A great business base speaks for itself

By Loughborough University
schedule16th Apr 19

Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) is one of the largest of its kind in the UK – and 2019 will see it continue to grow.

Home to more than 75 companies and a workforce of over 2,200 people, LUSEP is a dynamic innovation community of start-ups, SMEs and multinationals.

One of the SMEs based in the Park’s Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC) for just over a year moved in by degrees. In May 2019, We Love Surveys opened its ATIC office. Since then, they’ve closed their original London premises, moving their whole operation to Loughborough.

Helen Dargie, the company’s Director, says of the move: “The running costs of two offices just wasn’t viable long-term, and we really enjoy being based at ATIC. After just a few weeks, we felt right at home and had made some really useful connections with the University and other companies based here.

“ATIC is a lovely environment in which to welcome our clients; and access by road, rail and air is easy – making it relatively simple for our team members who didn’t make the move from London to Loughborough to work from home and visit a couple of times a week.”

When 3DG Design secured a new contract in 2015 and needed to be based in the Loughborough area, company founder David Garvin chose LUSEP. He says: “ATIC seemed the ideal place to settle as a new business.

“The rates were competitive, and I could choose a set-up to match my needs from rent-a-desk to my own suite of offices. I liked the idea that there was the flexibility to start small and grow.”

He goes on to say: “I feel that I’ve become part of a unique and supportive business community. My neighbours are a valuable resource. Some have become clients, but others have opened opportunities for me – providing unforeseen support which has really enhanced my company’s development.”

Dr Faz Chowdhury, Founder and CEO of Nemaura – one of LUSEP’s most successful and long-standing tenants – echoes this idea: “We have very useful neighbours who have skills and knowledge to support our development. Cresco Innovation specialises in securing funding and have helped us win Government grants to conduct proof of concept studies for our vaccine delivery system.”

He also notes: “Being on the University campus, and part of the East Midlands’ life sciences cluster, gives us access to a first-class recruitment pipeline and a breadth of expertise to support our product development activity.”

Earlier this year, work officially began on a new HQ for a leading software company which will generate £1.6 million a year for front-line Leicestershire County Council services. The Access Group’s new offices are due to open in July 2020.

The Access Group is one of the UK’s top employers and innovators, and a perfect fit for LUSEP. It has already established mutually beneficial links with the University since opening a technical development and support centre on the Park in November 2016.

Jonathan Jorgensen, Chief Sales Officer at The Access Group, says: “We are extremely pleased to have broken ground on our new head office. We wanted to focus on the right location for our continued expansion and Loughborough is a logical choice with easy access to skilled people from the University and the surrounding area."

There will be many more success stories such as this at this year’s Made in the Midlands Exhibition, which takes place at the Ricoh Arena on June 20. To join the hundreds of members exhibiting simply register for tickets by clicking on the banner below and for more details, don’t forget to visit our new exhibition website - www.madeinthemidlandsexpo.co.uk