1,500 possible graduate jobs at new science park

The UK government is building a £37m biotechnology science park in partnership with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), at the pharmaceutical giant’s Stevenage site.

Other investments in the 650,000 sq ft facility include £5m from the Technology Strategy Board, £6m from the Wellcome Trust and £4m from the East of England Development Agency. GSK will contribute land, facilities and funds worth £10.9m.

The aim of this project is to create “a world-leading hub for early-stage biotech companies”, especially those that are interested in working in a collaborative environment where skills, knowledge and scientific equipment are shared.This will not only cut overhead costs, but also speed up the trial and development process.  

Commenting on the new park, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson told PharmaTimes that the initiative represented “a huge investment in the future of Britain’s bioscience industry”.

“It will leverage our existing strengths as a world leader in the sector, helping it to grow and reinforcing our international competitiveness. And ultimately it will help us build towards a stronger UK economy coming out of the global downturn,” he added.

It is hoped that the firms attracted to the park will create thousands of positions for life sciences professionals, including around 1,500 jobs for graduates with biosciences and technology related qualifications.

Patrick Vallance, who heads up drug discovery at GSK, told the Telegraph that he hoped academics from leading universities would be attracted to the “buzzing, interactive environment”.

"We [GSK] will work best where there is a vibrant biotech sector,” he added.