SCOTTISH INCUBATOR WINS TOP UK AWARD
Hillington Park confirms expansion plans
Hillington Park Innovation Centre has won the top UK award for British business incubators.
The centre, opened six years ago by Innovation Centres (Scotland), won the Established Incubator award at a ceremony in Birmingham organised by the industry organisation UK Business Incubators
The award coincides with confirmation that work on the centre's second phase development will begin in January 2007.
The new building - which represents a doubling of size for Hillington Park - will be targeted at start-up companies who have "graduated" from centre and need more space as the recruit and expand.
"This award is a real boost, coinciding with the confirmation of our expansion plans," commented ICS chief executive Tom Ogilvie.
"It is recognition from the industry that our model, which provides high class business facilities with an array of excellent professional advisory services, represents the cutting edge of modern incubator practice."
ICS expanded its activities to create the Alba Innovation Centre at Livingston earlier this year.
"The model we have developed has paid off, both for our backers and for many of our start-ups. The rate of growth is accelerating and the number of companies graduating is growing all the time," added Tom Ogilvie.
Malcolm Buckler, Chief Executive, UK Business Incubation, commented: "I'm thrilled to be giving Hillington Park Innovation Centre with the award for UKBI Established Incubator of the Year.
"Hillington's application demonstrated not only their dedication to delivering good practice business incubation, it also proved that they are truly having an impact on their local economy and ultimately on their clients. Tom and the team should be commended on their services and the successes they have achieved. They are an example that others should follow."
The award made to Hillington Park Innovation Centre is for incubators that have been operating for more than two years, that are demonstrating good practice, providing value added services and impacting on local and regional economies.
MEPC, which owns Innovation Centres (Scotland) in a joint venture with Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire, confirmed that work on the extension will begin in January, with completion before the end of 2007.
The 27,000 square foot building will be a three-storey structure similar to the existing centre, and will be built adjacent to it.
Contact:
Maurice Smith
The Value Innovators Ltd (TVI)
Tel. 0141 552 9877
Mob. 0771 476 9654
Email maurice.smith@tvi-ltd.co.uk
Note: An artist's impression of the planned extension to Hillington Park Innovation Centre is available on request. Contact Maurice Smith of TVI.
