Janet Todd – manager at NETPark
Janet Todd, manager at the North East Technology Park, (NETPark) talks about how companies can benefit from being part of an open and inclusive network at the park and how they can access advice and support to help their business flourish.
“Business Durham arrange regular innovation talks and they always focus around a specific topic, which is of real benefit to businesses. It was fantastic to see one company, Quorum, based at NETPark, receive £37,000 in research and development tax credits recently as a result of one of our talks. Companies often don’t realise they’re entitled to claim them, but it can make quite a sizeable difference, as Quorum has demonstrated.
“We have an excellent relationship with all of the companies at NETPark and work closely with them from the initial enquiry stage, when we discuss their specific requirements and identify the type of space they need, through to fit out. We provide a mixture of lab and office space and can support them as they work on a lab fit offering project management or simply introducing them to the right people. Our connections are of huge benefit to businesses. We introduced pharmaceutical company Northumbria Pharma to the Rural Development Programme, for example, and they’ve successfully applied for a grant worth more than £160K.
“We can also advise on a range of other issues, from health and safety to IT solutions and as businesses thrive, we can help them grow into bigger space. When the time comes for expansion, we can use our contacts again. One of the positive aspects of being part of the local authority is that we can put companies in touch with the right people quickly, such as in planning or building control, which is really useful if a company is managing their own fit out. We know the right people to speak to so it can make the process smoother.
“There are 51 businesses on the park and our new Explorer building is 35 per cent full already. One of the things I regularly see among businesses on the park is collaboration. It’s a very open and transparent environment and many companies work on projects in partnership.
“Our role at Business Durham is to offer tailored advice and support. We help businesses raise their profile with our complimentary PR service. It’s a very supportive environment in which companies flourish – whether they’re in the Incubator or in larger premises, such as Kromek. The support doesn’t stop at a certain level of growth – it continues as the business develops.”
One of the positive aspects of being part of the local authority is that we can put companies in touch with the right people quickly, such as in planning or building control, which is really useful if a company is managing their own fit out.
Janet Todd, NETPark Manager.
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The North East Technology Park provides a dynamic and supportive environment to accelerate the growth of ambitious, innovative, high tech companies into global markets. NETPark encourages collaborative multidisciplinary links, driving innovation, enterprise and economic prosperity.
We provide companies with access to a focused and international community where talent flourishes, ideas are generated and businesses have the support and resources to compete with the best in the world.
NETPark North East Technology Park
NETPark, North East Technology Park,
Sedgefield, County Durham TS21 3FD
Call Us: (+44) 01740 625250
Email: enquiries@northeasttechnologypark.com
Web: northeasttechnologypark.com
It fits perfectly for us that we’re surrounded by like-minded companies at NETPark. There are a number of highly skilled people in the area who can help us grow our business. The facilities and services offered by NETPark are first class, they make office life simple and engaging.
Access to quality facilities was one of the main drivers for deciding to locate the business at the NETPark. We have been able to use this as a launch pad to link into support from CPI and world-class expertise from Durham University.
The proximity to the universities and the infrastructure are very important factors. Ultimately having a presence in Europe is very valuable to us and we intend to stay at NETPark for many years to come.
The quality of the facilities at NETPark and the attitude of staff is first class. It has a really dynamic, innovative atmosphere.
CPI has developed a specialist offering to support SMEs looking to develop their printable electronics applications and our partnership with Business Durham has been instrumental in attracting several SMEs to locate here in the region.
We initially came because of the printable electronics centre but access to a highly skilled semi conductor workforce in the North East has been a key factor in us staying and growing here, as well as the value for money office space and the access to funding.