some of the UK’s least congested motorways, two international airports on the doorstep being Humberside Airport and Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport, the UK’s second largest heliport, and an expanding rail network with the rail freight terminal for the Channel Tunnel within 20 miles. And of course, the South Humber Gateway is home to the UK’s busiest ports complex of Grimsby and Immingham, supported by the Humber Sea Terminal.

Deputy Prime Minister backs Green Port Hull

NICK Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Sheffield Hallam, visited Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Hull earlier in the year. Mr Clegg wanted to see for himself the proposed Green Port Hull site, where ABP and Siemens have put forward redevelopment plans which include the building of a new factory to manufacture offshore wind turbines.

Mr Clegg was accompanied on the visit by the Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Carl Minns. Hull City Council fully supports the project which could eventually generate thousands of jobs for the area, providing a much needed boost for the local economy.

During the visit, Mr Clegg met Matt Jukes, ABP’s Port Director Hull and Goole, Dan McGrail, Project Manager UK Offshore, Siemens Wind Power, and other ABP staff, who discussed the proposed development.

Mr Clegg said; “Hull is ideally located to support offshore wind developments and is well placed to become a UK centre of excellence in the developing renewable energy sector.

There is huge potential here to create jobs and apprenticeships and help us create the new, green economy Britain needs for the 21st century.”

Humber Mercury joins ABP’s Humber pilot launch fleet pv Humber

Green light for car trade Car trade through the Port of Grimsby looks set to prosper after the Secretary of State for Transport approved Associated British Ports’(ABP) planning application to develop a dedicated two berth ro-ro riverside terminal.

Specialist car-carrying ships are currently berthed in Grimsby’s Alexandra Dock, which is accessed through the port’s original Royal Lock built in the mid nineteenth century.

Grimsby’s new riverside facilities will be able to accommodate vessels carrying in excess of 3,000 vehicles, significantly increasing the port’s capacity and making it more attractive to carriers.

John Fitzgerald, ABP Port Director Grimsby and Immingham, said: “Grimsby has carved a niche in this important trade by offering vehicle manufacturers specialist facilities. We need to equip the port for the future by allowing larger vessels to call and will be working closely with port customers to deliver what will be the largest project in Grimsby’s recent history.”

ABP has been working closely on this project with GBA, the Grimsby-based automotive logistics group which manages the car terminals at the port.

The Port of Grimsby and Immingham is the UK’s busiest car-handling port, with over 565,000 units shipped in 2010.

Manufacturers serviced at Grimsby include Volkswagen Group, Toyota and Peugeot Citroen.

Top (l-r) Managing Director of GBA, Captain Sam Judah MBE; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport Mike Penning MP; and ABP Port Director Grimsby & Immingham, John Fitzgerald.

Rehab Supplies signs ten year lease at Melton Park

ST MODWEN, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, has successfully let another unit at Melton Park, Hull.

Nottingham Rehab Supplies has signed a ten year lease on the 12,000 sq. ft. unit in a move which has retained 22 jobs in the area. Established for over 60 years, the company provides products throughout the UK and worldwide which focus on a range of daily living aids and equipment to help people live more independently. Its customers include the NHS, Local Authorities and Social Services.

The 100 acre high quality Melton Business Park provides a managed estate environment that is strategically located in West Hull, adjacent to the A63, and just off the M62. Occupiers benefit from a secure, modern site with excellent transport links to the city and surrounding areas.

Richard Bannister, Development Manager at St. Modwen, said: “Leasing one of our final units is further evidence of the attraction that Melton Park has to businesses across the region. The multipurpose site is located within ten minutes of Hull city centre, on one of the city’s main routes. It provides our tenants with excellent access to the motorway net-

Mercury, the newest addition to Associated British Ports’(ABP) Humber Estuary Services (HES) fleet of pilot launches, has been officially named in a ceremony held at 7 Quay in the Port of Hull’s King George Dock.

ABP has invested £1 million in the new Mustang Marine-built Nelson class vessel as part of an upgrade to its fleet of pilot launches.

In a traditional ceremony jointly hosted by Hull & Goole Port Director Matt Jukes and ABP’s Harbour Master for the Humber, Capt. Phil Cowing, pv Humber Mercury was christened by Lady Sponsor Mrs. Laura Fitzgerald,

with the Service of Dedication conducted by the Chaplain of the Immingham Seafarers Centre, Father Colum Kelly. pv Humber Mercury complements the existing four vessels in the pilot launch fleet and is capable of carrying eight pilots and a crew of two at speeds of up to 23 knots.

This significant investment demonstrates ABP’s commitment to the safety and efficiency of the pilotage operations on the Humber, the UK’s busiest commercial waterway, for which ABP is the Statutory and Competent Harbour Authority.

£1.8m funding bid to help Humber’s green energy boom

TEAM Humber Marine Alliance is gearing up to support the Humber’s renewable energy boom with a £1.8m bid to the Regional Development Fund.

The bid has gained the backing of all four local authorities, as well as business support agencies and private companies, who are working with THMA to capture a share of a potential market in excess of £500m per year in offshore wind manufacturing.

The Alliance recently became a notfor-profit limited company and is planning to double its membership over the next few months to comprehensively engage the regional supply chain and form a green industries cluster.

Graham Billany, THMA director and project manager, said that the intention was to generate new wealth in the Humber and create further opportunities for members, following the announcement that Siemens had chosen Hull for its wind turbine factory.

“We are the region’s renewable energy sector’s supply chain hub, with the majority of Alliance members actively, or potentially, involved in the sector.

However, we estimate that there are a further 400 companies based in the Humber region that could benefit from participation.

“We want to enhance the promotion of our strength in numbers and ability to offer seamless supply chain services, to

ensure that the Humber is considered a prime location for inward investors looking to set up manufacturing facilities in the offshore wind market.”

Mark Jones, head of economic development and regeneration at Hull City Council said: “THMA has played a key role in raising the profile of the Humber’s marine industry across a number of sectors, especially the newly emerging renewable sector, and the council fully supports its future development.”

Marcus Walker, director of Strategic Regeneration, Housing & Development at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “The council believes the work of Team Humber Marine Alliance strengthens our offer to the offshore wind industry – one of the most important future areas of growth. “ THMA members’ offshore wind supply chain expertise includes: turbine fabrication and assembly, port and portside services, turbine maintenance, vessel operation and maintenance, turbine access and safety, logistics and law.

The Alliance is developing opportunities in all areas of renewable energy including tidal, wave power, biomass and biofuel technologies and industries.

It also works to develop the commercial shipping, inland waterways, defence, offshore oil and gas, and nuclear energy sectors in the region.

Bakery announces £5.5m investment plan work and has good transport links to the city. We are very pleased to welcome Nottingham Rehab Supplies to Melton Business Park.”

James O’Connell, Operations Director at Nottingham Rehab Supplies, added: “We are very pleased with the service St. Modwen provided – it took under three weeks to secure the tenancy.

The flexibility they offered in terms of responding to our requirements and providing tailor-made solutions was a driving factor in our decision to relocate to Melton Park.”

