Annual Report 2006

Annual Statistics 2006: figures to year end 2005
(Please note that this download is in the Microsoft PowerPoint Format)

UKSPA performs a number of key services for members in return for an annual subscription fee of £865. We have been pleased to keep this subscription fee at this level for the last five years and have worked hard to secure sponsorship and other forms of revenue to subsidise the cost of delivering services and running the UKSPA office.

The increase in membership numbers and volume of activity through our office this year is clearly an indication of the wider interest shown in our activities both in the UK and internationally. Our core membership benefits are:

• Representation, Lobbying and Consultation
• Managing UKSPA Members’ Meetings
• Seeking Continual Professional Development Opportunities
• Carrying out research
• Publishing Best Practice Guides
• Producing publications – our Annual Directory and Periodical
• Managing our websites – both UKSPA and LabspaceUK
• Networking with knowledge based industry stakeholders
• Involvement with International Projects and foreign delegations
• Salary Survey
• Collection UKSPA Annual Statistics
• Responding to membership queries

2005-2006 was a very busy year for the UKSPA executive, as in addition to the above core activities, we have been working on several other development projects and activities, a few of which I believe are worthy of mention in this brief review of the year.

UKSPA Focus Groups
UKSPA members’ meetings have varied in style, content and duration over the last few years in an attempt to provide most members with meetings that add value, whether through Continuing Professional Development Opportunities, technical workshop content, or simply networking with like-minded colleagues. During the year we initiated a number of focus groups at our members meetings – run for and by members themselves in an informal way. Members have responded positively to having the opportunity to discuss common issues in a more informal setting, and are now a feature of all members meetings.

The UKSPA Brand
The UKSPA brand is well known and has an inherent value, so must be treated with care. Over the last year we have refocused our logo and refreshed the branding on all publications to more accurately reflect what the Association represents. “Building-Technology-Business” has been warmly welcomed by our members and the new look Directory and UKSPA magazines are now very professional publications. At the time of writing we are due to publish the second edition of “Planning, Development, Operation and Management of Science Parks” which will also proudly carry the new UKSPA livery.

The UKSPA Affinity Programme
For some time the UKSPA Board have been supporting the executive to develop a group purchasing initiative principally aimed at reducing costs of operation for tenants on science parks. A business model was agreed in December and a group of 21 member parks volunteered to test a pilot website with a limited number of product and service suppliers. Early indications for the future of the project are very positive, and we will keep members posted on the developments of this initiative over the next year.

The UKSPA Conference and Awards Programme
We decided that it would be appropriate for our members to have a special conference in Edinburgh in February 2007 with an associated exhibition, gala dinner and awards programme. Planning for the event has been in progress for several months and we anticipate an excellent event at the Herriot Watt conference centre with many organisations form the UK and overseas being represented at the conference entitled “Roz can do it”.

In Conclusion
It is worthwhile reminding ourselves that UKSPA Member Parks are a valuable national asset shown by the:

• steady growth of tenant companies, which, on average, have increased in size as measured by number of employees and floor area whilst maintaining their level of investment in R&D
• enhanced growth in employment for science park based businesses compared with similar companies at other locations
• presence of a higher proportion of qualified scientists and engineers employed by science park based companies
• Overall commercial performance of Science Park tenants is significantly better than that of similar businesses located elsewhere.

There is significant potential for our members to an enhanced role in the UK Knowledge Economy in the future, and we intend to work more closely with central government and the Regional Development Agencies in the future to support the delivery of the innovation agenda.

Finally, I am pleased to report that despite the inherent turbulence of a small organisation undergoing staff changes and increasing business activity levels, that we managed a balanced budget during the year. The Association has built up a reasonable level of cash reserve that can now be called upon as cash flow becomes more erratic. Whilst we are financially sound it should be noted that the Association does continue to operate on tight margins, with little financial flexibility. The sponsorship we receive from commercial sponsors, is very welcome, and we are grateful in particular to NatWest and CUH2A who have continued to give us financial support. More recently we are pleased to have received financial support from James Hallam Insurance to support the costs of development of the Affinity Programme mentioned above.

The programme of events and activities that we now have available to members is greater than ever before, and we believe offers value for money for our most important asset – our members.

Acknowledgement
I am very grateful to UKSPA members, the Board and our many Business Affiliates who have worked with us over the past year. I would also like to extend my thanks to our sponsors for their continuing support, without whom the Association would be a much less effective company. I would also like to thank David Kirby for his support and guidance as my Chairman over the last two years.

Paul Wright
September 2006