Significant milestone for Heath Business and Technical Park

The Heath Business and Technical Park, one of the Northwest region's most important employment centres, has celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party for past and present staff and some resident businesses who have been at the location since its creation.

Formerly the chemicals headquarters for the giant ICI corporation, The Heath was launched in 2000 as a multi-occupancy business and technical park following ICI’s decision to close its then ailing research & development operation in Runcorn.
Merseyside businessman John Lewis linked up with four former ICI managers who ran the site to form SOG Ltd, a company which bought the laboratories and offices and turned them into an award-winning centre for business and science.
In 2010 Mr Lewis became the major shareholder of SOG and sole owner of The Heath which today is home to 120 businesses supporting around 2,000 jobs. In 2019 he was awarded an MBE in recognition of his service to business in the Liverpool City Region.
Mr Lewis says: “Our 25th anniversary is a significant milestone for SOG and The Heath Business and Technical Park. I am immensely proud of our achievements over these past 25 years in having the vision and energy to transform what was an ailing site into one of the region’s most important employment centres for SME businesses.
“Since our company was created in 2000, we have never stood still. We have worked extremely hard over the years to develop and progress the business. Though we are now celebrating those remarkable achievements, we are also looking forward to the prospect of an exciting future here with our innovative proposals for ‘Heath Park’ which will secure the highly skilled jobs on this site from a broad range of business and scientific sectors and bring new homes and vital community and leisure facilities that will benefit future generations.”

Although primarily a business centre, The Heath has also evolved into one of the region’s renowned community assets with events and functions for local residents. There is also a special ‘eat@TheHeath’ club for over fifties, run by volunteers, that has become a focal gathering point for companionship, friendship and fun as the antidote to loneliness and isolation.

Formed by staff members of SOG, the club’s weekly gatherings include entertainment, luncheon-dances and special Christmas functions with daytrips organised during the year too. The Heath also has a community garden managed by volunteers that provides a peaceful and tranquil space.

Added Mr Lewis: “The staff of SOG have been absolutely essential to our success as a business, and our anniversary party is just a small gesture to recognise their efforts and to thank them for their support over two and a half decades.”
More than 140 people attend the party on Saturday, July 5th, to enjoy food, drink, live entertainment from local band, The Sort, and to mix with familiar faces, past and present.

About The Heath
The Heath Business and Technical Park is a phenomenal regeneration success story. Formed in 2000, its owner and operator, SOG Ltd, has transformed a once single occupancy corporate facility into a thriving independent business park. The Heath now provides office and laboratory accommodation for more than 120 individual organisations, ranging from business services and IT specialists to those at the cutting edge of science, research and advanced manufacturing. Around 2,000 people are employed at the site. For further information, telephone 01928 515988 or visit www.theheath.com

For more information, please see:
www.theheath.com

PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
19th July 2025