Nottingham Rehab Supplies joins other tenants at Melton Park including Norman Walker Machinery, Claughton Office Furniture, Humber Imports and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

JACKSON’S Bakery in Hull has announced plans to invest £5.5m in expanding its Derringham Road site. The plans received conditional approval by councillors on Hull City Council’s planning committee.

The business, which has been on the site off Spring Bank since 1907, is looking to put up two new buildings to house new state-of-the-art equipment needed to cope with an increasing demand and could potentially create up to 40 new jobs.

James Watson, Managing Director of Jackson’s Bakery, said: ‘We still need to have the plans rubber stamped by the planning officers but the investment is there and we’re ready to go.

‘We have a long history in Hull and are part of a family business which was established in the city 160 years ago. We

have a very loyal workforce, some of whom have been with us for 40 years, and we’re delighted to be here today with these plans which show our commitment to them, our business and the city.

‘We are growing our business, both with existing and new customers at home and abroad and in order to maintain this success story we need to expand to increase our capacity.’

The Bakery employs 330 people and in the past eight years has invested more than £20 million in its operations.

In 2009 the Queen’s Award for Enterprise recognised its international trade. It currently exports bread to 29 different countries, as far afield as Lebanon and Hong Kong.

The matter has now been referred to the council’s city planning manager to agree conditions of the approval.

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INfocus UNIVERSITIES University draws up plans for new £16m centre

PLANS for the University of Bedfordshire’s new £16m Postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development centre in Luton have been drawn up.

Due to open in 2013, the Postgraduate centre will be built on the site of the former Students’ Union building along Vicarage Street and will house state-ofthe-art teaching space over five storeys.

It will be aimed mainly at postgraduate students and delegates from local regional businesses undertaking a wide range of continuing professional development courses.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (External Relations) Professor Ashraf Jawaid said: “This is a very exciting project and I am delighted that plans have now been drawn up, approved by our Board of

Governors and can go forward for planning permission.

“The University is going from strength to strength, investing in its facilities and new courses, growing its reputation around the word and attracting more and more students. Our postgraduate numbers have grown five times over the last three years with some 2850 full time overseas students and 850 home students.

This new centre will build on that success.”

The centre is the third phase of a development project which started with the opening of a £34m Campus Centre in the town last October.

The second phase – £40m student halls along Vicarage Street – is on schedule to be completed in time for the new academic year this autumn.

Partnership signed with Chinese universities

International internships

TOP academics and officials from two Chinese universities visited the University of Bedfordshire recently to sign up to a unique higher education partnership.

Delegates from Zhejiang Gongshang University and Zhejiang Normal University visited Putteridge Bury campus, where they were hosted by Pro Vice Chancellor, Research and Enterprise Professor Carsten Maple.

University of Bedfordshire belongs to a group of higher education institutions in the South East Midlands that forms part of the new Local Enterprise Partnership. The visiting universities signed a joint partnership agreement with the University of Bedfordshire, University of Northampton and University Centre Milton Keynes with a view to organising a summer school, staff and student exchanges and joint degree programmes.

During the visit, Vice Chancellor Professor Les Ebdon CBE welcomed Yang Ling, Vice President, Zhejiang Normal University and Zhang Renshou, President, Zhejiang Gongshang University to an evening reception at Putteridge Bury. The reception was also attended by Lord Tim Boswell of Aynho and the Mayor of Milton Keynes Councillor Debbie Brock.

The Chinese parties also met senior academics – Dean of the Faculty of Education, Sport and Tourism Professor Marilyn Leask and Dean of the Business School Professor Paul Burns.

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THE University of Bedfordshire is launching a groundbreaking initiative to generate 1500 workplace opportunities for international students.

It is looking to identify a range of paid and unpaid opportunities across the region and nationwide.

The International Students’ Internships Scheme (ISIS) is aimed at pairing postgraduate students with employers looking for extra resource and is being led by a team of International Internships Managers Spokesperson Lee Allan said: “The University’s reputation for high quality teaching, strong employability and close links to industry are attracting more and more international students. For their part international students are vital to the community, contributing millions to the local economy.

“We are looking for placements to start in September and so we are calling on employers to get in touch with us if they have any projects which need extra resource.

“Most firms have projects which have been gathering dust and which they haven’t been able to work on because they haven’t had enough staff, or the right people. The University can help find suitable students whether it is for a few hours each week or a block of time.

“Employers can be confident they will be getting bright, talented young people keen to learn and gain valuable work experience – an extra resource to boost their business.”

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

High Sheriff’s award for policing student who ‘goes that extra mile’ A BUCKS New University policing student who has become the first from the University to become a Special Sergeant with Thames Valley Police has received a commendation in The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire’s annual awards.

Mark Alger, 23, who is studying BSc (Hons) Police Studies with Criminal Investigation at Bucks, regularly completes up to 50-60 hours per month as a Special Sergeant in High Wycombe – far beyond the required 16 hours per month.

Stuart Norton, Department Manager for Criminal Justice & Social Studies, nominated Mark, a third year student, for his work as a Special Sergeant, as well as his contribution to community cohesion projects in High Wycombe and his support at open days and study events.

Mark, who is from Upton, near Poole in Dorset, received a certificate from Countess Elizabeth Howe, High Sheriff

of Buckinghamshire, at the High Sheriff’s Awards ceremony at the end of March. He was joined by parents Dawn and John, who travelled from their home in Dorset.

Countess Howe said the awards had been presented to people who had either contributed in an exceptional way to improving the lives of others in the community or gone that extra mile to give a service to others.

She added: “Mark is an exceptionally focused young man who thoroughly deserves recognition for his commitment to the wellbeing of people in the wider community.”

Below: L-R: High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, The Countess Howe; Mark Alger; Stuart Norton, Department Manager for Criminal Justice & Social Studies.

Graduate launches world’s first sari app

A BUCKS New University graduate has launched the world’s very first app on how to drape a sari. MA Advertising graduate, Bhavna Sharma, is now based in the bustling hub of Mumbai, India, and her step-by-step guide on how to drape a sari is available on iTunes and was released worldwide on iTunes on International Women’s Day in March.

The enterprising graduate set up her business with husband, Siddhartha Banerjee, who has dealt with the technical aspects of making the app a reality. Bhavna, who graduated from Bucks New University in 2009, said: “I spotted a market opportunity for women the world over who wanted to learn the sari drape, but didn’t know how.

“This app provides them with a tool which is not only effective, but is as technologically savvy as the audience.

What YouTube videos lacked, this app provides. For instance, it caters to the viewing preferences of its audiences by providing both a video tutorial and text manual with stylish illustrations. Apart from its useful FAQs section, the app has integrated Twitter as its CRM platform to answer any drape or app-related query by a user.”

The number of downloads is growing rapidly and the sheer popularity of the app has pushed it in to the coveted ‘New & Noteworthy’ section of the Indian iTunes App Store, where it’s currently in the top three.

Lottery boost to get more students playing sport

STUDENTS at Bucks New University are being urged to give sport another go after the university secured £311,705 in National Lottery funding from Sport England.

