MAKE THE CONNECTION The South East Midlands: Innovation, Connectivity, Opportunity THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS IS AT THE A thriving location for CENTRE OF WHAT IS FAST BECOMING THE £52bn UK’S INNOVATION CAPITAL – THE OXFORD- contributed to national innovation, creativity CAMBRIDGE ARC economy annually
ur rapidly growing £52bn economy located between Oxford, Cambridge, and world-leading London and Birmingham make us one of the most exciting economic growth opportunities in the country. Fastest population OBusiness has benefited from the area’s rich heritage in engineering, growth outside London: motorsport and manufacturing expertise, which has transformed our area to 23.3% between technologies become a test-bed for new technologies with the potential to rapidly scale. 1997 - 2017 Today, entrepreneurs come here to build businesses based on technological innovation that will change the way we live and work. They enjoy the advantages of a connected location, tap into a highly skilled and entrepreneurial community and have a quality of life found rarely elsewhere. This is where progressive companies come to collaborate, to innovate and to 78% succeed. employment rate Welcome to the South East Midlands.
THE MIDLANDS LEICESTER PETERBOROUGH £10bn
BIRMINGHAM Corby goods and services
Kettering Thrapston Coventry exported annually
Rushden Wellingborough
Daventry
NORTHAMPTON CAMBRIDGE
Towcester Bedford Sandy Biggleswade Brackley 1 in 25 MILTON Flitwick Buckingham KEYNES Houghton of all businesses created Regis
Leighton Buzzard Dunstable LUTON are based here
Aylesbury
OXFORD
LONDON 9% jobs growth over past 5 years (national rate 7.5%)
Newlands Park, Luton: development plans
THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS: INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITY 3 No 1 area in UK for % firms engaged in product Innovation or service innovation Mahle Powertrain Real Drive Emissions Where ideas Test Centre, Northampton become reality 79% Cranfield University’s Alumni network provided the local HE research catalyst for creating the ‘flying car’. A showcase contract income from of British innovation, the ‘Volante Vision’ concept BUSINESSES IN THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS large business (2.5 unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow in ARE AT THE CUTTING-EDGE OF INNOVATION, times national average) 2018 brought together the expertise from Cranfield DRIVING RESEARCH AND FURTHERING Aerospace Solutions, design excellence from Aston EXPERTISE IN CRITICAL SECTORS THAT WILL Martin and advanced engineering from Rolls-Royce CHANGE OUR FUTURE.
Volante Vision concept
eading in aerospace and innovators, such as the Silverstone and environmental management. The particular strengths in application and data This is the area where clever ideas automotive testing, advanced Technology Cluster, the Connected Places university boasts the largest logistics analysis. The Open University and Milton and new technologies coalesce into manufacturing, engineering and Catapult in Milton Keynes, Millbrook and supply chain research centre in Keynes have played a key role in using big L design, robotics and software Proving Ground’s vehicle and battery and Europe and is developing a regional Hub data to pioneer the ‘Smart City’ movement smart business solutions. development and electronics, the area’s 5G connectivity testing facilities in Central of Excellence to increase productivity and continue to lead in trialling connected businesses and universities are among the Bedfordshire, the Catesby Aerodynamic and competitiveness through better use and autonomous vehicles- self driving cars, most successful in the country at working Research Facility in Daventry and, Cranfield data and technologies, such as drones, delivery robots and pods. together to commercialise knowledge and University’s purpose-built experimental autonomous vehicles and robots, for ‘last- With enhanced connectivity among South test new technologies in these fields. facility for the rapid development of ‘on mile-delivery’ solutions. East Midlands’ clusters of expertise with and off highway’, ground and airborne Bedfordshire has a cluster of leading