The University of Warwick Science Park (also known as UWSP and Warwick Science Park) was one of the first university based science park in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 when it was opened by the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...

 in 1984. It was a joint venture between the University of Warwick

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...

, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and Barclays. The latter are no longer shareholders having been replaced by WM Enterpise. The University of Warwick agreed in 2011 to purchase the shareholding of Coventry City Council. UWSP currently covers four sites; the main campus abutting the University of Warwick

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...

, the Business Innovation Centre in Binley

Binley

Binley may refer too:Places:*Binley, Coventry, a district of Coventry, England*Binley, Hampshire, a place in Hampshire, EnglandPeople:...

, Warwick Innovation Centre on Warwick Technology Park and Blythe Valley Innovation Centre near Solihull

Solihull

Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...

.

UWSP typically provides office and lab space for 145 businesses employing more than 1800 people.

History

The University of Warwick Science Park was established in 1984 by the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Warwick, Lord Butterworth. The first building, the Barclay's Venture Centre (now the Venture Centre) was formally opened by UK Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Margaret Thatcher on 24 February 1984. In 2004, UWSP was awarded the 'Incubator of the Year' award by UKBI. The founding Director of UWSP, David Rowe

David Rowe

David Rowe may refer to:* David E. Rowe, American science historian* David C. Rowe, American psychologist* David Rowe-Beddoe, Baron Rowe-Beddoe, British politician*David Rowe , British Olympic cyclist*David Rowe , Australian tennis player...

, was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion

Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion

The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion is one of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise, and is awarded annually to people who:* give up their time - and sometimes provide financial support - to help potential entrepreneurs in education or in the early phases of business development* work in...

 in 2006.

University of Warwick

The University of Warwick Science Park’s main 42-acre campus is centred on the Venture Centre. It includes a further twenty buildings, some of which are owner occupied whilst others are leased. Many of the buildings on UWSP's campus are named after old British car models.

The main buildings include:

The Venture Centre

Herald Court

Sovereign Court

Riley Court

Vanguard Centre

Viscount Centres

Warwick Innovation Centre

Warwick Innovation Centre opened at Warwick Technology Park in 1997 as a joint venture between UWSP and Warwickshire County Council. Further developments followed in 1999 & 2001 providing 45000 sq ft (4,180.6 m²) of lettable space.

Business Innovation Centre

The 34000 sq ft (3,158.7 m²) Business Innovation Centre at Binley, Coventry opened in April 2000 as a joint venture between UWSP and Coventry City Council.

Blythe Valley Innovation Centre

UWSP manages the 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) Innovation Centre at Blythe Valley Business Park on behalf of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Prologis and British Land

British Land

The British Land Company plc is one of the largest property development and investment companies in the United Kingdom. The firm switched to Real Estate Investment Trust status when REITs were introduced in the United Kingdom in January 2007. It is headquartered in London...

.

Activities

In addition to property services, UWSP offers a range of business support activities targeted at innovation led SME

SME

SME may stand for:*Small and medium enterprises, a synonym for Small and Medium-sized Business *Subject matter expert, a work role description...

s.

Investment Readiness(Connect Midlands)

Connect Midlands is a not-for-profit network, that supports technology and high growth companies to gain investment through training and mentoring, investment showcasing, and networking between businesses, investors and the professional services community in the Midlands. Since 2001 Connect Midlands has assisted hundreds of companies who have gone on to raise over £200 million in investment.

Access to Finance (Minerva)

UWSP hosts and manages the Business Angel Network, Minerva. MiNErVA is actually an acronym for Midlands Network of Entrepreneurs, Venturers and Angels. In addition to supporting a community of high-net worth individuals, Minerva undertakes investment readiness consultancy and raises finance from banks

Banks

Banks or The Banks may refer to:* Bank, a financial institution- Placenames :Australia* Banks, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra...

 and venture capital

Venture capital

Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...

funds.
UWSP has also managed a number of seed investment funds including the fully invested UWSP Concepts Fund and the £7m Advantage Proof of Concept Fund.

Technical Marketing (Techmark)

Techmark has provided marketing services to established , start-up and pre-start technology businesses since 1996. Services include market assesment, strategic planning and implementation.

Incubation (Ignite)

Ignite provides mentoring and subsidised incubator space for start-up, knowledge led firms. This is spread across three sites, the main campus, Warwick Innovation Centre and the Business Innovation Centre.

Incubation (Labstart)

Labstart provides subsidised offices and laboratory space for start-up technology businesses on UWSP's main campus.

Incubation (UK Market Access Centre)

The UK Market Access Centre provides a blend of subsidised office space and professional service support for foreign companies seeking to establish UK trading arms.