Along with 40 other projects, Bucks New University Multi-Sport Development Plan is being backed by Sport England’s £10m Active Universities fund to get more university students playing sport, as part of the mass participation legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With the recruitment of a Project Coordinator and Project Activator, the Multi-Sport Development Plan will give students the opportunity to take part in a variety of sporting activities both at the university and within the local community. ‘Come and try’ sessions, social intramural competitions, the development of new university sports clubs and links into community sports clubs will all help increase participation opportunities and

create better access to sport for Bucks students.

Sport Strategy Manager for Bucks New University, Carina Page said: “We are delighted that our Active University project has been backed by Sport England.

This will enable us to strive towards our ambitions to enhance our student experience through sport and increase the number of opportunities and number of students participating in sport regularly.”

The Active Universities projects will give tens of thousands of students across the country the chance to try out a new sport, or get back into one they’ve tried before.

Boosting student participation will have a lasting impact on grassroots sport because research shows that students who do play sport at university are far more likely to continue participating throughout their lives. It will also help tackle the issue of drop-off in sports participation that sees many young people giving up sport in

their late teens and early twenties.

Bucks New University announces partnership with the world’s first institution dedicated to the beautiful game An institution has been set up dedicated to the study of the football industry.

UCFB, based at Burnley Football Club in Lancashire, will deliver undergraduate degree courses in the operational and business facets of football.

It is a joint venture between Buckinghamshire New University and UCFB College of Football Business (UCFB) and is the first institution of its kind in the world. The first intake will be accepted in September 2011.

In its first year, the UCFB will deliver three traditional three-year degree courses: BA (Hons) Football Business and Finance, BA (Hons) Football Business and Media, and BA (Hons) Football Business and Marketing. The degrees are validated and will be awarded by Bucks New University.

Brian Barwick, former chief executive of the Football Association, is to chair the college’sAdvisory Board. OtherAdvisory Board members include lifelong Burnley fan and former Government communications chief,Alastair Campbell, and Rachel Brown, the Everton and England goalkeeper.

The new institution’s directors say its establishment is in response to and recognition of football’s status as a global multibillion pound business, requiring particular administrative, managerial and operational skills.

UCFB will also deliver executive courses for those already working in football, some of which will be designed to support those coming to the end of their playing careers who wish to retrain for a life in football-related administration and operations.

There will also be a research thinktank to make the institution a centre for independent research within the industry.

University leads research and development element of initiative

BUCKS New University has been appointed as the lead higher education partner for a new telecare centre of excellence in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Telecare is the use of information, communication and sensor technologies to deliver health and social support to people in order to help them live as independently as possible. The new centre of excellence, located in Griffin Lane, will help businesses and academics identify

and develop the next generation of telecare products and services, with design input from service users and user groups.

Bucks New University will head up the research and development element of the initiative, which involves a complex evaluation process of the categories of quality, accessibility, cost, and acceptability of telecare, each being an issue that lies at the core of most health services research and technology assessments.

Firas Sarhan, Senior Lecturer with the School of Advanced & Continuing Practice at Bucks New University, and the lead academic on the project, explains: “The evaluation is designed to determine the progress of telecare projects against the original objectives set by the International Centre of Excellence in Telecare (ICE-T): these are: to expand the use of technology to support longterm conditions; to develop expertise in

local staff to use technology as part of patient care; and to assist patients in managing their long-term conditions independently.

“The evaluation is also intended to inform any future roll-out of such systems across the county on a national level. With regard to the research techniques, a mixed methods approach was adopted including quantitative and qualitative data collection.”

Down to the bones

WHEN the phone rings late at night for Dr Tim Thompson, it’s likely to be the police saying they have found a skeleton.

What they need to know is whether they’re dealing with a recent crime or have stumbled across some archaeological remains.

Tim doesn’t mind – he’s used to it.

And he sees it as a useful way of sharing his knowledge and expertise as Teesside University’s senior lecturer in crime scene science and digital forensics.

But he does think the identification process could be more accessible for those who, unlike him, don’t have a PhD in forensic anthropology.

Tim recently submitted his digital technology plans to the 2010 Blueprint Business Plan competition, which celebrates enterprise and innovation among North East university staff and students each year.

He won the Ward Hadaway Science Award at Teesside’s Blueprint area finals and was highly commended in the Knowledge Transfer Staff category at the regional finals.

That gave him the confidence to polish up his business plan. And, with a grant from Teesside University Enterprise Development Fund and help from a DigitalCity Fellowship, Tim launched his spin-out business, Anthronomics.

“In much forensic anthropological work, we’re still using pen and paper and stills photography for casework, research and teaching. My idea is to digitalise as much of the process as possible, developing appropriate protocols for scanning the bones into 3D models.

“Bones are actually very difficult to scan. You’re dealing with holes and

pores, lumps and ridges and a combination of organic and inorganic materials.

It’s not as easy as you might think.

“But my new company plans to work with experts at the University, including our own Teesside Manufacturing Centre, to create the scans.”

Tim is also creating new information management software. ‘By importing the bone data straight into the software, we hope to give much quicker information to people who aren’t trained forensic anthropologists – about the sex, age and height of the body. This will be a great help in determining what the police might be dealing with – a recent murder victim or someone who died centuries ago?”

The new company is already established in one of Teesside University’s business incubation units. It’s looking at having its first scans available by the end of 2011 to market to universities, schools and colleges. “It will be a great classroom aid for teaching biology, anthropology and forensic science”, says Tim. “I wanted to register the company at the University because it’s such a good place to access funding opportunities and the University has been so supportive. As a spin-out of my University work, it makes a lot of sense to base it here.”

‘Big Society’ action group launched at Bucks New University BUCKS New University has launched a new research initiative aimed at providing academic support and advice on a range of issues and subjects, in line with the government’s Big Society plans.

The Institute of Diversity, Research, Inclusivity, Communities and Society (IDRICS) will provide research,

consultation and project evaluations, contribution to policy and practice developments at both regional and national levels.

IDRICS will work to support communities or groups identified through the Big Society model and who have the potential to grow into a range of

social enterprises. It will seek to address gaps in provision through informed and innovative, bottom-up initiatives.

As a department, it will bring together colleagues from across both University faculties, Society & Health, and Design, Media & Management, and will act as a focal point for external contacts.

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Spotlights on Universities’ expertise AN Executive Director from the Bank of England has highlighted the importance of Universities in contributing to the UK’s regional and national economy, while speaking at Teesside University.

Andy Haldane, Executive Director, Financial Stability at the Bank of England, was the keynote speaker at the University’s Teesside Business School’s annual conference.

He said of Teesside University: “One of the most impressive things for the whole region is the close links between what’s

Go ahead given

ASTON University has announced that it is to forge ahead with the second phase of its £215m redevelopment scheme to create some of the finest student accommodation in the world.

Just one week after the demolition of two high-rise tower blocks – a move that has enabled the next phase of the regeneration programme to go-ahead – the University has revealed that it has awarded the contract for the work to a Balsall Common-based company.

Providing high standard accommodation on campus for a total of more than 3,000 students, the scheme is one of the biggest regeneration projects in the Midlands, being scheduled for completion in 2013.

