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ATIC topping out

27 Mar 2015

Ceremony marks construction of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Advanced Technology Innovation Centre

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Dignitaries from around the region gathered at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ on Thursday 26 March to celebrate the completion of the first phase of construction of the new Advanced Technology Innovation Centre.

The Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC) is the first new building to be developed as part of the expansion of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Science and Enterprise Parks (LUSEP).

Attending the ‘topping out’ ceremony were (pictured left to right above) Jon Walker (Director of Enterprise Development, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ), Cllr David Slater (Leader, Charnwood Borough Council), Mandip Rai (Head of Strategy and Engagement, Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership), Cllr Blake Pain (Lead Member for Economic Growth, Leicestershire County Council) and Geoff Parker (CEO, Charnwood Borough Council).

They were joined by representatives from construction company G F Tomlinson and a number of the companies that make up the 1,500-strong innovation community on LUSEP.

ATIC will provide high specification office, studio and rent-a-desk space for up to 50 companies, ranging from early-stage businesses to large SMEs. When it opens its doors in September 2015, it is anticipated that ATIC will have over 50% occupancy, based on current firm expressions of interest.

ATIC’s development is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)1.

Professor Steve Rothberg, Pro Vice Chancellor (Enterprise) at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, said: “The University plays an important role in stimulating growth regionally and nationally, generating £823 million-worth of expenditure in the economy and sustaining more than 12,000 jobs.

“The construction of the Advanced Technology Innovation Centre is a significant and very exciting phase in the development of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Science and Enterprise Parks. It will allow us to provide crucial support for even greater numbers of start-up businesses and enable us to enhance further the contribution that the University makes to both the region’s and the country’s prosperity.”

Andy Sewards, Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “This scheme is a wonderful example of a construction project which is supporting º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s goals to boost the economic development of the region – helping new and existing businesses and creating jobs.

“As part of the wider Science and Enterprise Parks, the Innovation Centre building is being created with a philosophy which encourages occupants and visitors to interact with one another. This will help to create an ethos of collaboration with the sharing of insight and expertise.

“The completion of the first phase is an important milestone for the project, demonstrating how the building is taking shape and the significant progress made on the scheme.”

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Science and Enterprise Parks is a magnet for a range of global business partners, including specialist high-technology companies and high growth spin-out and spin-in businesses. It combines the benefits of a purpose-built corporate environment with a complementary research and development base and skilled workforce supply.

Plans are underway to significantly expand LUSEP. When fully developed, the site will provide up to 200,000 sq m (2.15m sq ft) of floor space and will be home to businesses employing as many as 6,000 people.

The project has the backing of Leicestershire County Council and Charnwood Borough Council, as well as the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP). LUSEP’s expansion is supported by the Leicester and Leicestershire City Deal, highlighting its important role in strategic economic development.

New enquiries are very welcome and anyone interested in finding out more about the Advanced Technology Innovation Centre or º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Science and Enterprise Parks should contact Steve Lyons, T: 01509 223673, E: S.Lyons2@lboro.ac.uk

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 15/36

 

The Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC ) project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding.

 

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

 

Contact for all media enquiries

Hannah Baldwin

Head of Corporate Communications
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
T: 01509 222239
E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk

@HannahBaldwin3