complementary specialist clusters in The engineering heritage of Silverstone has autonomous solutions, named ‘MUEAVI’. aerospace organisations including the neighbouring areas of Oxfordshire and been instrumental in attracting innovative Aircraft Research Association and Bluebear Cambridgeshire and in the Midlands, there companies to the area. Silverstone now Cranfield University is home to the systems. The National Space Propulsion are exciting opportunities for business has over 4,000 companies with advanced Aerospace Integration Research Centre Test Facilities at Westcott Venture Park in here to create the technologies to go even engineering, electronics and software skills (AIRC) and is developing the £67m Digital Aylesbury Vale allow the simulation of high- further, faster and smarter. within a one-hour drive-time radius. Our Aviation Research and Technology Centre altitude testing of thrusters and is a key area’s businesses, with their expertise and (DARTeC), which will spearhead the UK’s component of the UK’s space technology specialist capabilities now lead the UK’s research into digital aviation technology. ambitions. Future of Mobility and Clean Growth It is innovating in aircraft electrification The UK’s first 5G transport network solutions– developing new technologies by connecting the university’s expertise Building on the pioneering work at Bletchley test tracks, a digital air traffic control and technical testing in autonomy, energy in the aviation ecosystem with specialist Park during World War II, the area continues centre and vehicle testing centre with efficiency and data capture. Supporting capabilities in clean growth to be at the forefront of developments in climatic and altitude capability have UAV flying lab, Cranfield University this, the area also hosts major transport artificial intelligence and big data, with all been developed here.
4 MAKE THE CONNECTION THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS: INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITY 5 The South East Midlands Leading the UK’s future of mobility and clean growth.
FUTURE OF MOBILITY AEROSPACE THE MIDLANDS LEICESTER Milton Keynes Milton Keynes 1 Integral Powertrain HQ 48 Franklin Products Ltd 2 Red Bull Racing (F1 team) 49 Aero Tech Laboratories PETERBOROUGH 3 UK Autodrive Project and MK:Smart Bedford Borough 4 The Open University 50 Aircraft Research Association 5 SBD Automotive 51 Bluebear Systems Oundle 6 Honda R&D Europe UK Ltd - Honda Racing Central Bedfordshire Corby 7 Connected Places Catapult (formerly Transport Systems Catapult) 52 Brinkley Propellers, Biggleswade BIRMINGHAM 8 Network Rail HQ 53 Brinkley Aircraft Services Ltd 9 Prodrive Composities 54 Rockwell Collins, Leighton Buzzard 10 EV Experience Centre 55 Aerospace Technology institute, Cranfield Kettering Thrapston 11 Intertek Transportation Technologies 56 Samad Aerospace Ltd, Cranfield Bedford Borough 57 Aerospace Integration Research Centre, Cranfield University Coventry 12 Bedford College Advanced Engineering Centre 58 Avalon Aero Ltd, Cranfield Central Bedfordshire 59 Digital Air Traffic Control Centre, Cranfield University Rugby 13 Navistar, Millbrook 60 Lockheed Martin 14 FiveAI, Millbrook 61 Hybrid Air Vehicles AUTOMOTIVE, FUTURE OF MOBILITY Rushden Huntingdon 15 Calsonic Kensei, Millbrook 62 Cranfield University AND LOGISTICS 16 Multi-User Environment for Autonomous Luton CLUSTERS Wellingborough Vehicle Innovation, Cranfield University 63 Gulfstream Aerospace 17 Millbrook Proving Ground 64 Leonardo UK Engineering Training Academy 18 Barclay’s Eagle Labs: aviation technology, Cranfield University 65 Harrods Aviation Daventry 19 Nissan Technical Centre Europe, Cranfield Aylesbury Vale Luton 66 Westcott Venture Park NORTHAMPTON 20 BP Chargemaster 67 Reaction Engines Test Site 1, Westcott CAMBRIDGE 21 Luton DART (under construction) 68 Airborne Engineering, Westcott 22 University of Bedfordshire Nothamptonshire Aylesbury Vale 69 Safran, Brackley Bedford Sandy 23 Racelogic, Buckingham Towcester AEROSPACE AND CLEAN TECH Northamptonshire CLEAN GROWTH Biggleswade CLUSTERS 24 Mercedes AMG Petronas (F1 team), Brackley 25 TotalSim, Brackley Milton Keynes 26 RS Components, Corby Brackley 