Construction of the second phase is to

done here in education and how it transmits to small firms. This link is crucial to the region and to the success of the UK. “The future comes from the expertise required for new enterprises and new enterprises require education. So the links back to the real economy from what’s done at the University are very strong and need to become stronger still. In Asia, small businesses were the seed corn for future growth. Universities have a key role to play in providing that seed corn in the UK.”

be carried out by BAM Construction Midlands, which secured the contract after a competitive procurement process. The firm, which has a well-established track record in the construction of university facilities, will create new employment opportunities as a result of the £45m contract win, which will also safeguard the future of its existing workforce.

Alan Charters, Director of Capital Development for Aston University, said: “The Aston Student Villages (ASV) scheme is of major importance to the University. It is the largest regeneration project in its history and when completed will provide improved student facilities which we believe will match the finest of anywhere else in the world.”

Research projects celebrated

TEESSIDE University’s groundbreaking work in three areas has been chosen as some of the most important research taking place in universities today, with the publication of the Big Ideas for the Future report.

The report, which is being jointly published by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and Universities UK, pulls together the leading research projects currently underway across UK universities.

The three Teesside projects selected were: Early diagnosis of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Researchers led by Professor Zulfiqur Ali at Teesside University are developing a portable device that can diagnose DVT earlier and help save lives. Currently diagnosis of DVT is confirmed by an ultrasound, but this is expensive and patients can wait for several days before examination. This new device is fast and lower in cost and could reduce the number of referrals without compromising patient care.

Healthy Lifestyle – Fighting fit The research team have created an alternative to existing virtual fitness games called the ‘exergaming’ system. The aim is to see if this can help make middle–aged men healthier by inviting participants to take part in a thorough workout while having a drink in their local workingmen’s club. Health indicators of participants will be measured before and after the trial period to see whether this fun approach to health promotion can have real benefits. The research is led by Dr Iain Spears, Reader in Sports and Exercise at Teesside University. Coresearcher Dr Alan Batterham, Professor of Exercise Science, said: “There is a growing body of evidence that brief, relatively high-intensity exercise of this type is beneficial for health.”

Tackling worklessness Researchers led by Professor Tracy Shildrick from

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Teesside University are challenging the widely-held view that in some disadvantaged areas of the UK ‘intergenerational cultures of worklessness’ (IGCW) have taken hold. The term has been used to explain the lack of aspirations among people locked into cycles of unemployment, with the suggestion that they embrace anti-work. The research, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, will provide robust and detailed evidence and engage directly with the currently popular political rhetoric around IGCW. Policies to assist the long term unemployed will benefit from a deeper understanding of the exact nature of IGCW and how, if at all, these processes operate across and within families and within deprived communities. The research findings could have lasting significance for welfare policy development in the future.

The Big Ideas for the Future report is narrated and backed by high-profile celebrities such as Professor Lord Robert Winston, Dr Alice Roberts and Professor Iain Stewart.

Babraham Research Campus visited by local MP and MEP

THE Rt Hon Andrew Lansley CBE, MP for South Cambridgeshire and Mrs Vicky Ford MEP visited the Babraham Research Campus to see how the proposed £44m investment in their constituencies will contribute to economic growth for the life sciences industry and the region.

As a leading hub of life sciences innovation in the UK, the Babraham Research Campus plays a key role supporting the region’s early-stage biomedical enterprises while also helping to attract inward investment. The funding is enabling the campus to build on its current strengths in research and innovation and expand the infrastructure to support the UK’s life sciences industry. This is expected to help drive economic growth through the creation and development of new companies and new jobs, as well as extending the impact of public investment for society and the economy of the region and the UK. Mr Lansley said: “It is wonderful to see first-hand the excellent work that is done here at the Babraham Research Campus in South Cambridgeshire. This significant £44m boost from the Government will help to foster new research and create new jobs in our region, putting Babraham firmly at the forefront of world-class biomedical and life-sciences research.”

Babraham’s Bioincubator Buildings, which currently accommodate 28 earlystage life sciences companies, are central to the campus’ mission to create a supportive, entrepreneurial environment promoting bioscience innovation.

Construction of a fifth Bioincubator Building is expected to commence later

this month, providing a further 20,000 sq. ft. of flexible laboratory and office space as 30 lettable units.

The campus tour included a visit to the Bioincubator Buildings and facilities such as the Technology Development Lab (TDL), which was established to support early-stage biomedical ventures through providing access to state-of-the-art equipment and scientific expertise of the TDL staff.

Mrs Ford said: “I was extremely impressed by what I saw and learnt at Babraham. Here the UK is investing in our world-leading research capacity. The benefits not only support science and economic growth but also develop an understanding of medical conditions and diseases which we all hope will lead to better treatments in the future. I was also able to discuss with Professor Wakelam and his colleagues the substantial European budget for research and development. Whilst many researchers around Cambridge and the UK have benefitted from EU funding, it is still far too bureaucratic. Many colleagues in the European Parliament would like to divert parts of this science budget to less well off countries – that would be a mistake. Ideas discovered in centres of excellence like the Babraham Research Campus can help solve problems faced in all countries. Science funding must nurture excellence.”

A unique aspect of the Babraham Research Campus is the proximity of a world-leading academic institute with commercial ventures, potentially facilitating the commercialisation of ideas emanating from basic bioscience research and delivering economic benefit.

M&B MD joins university as visiting Professor AN Executive Managing Director of Mitchells & Butlers, Kevin Todd, has been made a visiting Professor by Birmingham City University.

Professor Todd will be advising the unique Academy of MultiUnit Leadership at Birmingham City Business School at Birmingham City University.

Professor Todd is a high profile executive in the European hospitality sector who is recognised by his industry peers as having made a major contribution to the national and international casual dining sector. He is renowned as the principal expert in managed premium restaurant operations having been the driving force behind many new and innovative casual dining brands such as the Premium Country Dining Group and Village Pub and Kitchen. Kevin’s formal education includes an International MBAfrom the Nottingham Business School and Executive courses at Harvard and Cornell. Previous to his current position Professor Todd worked in senior positions for Allied Breweries, Greene King, Gala Clubs and Volvo.

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

Greene King links up with University to offer pub qualification PUB Operator and brewer, Greene King, is the latest to join forces with Birmingham City University’s business school to create a qualification for its business development managers (BDMs).

The BDM Development Programme incorporates a Post Graduate Diploma in Multi-Unit Leadership and Strategy

alongside an internal programme of training.

Twelve BDMs from Greene Kings’ leased and tenanted division, Pub Partners, and two from their Retail pub division have started their studies which they will achieve by 2012, with some progressing to Masters level .

The programme is based at the

Innovation Centre offers multi million boost for local entrepreneurs

ENTREPRENEURS and established businesses from Cheshire and the North West will soon have access to additional business support following the launch of a new incubation hub.

The £6m Riverside Innovation Centre, based at the University of Chester’s Riverside Campus in the heart of Cheshire, is set for a September launch and will offer a variety of facilities to help develop untapped business potential.

Jointly funded by the European Development Fund (ERDF) and the University, Riverside Innovation Centre is the first of its kind in Cheshire and will provide city-centre incubation units for fifteen start-ups. Tenants will include graduates starting their own business. In addition to spaces for new businesses, the Centre will focus on support for existing businesses seeking to fulfil their economic potential.

