Annual Report 2009

Annual Statistics 2009: figures to year end 2008 (PowerPoint document) UKSPA continues to provide a number of key services for its members each year in return for an annual subscription fee which has remained at the same inflation-proofed level for the last eight years. I should report that the Association finances remain in good order. Our key performance indicator is the number of Members retained, and although we have had several casualties this year who have been unable to renew their membership, we have been able to replace these losses with new Members. We hope to continue building our core business over the next year, and believe our Membership offers good value for money. Fortunately we carry no debt, and have marginally increased reserves over the last year, although interest payments on these have plummeted. Our annual statistics show the impact of the recession on the Science Park sector. Although we still received a good response for survey data this year there was, understandably, a reduction in the amount of information submitted. The recession has clearly had an effect on occupancy rates, and also on the health of some of our tenants, but it also seems to be the case that the Science Park movement is faring better than the commercial property sector. We are continuing to analyse the material to draw out its implications but I very much hope that this isn't the beginning of a difficult period for recruiting quality tenants onto our parks. Turning to the delivery of UKSPA services, the success of our website – each day around 500 people visit the website and spend substantial time on the site – has encouraged us to look at ways to extend its usefulness to members. We have started to investigate the possibilities of video content in order to raise the profile of our member parks as well as deliver new ways to promote key services to potential tenants and other markets. We are also upgrading our office systems and are working with RA Information Systems (UKSPA Business Affiliates) who are providing invaluable support as we improve the ways in which we hold and use our membership and other customer information. Our printed publications continue to be popular and during the year we again produced the UKSPA Annual Directory and three issues of 'Innovation Into Success'. We also worked with Haseltine Lake to produce an Intellectual Property Best Practice Guide, and have started to work on a new series of Best Practice Guides. We also piloted a monthly e-newsletter which has been well received and have developed an UKSPA group on 'LinkedIn' to test whether this is a sensible channel to communicate with our Membership. Please continue to use UKSPA as an outlet to promote your park or centre, and let us have any newsworthy items, events, initiatives or good news stories so that we are able to promote your activities. UKSPA is a Member of WAINOVA, and we worked with them this year to produce the 'World Atlas of Innovation'. The hard copy is a beautiful 700 page production featuring Science Parks throughout the world. This material is also available online and is a must for any park wishing to promote themselves internationally. Looking at the development of the innovation infrastructure overseas always makes me realise how comparatively modest the investment for Science Park development is from the UK government. No wonder the UK is now the only country in the world with a net outflow of researchers. Over the last 18 months the UKSPA Board has been considering the complex question of the types of data and tools Members need in order to evaluate their impact. In brief, our conclusion is that whilst it is possible to define a number of data sets from which members choose the most relevant indicators to their environment, it would be an extremely expensive exercise to collect and aggregate this data. We have therefore developed ASPECT – a profiling tool that will help Members measure themselves against a range of statements. The profile can then be used as a way to produce a development plan in areas where potential improvements have been identified. I should stress that ASPECT is for internal evaluation/profiling purposes only, it is not intended to offer wider use on economic impact. I am also pleased to report that the final touches have now been made to 'UKSPA Advantage' which is open to all Members and their tenants. We have negotiated significant discounts on a range of products and services, which will help the bottom line of parks and tenants. I would like to encourage members to use this scheme, and to promote it to tenants. Full details are available on the UKSPA advantage website. As part of the initiative we are also developing new relationships with partners to deliver additional services – such as an accreditation project for ICT infrastructure and services which, we hope, will create a marketing edge for our members in the promotion of their facilities. At the time of compiling this report we have been immersed in the preparations for the Association's 25th Anniversary celebrations in Manchester, held in conjunction with Manchester Science Parks, who are also enjoying their 25th Anniversary. During the long period of planning for this event the recession really took hold to such an extent that at one time I felt we would never make it to the delivery of the conference! However, it was decided that UKSPA's 25th Birthday should not be spoiled by the current economic climate and that 'the show must go on' and we are grateful to all who are supporting this. In fact, I would like to finish by thanking all those Members and Business Affiliates who continue to offer their support to the Association. I never cease to be amazed by the generosity offered when the UKSPA office makes a request for support – it is this sense of community and belonging that continues to make UKSPA an Association worthy of thriving over the next 25 years. Paul Wright September 2009