70 Clayhill Farm Solar PV (10MW) Banbury 27 Cummins Engine Plant, Daventry 71 Littlewood Farm Solar PV (14MW) MILTON KEYNES 28 Henry Ford Academy, Daventry 72 Rectory Farm PV (9MW) 29 Volvo Training Centre, Daventry Flitwick Central Bedfordshire 30 Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal 73 Langford Solar Farm (13MW), Biggleswade Buckingham 31 Catesby Aerodynamic Research Facility, Daventry Luton Houghton 32 JRM Group, Daventry 74 RENEW project Luton Borough Council Regis 33 Ilmor Engineering 34 Mercedes Powertrains 75 The Centre for Competitive Creative Design, Cranfield University Leighton 35 GE Precision Engineering Ltd, Northampton 76 Urban Water Hub, Cranfield University Buzzard LUTON 36 Smart Move Northamptonshire 77 Facility for Airborne Atmospheric 37 Cosworth, Northampton Measurements, Cranfield University FUTURE OF Dunstable 38 Mahle Powertrain, Northampton MOBILITY AND Aylesbury Vale SPACE CLUSTERS 39 Institute of Logistics, Infrastructure, Supply and 78 Aylesbury Garden Town Transport, University of Northampton 79 Kingsbrook Housing Development Aylesbury 40 Silverstone UTC, Towcester 80 Gawcott Fields Farm (9.2MW), Nr Buckingham 41 Silverstone Technology Cluster, Towcester 42 Racing Point F1 Team, Towcester 81 Turweston Solar Farm (16.7MW) OXFORD 43 PUNCH Flybrid, Towcester Northamptonshire St Albans 44 Delta Motorsport, Towcester 82 Tresham Garden village (project under development) 45 National College for Motorsport, Tresham College, Towcester 83 CNG Biomethane Refuelling Station, Northampton 46 RML Group, Wellingborough 84 Etopia Corby project - Electric Corby 47 KW Special Projects, Bicester and Towcester 85 Kettering Energy Park Watford 86 Gaultney Solar Farm (20.5MW), Nr Kettering 87 Odell Glebe Solar Farm (16.8MW), Wellingborough
Silverstone Park is around 37200 m² with 80 Millbrook’s Technology Park is a cluster of over 20 vehicle companies located in the park. They are developing technology companies who benefit from Millbrook’s tracks, this to nearly 200000 m² and will grow to 500 high tech test facilities and expertise. innovation businesses. This map includes a selection of businesses and assets leading = Education or training facility LONDON innovation in Future of Mobility and Clean Growth. Working on the future of mobility, Cranfield University’s research (Multi-User Environment for Autonomous Vehicle Innovation) THAMES ESTUARY and innovation centres connect over 100 organisations from hosts several government-industry-academe collaboration the aerospace, transport and manufacturing sectors, including projects such as HumanDrive and CORAM - a proof of concept Boeing, BAE Systems, Thales, SAAB, Airbus, Rolls Royce and project for the realisation of ‘look ahead and ‘non-line-of-sight Meggitt. The University’s Intelligent Mobility Engineering Centre intelligence’ for tomorrow’s connected and automated vehicles. (IMEC) and instrumented on-and-off road test facility MUEAVI THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS: INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITY 7 A1101 A47
THE MIDLANDS LEICESTER A47
A47 PETERBOROUGH
Oundle A605 A43 A5 Corby BIRMINGHAM A45 A141 M1 A605 A45 A1(M) A43 M6 A508 Thrapston Coventry Kettering A14 Rugby Huntingdon
A46 A426 Rushden A45 A5 Wellingborough A14 A43 Daventry A45 A6 A421 NORTHAMPTON A1(M) CAMBRIDGE Connectivity M40 A423
Towcester A5 Bedford Sandy A11 Amazon Distribution Centre, Marston A421 A508 Biggleswade A43 Gate, Central Bedfordshire Banbury shapes our Brackley A43 MILTON KEYNES Flitwick A10 A421 M1 M40 Buckingham A5 Houghton Regis A44 BICESTER VILLAGE LONDON STANSTED opportunity Leighton Buzzard LUTON LONDON OXFORD A41 A418 Dunstable A120
A43 A1(M) Aylesbury A10
M40 CONNECTING INNOVATION TO MARKETS, OXFORD St Albans A41 BUSINESS TO SOLUTIONS, PEOPLE TO PLACES A420 A4101 A413
– OUR AREA’S CONNECTEDNESS MAKES IT THE A43 Watford M1 SUCCESS IT IS TODAY. M40
LONDON LONDON A43 HEATHROW THAMES ESTUARY
LONDON GATWICK Smart Move, Northampton