Charlie Woodcock, the University of Chester’s Executive Director of Innovation and Development, commented: “This is a huge asset for Cheshire and the North West as a whole. We’ll be providing a state-of-the-art centre which will encourage and celebrate innovation, and help promote Chester as a forward-thinking city that not only supports, but actively encourages, business growth and inward investment.”

The Centre will feature a number of key services and purpose-designed facil-

Polo team takes national title

BATH Spa University’s polo team has taken first place in the Schools and Universities Polo Association Summer National Championships.

James Gambs, Harry Hall and Lexi Dyer exceeded all expectations by winning their section of the competition. The fact that none of the players had even attempted the fast and furious sport of polo before coming to university made their victory over more experienced players even more remarkable.

The tournament was not without its drama, however, as halfway through the training and preparation the team’s number two player, Victoria Williams-Gray, fell off and injured her hand, giving Lexi Dyer the chance to replace her in the competition.

The polo tournament was one of the biggest in the world with 103 teams taking part. It was held at Offchurch Bury Polo Club in Leamington Spa. The Bath Spa University Polo Team did exceptionally well by winning every single match and not conceding a single goal. They put the success down to the training they receive from Guy Verdon who is based at Lynt Polo Club in Inglesham and the hard work of the Team’s president Rella Fonseca.

ities including a 150-seater conference suite, break-out rooms, a networking business lounge available on a free dropin basis, and meeting rooms for hire.

Business support will also be available on-site with a number of key partners from the business community based at the Centre, including the Chamber of Commerce.

Charlie Woodcock continues: “With key support services like Business Link set to close in November of this year it has never been a more important time for us to invest in supporting new businesses in our region.

“The Riverside Innovation Centre is a central point which will help address a variety of business needs and the standard of infrastructure, quality of support and ease of access is set to be among the most inclusive and integrated facilities in the North West.”

Students ‘going it alone’

TWO Birmingham City University students have set up their own data recovery business.

Dominic Nielen-Groen and Chris Elmore Dominic, who are both in the final year of at the University’s Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment started in February 2011.

Based at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham, Zibit Datalab specialises in data recovery from a wide variety of storage devices.

The pair who felt they had what it takes to ‘go it alone’ and wanted to utilise their enthusiasm and the skills they have gained during their time at university to be a success. They realised there were deficiencies and gaps in the data recovery market and found a significant number of companies both locally and nationally had an unclear pricing policy, often starting very low, then adding additionally costs or starting with a very high price and still adding extra costs on. This gave them the idea of setting up a company which offers a fixed price service.

Even with the current economic climate and their university workload Dominic and Chris have grown their client base and have built up contacts within the industry. Upon graduation the pair plan to move into the area of digital forensics.

The School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks is one of the leading UK academies for Apple and Microsoft, having been awarded membership of Microsoft’s prestigious Developer Network Academic Alliance.

For over a decade the School has been working with CISCO and is the leading training centre for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In 2010 six of CISCO’s coveted graduate posts were given to graduates from the School.

Academy of Multi-Unit Leadership which is part of the University’s Birmingham City Business School (BCBS). The Academy specialises in multi-site retail and leisure leadership education with over 200 delegates from several major retail and leisure companies currently in-situ taking tailored postgraduate education qualifications. These

companies include Rank Plc, Saint Gobain and the Spar Group.

To optimise each individual’s performance all BDMs will be given a development plan including leadership, management and commercial skills training on top of their already thorough foundation induction programme and alongside the Post Graduate Diploma.

Student comedian makes successful debut STUDENT Rowan Crabtree, of Bath Spa University, has launched his career as a stand-up comedian by appearing on the same bill as a performer from BBC TV’s Michael McIntyre Roadshow.

20-year-old Rowan made a successful debut at the Comedy Cavern in Bath as a warm-up act for Imran Yusuf, who recently featured on the McIntyre show and is now doing a national tour.

Rowan Crabtree has been studying stand-up comedy this year as part of his Drama Studies course at Bath Spa University. After his five-minute slot at the Comedy Cavern he is being recommended for other venues around the country by Mirth Control, a leading comedy booking agency.

Geoff Whiting, of Mirth Control, said: “It’s very unusual – in fact almost unheard of – for someone with so little experience to be on the same bill as a professional like Imran Yusuf. It’s a great thing for Rowan to have on his CV.” “Rowan did really well. He was pretty relaxed and assured, showed a lot of confidence and had a good likeable persona on stage. I think he has a promising future.”

Rowan said: “I was a bit nervous but

my act went down well with the audience and I really enjoyed it. I’m hoping to make a career in stand-up comedy.”

Rowan is a second-year student in Bath Spa U n i v e r s i t y ’s School of Music and Performing Arts, where Drama lecturer Pat Welsh has established the Comedy Academy as a platform for budding stand-up stars of the future.

Pat said: “Only capable stand-up comedians are offered performance opportunities through Mirth Control, who book for 90 venues around the country.

“This marks an important milestone in the University’s endeavours to create a direct industry link for students who want to enter the competitive world of stand-up comedy and it pays testimony to the quality of the learning experience at Bath Spa.”

Variety of business opportunities at the University of Essex THE Business Hub, at the University’s Southend Campus is a purpose built facility that can offer organisations a wide range of support services, all of which are specifically designed to help sustain and grow business. These include access to specialist support, advice and training, including expert on-site short courses.

Within the Business Hub is the Business Incubation Centre (BIC) which can provide space and support for up to 20 start up or growing businesses.

The Building on Success in Southend (BoSS) programme of business support workshops, supported over 200 Southend based businesses over the project period, and as more than 95% of attendees rated the workshops ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, this exercise has been repeated in 2011.The University of Essex iLabs situated at the Southend and Colchester campuses are more than just stimulating modern alternatives to conventional meeting rooms.

They offer a results-led, team approach to problem solving and innovative thinking, and use the latest state-of-the-art technology. Designed for groups of up to 16 people sessions can be tailored to suit any need.

The University of Essex Knowledge Gateway is the new home for the social sciences, research and development and

for business space in Essex and will be anchored by the University of Essex sponsored Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (IDCR).

Set in 43 acres of parkland adjoining the University of Essex campus in Colchester, the Knowledge Gateway will offer occupying businesses the benefit of extensive on-site leisure, conference and catering facilities together with access to the University’s research and business development activities.

Construction of the site infrastructure (roads, soft and hard landscaping) is under way and due for completion in Summer 2011.

The University of Essex offers a vast range of professional spaces including conference, meeting and event solutions which are conveniently located in Colchester and Southend.

Whether you are planning a small meeting or a residential conference for up to 1,000 people, their dedicated conference team will help you plan your successful event from start to finish. Their campuses offer a full-service conference package of top quality meeting spaces, hospitality, accommodation and competitive rates and all meeting rooms benefit from a dedicated audio visual service with video conferencing also available.

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

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Accreditation programme

IN AN uncertain UK economic environment, The University of Derby Corporate (UDC) accreditation programmes provide the opportunity for businesses and organisations to unlock the potential of their existing workforces.

Workplaces contain many highly skilled people. They may not, though, have a list of qualifications on a piece of paper. This is where the UDC’s work based learning accreditation programme comes in.

Accreditation enables employees to capture the skills they already bring to the table as well as giving them the confidence to develop and progress further in order to meet the demands required for success.

