Manchester Science Park (msp www.mspl.co.uk) started operations in 1984 with Enterprise House, the Park’s first “incubator” premises. Today msp operates over three sites in Manchester which accommodate over 100 companies, who employ over 1000 people. It is located next to the largest academic and clinical campus in Europe, comprising of The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Business School and the Central Manchester Healthcare Trust.

Only five minutes’ drive from Manchester city centre, the main Science Park is also just fifteen minutes from Manchester’s international airport. Motorway links are good, and the University of Manchester’s bio-incubator and the new Core Technology Facility (a specialized environment for biotech 'grown-on' businesses) are within walking distance.

msp works to enhance the economic and technological wealth of Manchester, by providing accommodation and added-value services for companies in high technology sectors. Tenants are selected on their potential for growth and innovation, not just their proven track record. Start-up companies benefit from both the credibility of the msp ‘brand’ and flexible tenancy agreements that allow companies to expand within the msp property portfolio without financial penalties.

Last year the company’s turnover exceeded £2.6 million, with net assets of more than £10 million. msp generates a surplus from its operations that is reinvested in the business, either as free services for the tenants, or as a contribution to the costs of upcoming construction projects.

Added-value services include:

§         tenant only intranet

§         marketing and networking events

§         opportunities to meet academics working in the same field of technology

§         connections with the resources needed by small growing companies

§         on-site amenity areas, restaurant and catering service

§         office services and meeting rooms

msp develops, owns and manages the buildings on the Science Park site. These currently provide nearly 20,000 sq m (215,320 sq ft) of laboratory and office space, ranging from units of 10 sq m upwards with design and build plots available. Two buildings on the Park are particularly suited to early stage companies; they are divided into smaller units and offer reasonable rents with flexible tenancy agreements from 6 months to 3 years. Leases on the other buildings range from 3 to 15 years and commercial rents are charged for all accommodation.