orld-class clusters involving airport and St Pancras International rail services, as well as easy the UK’s leading high access to London Heathrow, London Stansted and Birmingham technology businesses International airports, supported by strong North-South road and W operate and connect across rail transport routes throughout the area. the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. Looking to the future, new infrastructure backed by the UK Government is unlocking further growth potential by enhancing The South East Midlands area is East -West connectivity. Current major investment is underway central to this. to develop the East-West Rail and a new Expressway. This will greatly enhance travel links with our global city neighbours, Our prime location naturally places us at Cambridge and Oxford, and further connect our area’s towns and the heart of where key innovators and rural areas. Alongside regional and local transport infrastructure Intertek control room Millbrook Proving Ground markets come together. Linking business and technology upgrades to combat congestion, investments are clusters to specialist institutions, the being made to improve energy and digital infrastructure to boost South East Midlands is where ideas Based in Milton Keynes, Intertek provides advanced FiveAI has brought together experts in artificial intelligence, engineering business performance and efficiency and support growth. and innovation are tested, enhanced, technical expertise and electric propulsion testing and mobility to create fully autonomous and shared transport for Europe’s commercialised and spun into global high to global original equipment manufacturers. The cities. It locates its business close to the fields of expertise they need. Our area’s connectivity is shaping business opportunity. growth ventures. business has doubled in capacity every two years With six offices in the UK, including London, Oxford and Cambridge, all since 2015 and that is expected to continue as of their vehicle testing is done in this area, at Millbrook Proving Ground in The South East Midlands acts as an Bringing innovation, solutions and people together, we are creating it leads the industry through offering the most Central Bedfordshire. international gateway to all of the strengths the connected places of the future. With enhanced connectivity of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. We have across the most innovative, fastest growing areas in the UK, the comprehensive independent electric vehicle (EV) London Luton Airport with direct routes to business opportunity is immense. and hybrid powertrain testing capability in the UK. over 100 destinations, rail links to Gatwick
8 MAKE THE CONNECTION THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS: INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITY 9 Over 83,000 businesses Business
1.9m Rushden Lakes retail and business park Electric Vehicle infrastructure: Milton Keynes Environment Home to 1.9 million people Above national average of national housing Growth by design of productivity per worker: completions, Milton Keynes third highest 6% compared to 3.4% productivity in UK of national population
ECONOMIC GROWTH IS NO ACCIDENT. 5.5% OUR ALREADY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS annual GVA growth ECOSYSTEM IS IMPROVING FURTHER THROUGH (2012-2017) 3rd 49.5% THOUGHTFUL, STRATEGIC DESIGN. highest start-up Business survival of students studying in local higher rate of all rates above education find employment in LEP areas UK average the area (10 % points higher than neighbouring areas) Electric Corby
he South East Midlands is growing with business to forecast future logistics Planned infrastructure investment, fast, outstripped only by London. capacity and support autonomous vehicle designed to maximise the Oxford- People are attracted to our area readiness. Cambridge Arc’s growth potential, will Employer-led education by good quality, knowledge-based provide businesses here with further T Our area has ambition. We are building and training is jobs, career opportunities and a high-quality advantage. Carbon reduction targets are new homes, business units and creating of life without the associated cost of living in to be designed into new projects and vibrant places where people want to live fundamental to the large cities. initiatives exist to make current business and work. We have a wealth of cultural, South East