Workers can achieve higher education qualifications but companies benefit too- by workers increasing their knowledge and learning to adapt this to unfamiliar and unexpected situations which arise within the workplace.

Higher level learning doesn’t just happen in lecture theatres but is happening in work places everyday.

UDC accreditation is a flexible learning scheme which does not place compromises on employers and can be learnt in bite-size portions. These opportunities are available for all industries within any region of the UK. For example Croda International PLC, a global chemicals company located in East Yorkshire, have already experienced the rewards and benefits of

accreditation. Croda’s New Manager Development Programme, accredited by UDC, has helped to support new managers in gaining skills to apply in the workplace whilst gaining a University Diploma.

Nigel Fenwick, Group Advisor for Croda said: “The partnership with University of Derby Corporate is extremely strong. It understands the needs of our business and the need to value what we had already designed but the additional requirement for adding value to it by making it into a University qualification.”

The 60 credit programme was arranged in two modules by the company and UDC working in partnership, ensuring that the assessment was balanced and relevant. It also allowed people who have previously completed the programme to work towards the same qualification.

Croda have gained a National Training Award from UK Skills which demonstrates commitment to development, and its ability to strengthen what it provides for its employees.

This year on Thursday 9 June 2011 at the University of Derby Enterprise Centre the second annual free workshop for Recognising Learning in the Workplace took place. The conference emphasised the benefits of the work based learning accreditation scheme and what it offers in terms of the future success needed for businesses to move forward.

Major boost hi-tech business in North Staffordshire

A STAFFORDSHIRE County Council commitment to economic prosperity will see a major business investment that will create around 130 high-tech jobs. The Cabinet approved an investment of £6m into a development at Keele University Science Business Park (KUSBP) near Newcastle. The IC5 development will see 30,000 sq. ft. of office space built for high technology industries.

The decision demonstrates the county council’s top priority in ensuring Staffordshire has a bright and secure economic future.

County Councillor Ben Adams, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and Prosperity said the investment marked another milestone in Staffordshire’s economic turnaround.

He added: “We are demonstrating where our priority lies – doing all we can to improve the county’s prosperity through private enterprise.

“KUSBP has been successful to-date in attracting 52 companies which sustain 600 jobs. These are high-value ‘knowledge’ jobs chiefly associated with hitech and professional services. These industries are essential to developing a thriving modern economy, as evidenced

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by the consistently high occupation rates throughout the recession.

“This is another success story for Staffordshire and sets us out as a major player in terms of locating high end business, as well as our commitment to work with our universities who play a leading role in important areas of research and technology.

Jenny Tucker, Keele University Science and Business Park Director, said: “We have worked very closely with Staffordshire County Council over the last two years to develop a partnership to support the county’s drive for economic growth, building on Keele’s successful track record, and reputation, in developing the Science and Business Park.”

County Councillor Adams added: “It is an investment from which we are confident of seeing great returns for the tax payer.”

It comes on the back of the Regional Growth Fund approvals for two projects in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership area.

There is already high demand for premises at IC5 with two-thirds of the site already being negotiated with existing firms located at KUSBP.

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

Durham University academics honoured by Royal Society TWO LEADING Durham University academics have been appointed as new Fellows of the Royal Society – the UK’s prestigious national academy of science.

Professor Tom McLeish, Professor of Physics (top right) and Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, and Professor David Milner, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology (right), join a list of 44 new Fellows drawn from universities and institutions across the UK and eight new Foreign Members drawn from Commonwealth countries.

Professor McLeish is recognised for his outstanding contributions to increased understanding of the molecular and micro-structural mechanisms that underlie the dynamics and flow of Soft Condensed Matter – a class that includes polymers, foams, gels, granular and a number of biological materials.

Professor McLeish said: “The fact that both Professor Milner and I have been recognised by the Royal Society highlights the level at which research undertaken here at Durham University is viewed by our peers in the broader scientific community.

“On a personal level I am deeply

honoured that the oldest and one of the most highly respected scientific academies in the world has acknowledged with this Fellowship the work done within the extensive research team I have been privileged to lead over the years.”

Professor Milner is recognised as one of the leading neuropsychologists of his generation. His studies of neurological patients have resulted in a new conception of how the human brain deals with the visual information we take in through our eyes. The work has uncovered a distinct visual system that guides our everyday actions, a system that operates independently of our visual consciousness.

Professor Milner said: “I am extremely proud and pleased to have my work, along with that of an outstanding series of colleagues over the years, acknowledged in this way.”

Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said: “It is a true pleasure to welcome this year’s new Fellows to the Royal Society. They join the ranks of the UK and Commonwealth’s leading scientists, counting themselves among early Fellows such as Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle and Charles Darwin.

“The Society aims to expand the frontiers of knowledge by championing the development and use of science, mathematics, engineering and medicine for the benefit of humanity and the good of the planet. It is the contribution of excellent individuals such as these which makes this possible.”

Fully sponsor degree launched at Nottingham Business School

NOTTINGHAM Business School and Experian, the global information services company, have launched a fully sponsored degree programme which offers students the chance to study for a degree and work full-time, while receiving a salary and having the cost of their tuition fees paid.

The new BA (Hons) in Management and Leadership will begin in autumn 2011 with the first intake of 15 undergraduate students working at Experian throughout their three year degree.

Experian will also be involved in selecting curriculum modules to support students in their career.

In addition to work based learning, tuition will be delivered by Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, through a number of intensive study weeks, along with tutor visits and online support.

Simon O’Halloran, Global Leadership Development director, Experian, said: “This is an innovative way to attract talent to our organisation and at the same time being able to offer exceptional career opportunities to students embarking on the next stage of their education. The combination of vocational and theory-based learning will give students a significant head start in their careers and we are delighted to be launching this in partnership with Nottingham Business School.”

Dean of Nottingham Business School, Professor Baback Yazdani, said: “This new degree is not only great for

students who will be in a good financial position and will hit the ground running when they graduate, but also for businesses, like Experian, who are interested in talent attraction and developing their graduate level workforce. Nottingham Business School is the Business School for business, and once again we lead the way in collaboration with one of the world’s leading companies, developing and delivering programmes that integrate applied learning with academic excellence and produce world-class professionals who have an immediate impact on industry across Europe and beyond. This is a great ticket for global success.”

Dr Dawn Albery, head of Commercial Activities and Executive Education at Nottingham Business School, said: “As this sponsored degree with Experian demonstrates, working and studying simultaneously allows the students to maximise their learning and develop their employability skills.

Graduates will be able to use this degree in all walks of life because it’s of interest to any employer who wants work-ready graduates to join their business.”

As with traditional degrees, entrance to this programme requires suitable ALevel results. Applications will be made directly to Experian who will work with Nottingham Business School to ensure that applicants meet the usual entry criteria for its degrees, rather than through UCAS. Employees of Experian will also be eligible to apply.

Appointed members crucial to Lords’ independence

THE Government should resist calls for the House of Lords to become an allelected body if it’s to keep the independence and expertise it needs to scrutinise legislation, according to a Constitutional Law expert.

