ABOUT

Lancaster University- ranked top 10 for SME interactions

Lancaster University, a world leading research university, is ranked in the top 10 for interactions with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and houses three office facilities, Lancaster Environment Centre, cTAP and InfoLab21.  The University achieved the Small Business Charter Gold Award and has more than £18M of activity with business in Science and Technology disciplines alone.  

Our Location

Located in North West England, between Manchester and the Lake District, the historic city of Lancaster is well connected to the rest of the UK by both road and rail. The campus environment offers residents the benefits of access to a range of world-leading R&D facilities, sports centre, shops and restaurants, and access to extra resources from skilled staff and students.  

Collaborative Networks

Lancaster has an outstanding track record of collaboration with businesses, delivering support to over 5,000 SMEs. We are closely involved with the City Council, Chambers of Commerce, County Council, Knowledge Transfer Networks, as well as the NHS, in order to deliver a programme of events for our resident community, which include master classes, information on our new research, and funding streams.

We have an extensive multi-million pound programme of business support for businesses, and also provide opportunities to partner with the University in the delivery of training, access to international markets through international collaborative programmes, and access to high quality graduates with opportunities for student placements throughout the year.

Take a 360 tour inside our facilities for businesses: cTAP​   InfoLab21   Lancaster Environment Centre

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InfoLab21

InfoLab21 is home to a community of digitally based companies which are able to access the world leading research from the School of Computing & Communications to bring cutting edge technology to the market.

Currently home to 16 companies employing 87 staff the digital community has been thriving over the recession with 0.5% failure rate over the last 3 years which is well below the national average of 33%.

Lancaster Environment Centre

Lancaster Environment Centre – one of the largest in Europe – houses a community of 20 environmentally based businesses in ‘exemplar’ office facilities according to a government report on universities-businesses interactions.

The Environment Centre has a long and successful history of working with micro, SMEs, and large organisations such as Waitrose, Unilever plc, United Utilities plc and welcomes both local and international environmental businesses.

We have invested £35M in our buildings and facilities during the past decade, housed more than 50 companies since 2007, and worked with over 1000 SMEs since 2005, supporting them with European Regional Development Funds in excess of £18.5M.

Collaborative Technology Access Programme (cTAP)

Businesses can also work alongside our Chemistry Department and take a hot desk in our new £11.3 million technology facility cTAP, containing a unique suite of cutting-edge instrumentation and facilities worth almost £7 million. 

Exemplary Facilities

Businesses in all three facilities have access to a wide range of offices which vary in size from 12m2 to 79m2. We also have a number of hot-desks available for businesses.

Having a base at Lancaster University also entitles you to have access to:

• ·         World class researchers
• ·         Glasshouse/labs
• ·         High speed broadband
• ·         Telephone handsets
• ·         Wireless
• ·         24 hour access
• ·         Access to meeting rooms
• ·         Cleaning
• ·         Kitchens

With business development teams on hand to help build relationships, you can be sure your company has the best chance to use the latest facilities and collaborate with researchers to develop real world solutions.

“Being based on the campus is of immeasurable value to my business. We have frequent contact with academics from many different departments. We draw upon the academics’ expertise, and they often draw upon ours. Above all we value the continuous exchange of ideas.”

Mike Berners-Lee, Director, Small World Consulting Limited.

Web: www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/business/office-space