Midlands. infrastructure more energy efficient. creative and natural assets and a strong Employment growth here out-performs We encourage all local track record of designing new green and Specialist support for businesses to national averages. Businesses choose our urban spaces that enhance our natural start-up, scale-up and succeed can be businesses to work with region to tap into a skilled workforce and an environment. In fact, our plans are to reached through SEMLEP’s Growth Hub. entrepreneurial spirit that runs right through us to develop a talent 3D printing lead the UK’s clean-growth agenda by A network of inward investment and our communities. strengthening our area’s credentials as a business development professionals in our pipeline of energetic, SECURING FUTURE SUCCESS: NURTURING Our schools, colleges and universities testbed for pioneering green technologies, local authorities work jointly with SEMLEP, interested and skilled THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS strengthen and adapt their offer in line with zero-carbon construction methods and government departments and other people to be the local business needs. For example, the cohesive urban design. The area already agencies to support companies looking to With £28m UK government investment, a consortium led by Milton Keynes University of Bedfordshire has invested in a has extensive electric vehicle (EV) uptake set up or expand in the area. business leaders and College, including Microsoft UK, is creating a new Institute of Technology STEM facility, and has expertise in robotic and EV infrastructure, with the average employees of the future. at Bletchley. It will focus exclusively on developing the competencies and technology, AI and data management. The growth rate of new EV registrations 4.5% skills for both current and future technical and digital roles. This investment University of Northampton’s Institute of above UK average. Milton Keynes has complements plans to build a new university in Milton Keynes with a Logistics, Supply and Transport is working the highest number of EV charging points curriculum designed and delivered by industry partners in STEM fields outside London. including artificial intelligence, digital design and robotics.
10 MAKE THE CONNECTION THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS: INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITY 11 Opportunity Connecting today’s DARTeC, Cranfield University MK Gallery successes to IN THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS, WE ARE shape the future PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE. BUT WE PASSIONATELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS JUST THE START OF OUR GROWTH SUCCESS STORY.
Engineering and Construction Skills Centre, Leighton Buzzard Mahle Powertrain, Northampton
SEMLEP is working with local partners and HM Government to deliver a Local Industrial Strategy that will build on this success, by investing in local skills, infrastructure and R&D, and capitalising on new connections across the whole Oxford-Cambridge Arc. We want to continue to be at the forefront of testing and commercialising new technologies, and thinking innovatively about how people live, work and move around. The Exchange, Aylesbury We want to grow further, faster and sustainably, and we want you to be a part of this. The South East Midlands: where extraordinary is ordinary. Make the connection
Ilmor Engineering (SIlverstone Technology Cluster)
EDM Precision (Silverstone Technology Cluster)
12 MAKE THE CONNECTION THE SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS: INNOVATION CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITY 13 To find out more
ARA, Acoustic Tests Propeller, about the Bedford South East Midlands, The Core, Corby Cube please contact:
Flybrid, Silverstone Park
Innovation Centre Cranfield University Technology Park University Way Cranfield Bedfordshire MK43 0BT
E: [email protected] The Luton Hoo Hotel Engine build, Mahle Powertrain
T: 01234 436100
W: semlep.com
@SEMLEP
SEMLEP
MLL Telecom, Silverstone Park
14 MAKE THE CONNECTION Published by SEMLEP in June 2019 SEMLEP is a registered company limited by guarantee Company registration no. 0762124