Professor Gavin Phillipson, of Durham Law School, Durham University, said it was vital that “the populist clamour for a 100 per cent elected chamber” was not allowed to overwhelm considered argument.

Under plans unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the current

792 member House of Lords would be cut down to just 300 members, 80% of whom would be elected by proportional representation. However, the plans have come under immediate criticism for not supporting a 100% elected House.

Professor Phillipson, who is Professor of Constitutional Law at Durham, said it was right that the Lords should have a majority of elected members because it needed a major boost in its legitimacy.

But, he said the Lords should still have a significant proportion of appointed members so it could perform its crucial

role in subjecting Bills to the kind of rigorous, in-depth scrutiny often missing in the House of Commons.

Professor Phillipson said: “The Government’s draft Bill on House of Lords reform is to be broadly welcomed.

But it’s vital that the populist clamour for a 100 per cent elected chamber is not allowed to overwhelm considered argument.

“The Government must be prepared to defend the inclusion of appointed members not as a ‘miserable little compromise’, but as being crucial in giving the

new House the members it needs to carry out its unique role.”

He added: “We want the House of Lords to do a range of different jobs, but above all, provide a distinctively different voice in the legislative and scrutinising process from that provided by the Commons.

“It’s vital that there are at least some members who are there for their expertise, experience and independence of judgment. That means that some must be appointed – 30% or 40% would be better, but 20% is much better than none.”

IndigoVision expands at Edinburgh Technopole

INDIGOVISION, the world-leading designer and manufacturer of complete IP Video security systems, is expanding its international headquarters at Edinburgh Technopole.

The company is to take an additional wing of Charles Darwin House at the science and business park, where it has been based since 2000. The deal will provide the company with more than 6,000 sq. ft. of extra premium office space, bringing their total space at Edinburgh Technopole to 15,641 sq. ft.

As part of the agreement, IndigoVision has negotiated a revised lease for the entire office space for a 15 year period, with a tenant break at ten years.

The expansion at Edinburgh Technopole has been driven by strong international growth by IndigoVision, and is further evidence of the company’s investment and commitment to Edinburgh and Scotland.

IndigoVision’s CEO, Oliver Vellacott, explains: “The company is continuing its strong growth across major infrastructure projects in the airport, rail, banking and government sectors, with shipments to 82 countries. New and

innovative developments such as our ONVIF video management software is helping to drive this growth which is reflected in our expansion at Edinburgh Technopole resulting in the creation of some 15 extra jobs.

“Edinburgh Technopole is our international Headquarters, and our 15-year deal reflects our commitment to providing high quality and long-term employment opportunities for Scotland, creating cutting-edge products for today’s fast moving market requirements.”

IndigoVision was the first tenant of Edinburgh Technopole, set up in 2000 as a joint venture between The University of Edinburgh and developer Grosvenor.

The park now offers 100,000 sq. ft. of existing high quality office and lab space together with potential for new space totalling some 500,000 sq. ft. Some 21,000 sq. ft. of premium office and lab space is currently available.

Easily accessed from both the city centre of Edinburgh and surrounding areas, the park is a popular hub for business, with many companies choosing to locate their headquarters at Edinburgh Technopole, including IndigoVision, Biobest and Xilinx.

New Institute of Finance A NEW Institute of Finance is to be inaugurated at the University of Leicester with a conference on Banking and Finance Post-Crisis.

The Institute of Finance has been established at the University of Leicester to serve as an international centre of excellence for research and teaching in finance and as a link between the academia and professionals working in the Finance industry.

The conference which took place in June was a collaboration between academics in the Institute of Finance and the UK-based Money, Macro and Finance Research Group.

Professor Emmanuel Haven, Director of the Institute of Finance, said: “The Institute is interdisciplinary and it coordinates the activity of a large community of scholars in Finance at the University of Leicester who are currently housed in several academic departments, including Economics, Management, Mathematics and Computer Science.

“The main goals of the Institute are to facilitate the interaction among academics interested in Finance and the interaction between practitioners and academics at national and international level. These

goals are pursued by attracting researchers and professionals of the highest quality from around the world in order to provide academically stimulating discussions and debates on Finance-related issues that are industry-relevant.

The conference examined topical issues in banking and finance, including reputation in investment banking, the role of loan defaults, the finance and growth nexus in light of the crisis, and the design of new methods to regulate bank liquidity.

The conference featured a panel debate of the future of banking and financial regulation. Speakers at this session include LSE Professor and former MPC member Charles Goodhart, Charles Calomiris of Columbia Business School, former advisor to the US government and member of the Shadow Financial Regulatory Committee, and Alan Morrison, Professor of Finance at the University of Oxford, a leading expert on investment banking and banking regulation. Other speakers at the conference include Dr Svetlana Andrianova, Reader in Economics at the University of Leicester, and Professor Peter Rousseau of Vanderbilt University in the United States.

University of Plymouth enters commercialisation agreement with Frontier IP

THE University of Plymouth has engaged said: “Frontier IP chose to work with commercialisation specialist Frontier IP Plymouth because of our world class to work as a strategic partner in the devel- research and our emphasis on knowledge opment of its intellectual property. The exchange and innovation. Frontier institution has signed a ten-year - brings its expertise in commercialising agreement with Frontier IP, with a mutual intellectual property and access to fundoption to extend for a further ten years, ing.

“This strategic relationship will help following a comprehensive competitive us harness our capability to exploit our tender process.

Under the terms of the partnership, knowledge base and will have a major Frontier IP will assist the University in the impact upon our partnership-led approach commercialisation of its IP across all to grow the knowledge economy in the faculties. In return for its advisory region and create jobs.”

Plymouth is Frontier IP’s third universervices, Frontier IP will receive a share of the income from all new licences and a sity partner, having relationships already percentage of the equity in each new spin- in place with the University of Dundee and Robert Gordon University,Aberdeen. out company.

The University has recognised world- Neil Crabb, Frontier IP’s Executive class research and engineering in such Chairman, commented: “We are delightareas as marine biology, ecology, logistics ed to have signed this agreement with the and policy as well as coastal and ocean University of Plymouth. The University sciences, through to robotics and neural has a reputation for excellence in its systems. A particular early focus for research and we believe that there are Frontier IP will be the University’s plans exciting opportunities to aid the commerfor a Centre for Translational Bio- cial development of some very interesting research projects.”

Medicine.

The University of Plymouth is ranked The agreement will make a significant impact in the South West as it provides a as one of the top 50 research universities further catalyst for the University’s work in the UK, with 80% of its research with enterprise across the region, and in judged to be of international repute. In particular its partnership in the Peninsula particular, the University has a worldGrowth Acceleration and Investment class reputation for its research in marine Network, its work with the Tamar Science sciences, where it operates Europe’s Park, and its management of the largest marine institute, as well as medInnovation Centres at Pool and Tremough ical sciences, computer science and inforon behalf of Cornwall Council, which matics and environmental sciences. It provide incubation and space for spin-out also has a well established reputation for fostering innovation and has sought to companies.

Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice- build strong links between its research Chancellor of the University of Plymouth, activities and industry.

INVESTMENT NOW June/July 2011

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Southampton scientists to help create a sustainable energy system for the UK

THE University of Southampton is playing a key role in a major public/private partnership to evaluate the use of biomass to create a cost effective and sustainable UK energy system for 2050.

