The Heath prepares to mark spectacular first decadeThe Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn is counting down the days to a significant milestone – its tenth anniversary. Launched in March 2000, the business park has transformed the former ailing chemicals headquarters of ICI into a phenomenal regeneration success story, with more than 175 organisations now on site. However, despite offering work to over 1,900 people – far more than ever employed on the site by ICI – the story of The Heath is still in its early days, its owners insist. SOG Ltd, the company that owns and manages the location, is currently pursuing ambitious expansion plans that will see 180,000 square feet of new accommodation created, potentially increasing the total workforce on site to more than 3,000 within five years. The first phase of the expansion plan – a stunning, two-storey office development offering 9,500 square feet of floor space – has already opened. Dr Peter Cook, SOG’s Managing Director, said: “Our exciting plans for The Heath promise to bring new businesses and have already created new jobs in the region, building on a tremendous success story that has already seen the transformation of the site over the past ten years.” He added: “One of the tremendous strengths of The Heath is that it offers a community of different businesses. Suppliers and customers work together closely on one site, offering tremendous business opportunities and fantastic benefits for all.” Residents have been attracted by the unparalleled flexibility, with licence arrangements allowing them to select and pay for only the services they require. Facilities include a dedicated conference centre incorporating a 120-seat lecture theatre, restaurant, cafe-bar, Heath Leisure Suite and shops. Ten facts about The Heath: The Heath was launched as a business and technical park by four former managers of ICI supported by a local businessman. The Heath is now home to organisations operating in more than 20 different business sectors – ranging from bio science firms to IT specialists, from food industry consultants to website designers and from government agencies to telemarketing specialists. SOG Ltd’s success story at The Heath has been achieved without any government or EU funding. SOG has scooped a succession of prestigious business awards – including Medium Business of the Year in the Liverpool Daily Post Regional Business Awards and the Halton Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise’s Inspirational Business of the Year for 2006. Managing Director Dr Peter Cook was named Cheshire Business Person of the Year at the 2006 Cheshire Business Awards. The park has been visited by a succession of high-profile business and political figures including Sir John Harvey-Jones, Gordon Brown, Lord Heseltine, Steven Norris, Lord Sainsbury, Alastair Campbell and Kenneth Clarke. The Heath’s highly specialised expertise – such as scientific glassblowing, precision engineering and laboratory safety services – boasts more than 200 global customers. Tony Blair, who visited The Heath in 2005 while Prime Minister, was so impressed that he encouraged the park’s owners to replicate their success at other sites across the UK. SOG is now advising other blue-chip science businesses wishing to downsize their facilities and also operates another major science and business facility in north Manchester. SOG supports entrepreneurs of the future via a vast number of community-based initiatives, for example through schools, colleges and youth groups, while personnel from The Heath work closely with bodies such as Halton Borough Council’s Education Business Partnership, Halton Borough Council’s Enterprise Board and Halton Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. A study by Buckingham University Business School revealed that for every £1 million invested at The Heath, the net benefit to the local economy is between £1.8 and £2 million. The Heath’s facilities also benefit the local community by being available to all Halton people, not just resident businesses. SOG’s phenomenally successful Deal With It behavioural training programme has been delivered to people across the world – in countries as diverse as Fiji, Pakistan, Russia and Papua New Guinea – and has been translated into 25 foreign languages. 29 January 2010 About The Heath:The Heath, which was established as a business park in 2000, has attracted over 175 British and international companies, ranging from bio science firms to IT specialists, from food industry consultants to website designers, and from government agencies to telemarketing specialists. Residents have been attracted by the 60-acre business park's vast range of impressive facilities and its flexibility in space management and in attitude. The Heath offers a wide range of office and laboratory space, together with a purpose-built conference centre that includes a 120-seat lecture theatre. Residents can also choose from a wide selection of additional services, including telephone and broadband connectivity, laboratory support services, scientific glassblowing and precision engineering facilities, to name but a few. Residents also have access to The Heath's fitness centre and gym. Combined with 1,700 parking spaces, its first-class transport links - and the ability for residents to select and pay for just the services they require - it's no surprise that the number of companies on The Heath is continuing to grow rapidly. MEDIA CONTACT: PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
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Dr Peter Cook, SOG's Managing Director
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