Surrey Research Park, home to over 4,000 jobs and contributing over £620m in value to the UK economy, has today announced the appointment of Grant Bourhill as its Chief Executive.
Grant Bourhill joins Surrey Research Park from the University of Leicester, where he was Chief Executive of Leicester Science Park. He is highly esteemed across the Science Park sector and widely recognised as the driving force behind Space Park Leicester.
As Dr Malcolm Parry, the founder and incumbent CEO, retires after 40 years of service, he leaves a legacy of a Science Park built to be twice as large as the average Russell Group Science Park, generating phenomenal jobs and economic prosperity.
Grant Bourhill, incoming Chief Executive of Surrey Research Park, comments:
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to join Surrey Research Park. It is an honour to take charge of a vibrant community of 170 high-tech companies, supporting thousands of jobs in the park and the wider area. It is testament to Malcolm Parry’s work and leadership over 40 years that the team have created such a superb asset that contributes so significantly locally and nationally. I am proud and humbled that this is now moving under my care. I look forward to working with our tenants, the University, the Surrey business community and partners as we strive to add even more value to the economy and foster business and academic collaboration to drive economic prosperity and innovation even further.”
The University of Surrey has a proud history of using its diverse strengths across space, cyber-security, artificial intelligence, telecommunications technologies, and health, all of which are strongly represented by its businesses on the Park. With a background in academia and business, Grant will be tasked with increasing the collaborative opportunities between the University and businesses on the Park.
According to a report by BIGGAR Economics, a leading independent economic consultancy, businesses located on Surrey Research Park accrue many benefits, including:
- Businesses at Surrey Research Park are twice as productive in terms of economic output per employee as their local and national counterparts.
- Over 50% of businesses have already benefitted from partnerships with the University of Surrey.
- Businesses on the Park generate over £1bn of economic activity each year.
Professor David Sampson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation at the University of Surrey, said: “The University of Surrey is a seat of learning, but also a well spring of innovation and social benefit creation. As a powerhouse for jobs and economic value in Surrey and across the UK, our Surrey Research Park is a national success story. Under Grant Bourhill’s stewardship, I look forward to the Park going from strength to strength – delivering more jobs and creating more wealth, driven by globally impactful research from the University and by the innovation ecosystem we play an integral part in sustaining. I would also like to take this opportunity to once again thank Malcolm Parry for his vision and dedication over 40 years in building the Surrey Research Park into the economic and employment asset it is for Guildford, Surrey and the wider UK”.
