New innovation centre
22 July 2010
A new business and innovation centre is set to become the heart of job-creating innovation and technology in Southampton in a boost to the regional economy.
Ocean Village Innovation Centre, due to be officially launched in mid-September, will provide research and development companies and other hi-tech firms with 30,000 sq ft of space and support.
Oxford Innovation, a leading operator of 15 innovation centres across the UK, has been awarded an initial two-year contract to manage and operate the brand new premises at Ocean Village marina on behalf of landlord OVIC LLP.
The five-storey Innovation Centre on Ocean Way will operate along similar lines to Portsmouth Technopole, also run by Oxford Innovation, where occupancy rates have doubled to 90% within the last 12 months, with 150 people working for 42 diverse businesses.
Chris Allington, Oxford Innovation’s managing director of business and innovation centres, said: “The aim is to place the Innovation Centre at the heart of the regional economic regeneration agenda, creating scores of higher-value jobs down the line and benefiting as many companies and organisations as possible.
“This is about the private sector doing what it does best, providing the oxygen for enterprise to thrive, and we know we can count on the wholehearted strategic support of the city council and other public sector establishments, such as the city’s two dynamic universities and general hospital.
“Our role will be to provide the expertise and support services for start-up firms interested in business growth and technology commercialisation. At times we’ll be connecting occupiers with academic expertise, or, where appropriate, funding gateways, further driving innovation.
“The focus will be on developing a knowledge-based economy, which is so important to future sustainable growth in these challenging economic times. In turn this will help rebalance and boost the economy from an over-reliance on jobs in retail and tourism.
“You only have to look at the success of the Portsmouth Technopole to see how one site can make a difference economically, and it is our fundamental belief that the need for innovation centres, with their positive ripple effects, has never been greater.”
The centre is the latest addition to Oxford Innovation’s portfolio that provides flexible office and lab space for more than 400 high-growth technology companies, a number of which have floated on the Alternative Investment Market.
Work will shortly commence to divide each of the five floors into smaller units, suitable for a variety of businesses that fit the current criteria of innovation and technology.
The ground floor will incorparate meeting and conference space with the highest technology possible, including video conference and interactive boards.
Oxford Innovation will also look to build a business community within the centre so occupiers can support each other through networking and other events, as well as trading services.
The centre management team will also signpost them to relevant funding or business advice organisations.
Businesses that could well benefit from Ocean Village Innovation Centre would include specialists in the internet, product design, digital mapping, oceanography, security, biotechnology, navigational systems, electronics and biometrics.
Royston Smith, the city council’s political leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “The centre will strengthen the local economy by creating and increasing job opportunities through encouraging new and existing businesses involved in innovation, research and development and knowledge-based industries.
“It is important for Southampton that these higher-value jobs are generated, as retail alone cannot be relied upon to stimulate the economy as we emerge from what is now officially recognised as the toughest for the economy since the Great Depression of the 1930s.”
Jimmy Chestnutt, Chief Executive of Hampshire Chamber, the county’s independent voice of business representing 2,000 members, said: “It is vitally important for the economic regeneration of Southampton and Hampshire that businesses and inward investors have suitable accommodation in which to turn their ideas into commercial viability.
“We welcome the launch of Oxford Innovation's new centre as a further boost to job creation and regional economic development."
Matthew Leonard-Williams, Estates Director for MDL, Europe’s largest marina operator and developer, said: “We welcome Oxford Innovation to Ocean Village and we hope that the central waterside location will help to attract new research and development businesses to the Innovation Centre and we wish the operator every success.”
Financial details of the Oxford Innovation contract have not been disclosed.
Image shows: Outside the new innovation centre, from left, Stephen Brownlie (senior centre manager) of Oxford Innovation, Jeff Walters, Southampton City Council's economic development manager, Jimmy Chestnutt, who heads up Hampshire Chamber, and Oxford Innovation's Matt Harrington (commercial director) and Chris Allington (managing director)
Image copyright: Deep South Media Ltd
For further information about business space at the Ocean Village Innovation Centre:
Contact: Oxford Innovation, Head Office, Oxford Innovation Ltd, Mill Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 0JX, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1865 811127
Email:enquiries@oxin.co.uk
Web: www.oceanvillage-ic.com
For further information about this new story:
Contact: Ron Wain, PR Account Director (Deep South Media Ltd)
Mobile: 07824 355523
Office: 0800 980 2081
E-mail:ron.wain@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
Website: www.deepsouthmedia.co.uk