Domestic biomass (a renewable energy source from living, or recently living organisms, such as plants, rubbish and wood), sustainably grown in the UK, could provide up to 10% of the UK’s energy needs by 2050 and significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Three new bio energy projects launched by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), valued at £4.57m, are looking to: ■ Establish an in-depth field trial to study ecosystem and sustainability when converting land to bio energy crop production; ■ Explore at an engineering level, the cost-effectiveness, technology challenges and technology developments required for biomass to power com-

bined with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS); ■ Explore the key challenges in developing sustainable UK bio energy supply chains for heat, power, and transport fuels production and consider the best use of UK biomass from an energy security, affordability and GHG reduction perspective.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker says: “Bio energy has the potential to play a key role in low carbon energy generation in the future, which is why we need groundbreaking innovation today. These projects being run by the ETI will greatly deepen our understanding of this kind of energy, helping the sector to grow and thrive and ensure the best ideas and research are given every chance to succeed.”

The University of Southampton, led

by Professor Gail Taylor, will be participating in two of the three projects. The largest of the three projects is the threeyear long £3.28m Ecosystem Land-Use

Modelling (ELUM) trial to study the impact of bio energy crop land-use changes on soil carbon stocks and GHG emissions.

The University of Southampton team will address the current uncertainties around measuring how these energy crops take up carbon dioxide, how much of that is locked up in crop and soil, and how much is released back to the environment.

Dr Matthew Tallis, environmental plant biologist from the University of Southampton, says: “We will achieve this by instrumenting a real commercial energy crop field in Oxfordshire and collect data on carbon flux continuously, over the duration of the project. We have very little idea on how these new second generation crops impact on the net balance of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and they could be a significant improvement compared to land use for other purposes, including arable and grassland crops.”

The data will be utilised in bioenergy crop yield models to assess how much car-

bon captured by the energy crop can be utilised for energy purposes and how much may be held in long-term pools of carbon in the soil or ‘sequestered’.

In a second project, the nine-month long £835,000 Biomass Systems Value Chain Modelling project, Southampton researchers will focus on estimating the current and future supply of biomass for the UK market, given constraints such as conflict with food, or the nature conservation value of the land, or where other ecosystem services might be negatively affected. In addition, the results of this research will be linked to current scenarios for UK climate change and biomass supply will be predicted forward to 2020 and 2050.

These two projects will help to inform several on-going policy developments for future bioenergy deployment in the UK, with the overall aim to move towards a low carbon economy with a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by 2050.

Basketball research finds foreign workers boost domestic skills

ACOMPREHENSIVE study of the number of foreign basketball players across Europe over the last 30 years has revealed that countries with higher numbers of overseas squad members perform better at international tournaments – with important implications for not only other sports, but other skilled occupations.

The study by University of Salford sports economist Professor David Forrest with colleagues from Spain and Italy, looked at basketball as an example of skills ‘spillover’.

Using statistical analysis they were able to demonstrate that European countries which were more open to overseas players – particularly those from North

America – saw a benefit in the skill levels of their players, as demonstrated by results at international level.

Professor Forrest explained: “There are many arguments over whether imported labour is good for economies, however by using sport as an example, we are in the unique position to be able to measure international success empirically.”

Professor Forrest and his colleagues believe that their findings can apply equally to other skilled professions such as media or medicine where different skills and methods are passed between workers.

It also impacts on the major football leagues across Europe, though Professor

oe:gen expands

DIGITAL creative agency oe:gen is growing in more ways than one as it takes additional office space at No.1 Nottingham Science Park and employs two more people.

The Nottingham company, which has an international client base, has taken a 1,500 sq. ft. suite at the ultra green building on University Boulevard, a third larger than its previous one. oe:gen specialises in mobile and web based systems, including automated marketing and e-commerce solutions. The move will allow more project managers and developers to work onsite, delivering projects collaboratively to clients.

Paul Vernon, sales director of oe:gen, said: “We wanted more space while it was still available in the science park,

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plus it’s the best office in the building. It’s been on the cards for a while and we’re looking at expanding even further next year.”

The tech company, which has been at No.1 Nottingham Science Park for 18 months, has seen a recent increase in client activity and is also building its partner network with leading web technology companies to grow its business.

The two new employees now bring the team up to 12 members.

John Long, development director at Blueprint, said: “oe:gen is exactly the type of company we want to have here – progressive in outlook, innovative and going places. I’m thrilled that not only are they working well here, but are also growing and flourishing as a company.”

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Forrest believes that the English premier league is a special case.

“Unfortunately for the national team, English football, unlike European basketball, attracts the very best players from around the world,” he said. “In this case the numbers of foreigners is high enough that the Premier League actually benefits all countries by passing shared skills outside England.”

The study comprised every European country’s player records and international results between 1986 and 2007, and included the countries formed by the break-ups of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. All in all they found that the average number of overseas players

increased from just over two per team in 1986 to 5.5 in 2007.

This was particularly heightened by the impact of the Bosman ruling in 1995 which allowed sports players to move freely between clubs when their contracts expired.

Professor Forrest concluded: “While we can’t say what an optimum number of overseas players in a squad would be, these findings do show that a larger number of people from a highly skilled culture does make a positive impact on their domestic colleagues.

“We’d be confident that this would apply as much to a British IT firm as it would to a Croatian basketball team.”

PA customers get a clearer picture

A PROJECT carried out by Nottingham Trent University has helped to increase the competitiveness of PressAssociation (PA) Images by improving the efficiency and quality of image search results on the organisation’s website.

PA Images, part of PA Group Ltd, is a picture library which generates revenue by the syndication of images taken by its own photographers and other contributing agencies. It currently processes an average of 7,000 images per day from events ranging from sport to politics and entertainment. PA Images has an online database with approximately four million images, which is used for storage and retrieval by both its staff and customers.

Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), Dr Taha Osman, senior lecturer in computing and technology at Nottingham Trent University, enlisted PhD graduate, Dhavalkumar Thakker, to assist in the development of an intelligent search engine to help users find the images they are looking for quicker and more easily.

In order to generate more accurate results, each image caption will be annotated with additional information, such as a football player’s spouse name, previous clubs and place of birth, extracted from both the company’s knowledge base and public knowledge sources such

as Wikipedia.

Dr Taha Osman said: “PA Images’ principal business is the syndication of images and, with an ever increasing number of images being stored, the problem of matching images to user needs has increased.

“Users generally enter very simple searches which may result in several hundred images in their results. If they don’t see what they’re looking for on the first couple of pages of results, they may decide to look on an alternate supplier’s website.

Many of the images available from PA Images are taken at events where other photo agencies are present, so can be sourced elsewhere. This, coupled with a global recession, meant that the need for customers to find what they’re looking for first time has never been so crucial.”

Martin Stephens, managing director of PA Images, added: “We saw the development of an intelligent search system as a vital tool to support the growth of our business. This KTP has moved us to a position where we can implement systems to help customers find the image they need without entering complex search terms.

The work we have done has also enabled us to enter into discussions about working together with the University again on future projects which we believe can give us an edge in a difficult market.”