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Investing in Science

Exeter Science Park’s Chief Executive, Dame Sally Basker, has outlined her priorities for future growth. These include building and letting some 50,000 square feet of space for STEM businesses (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) with construction on some 30,000 square feet of this due to start this quarter.

More than that she sees the site as a catalyst for STEM development across the region; “a ‘watering hole’ where companies come to network, to learn and to collaborate.” Her ambitions for the Science Park have been helped by the inauguration of the Exeter and East Devon enterprise zone which opened for business on 3 April. Offering a range of incentives to attract and support businesses, the enterprise zone covers the Science Park as well as the Skypark, Cranbrook Town Centre and the Exeter Airport Business Park.

Not only does the enterprise zone carry a range of incentives to support businesses within the designated area, business rates generated from within the zone will be reinvested locally in Devon ‘to further support increased productivity and economic growth.’ From formation the zone will be in place for twenty-five years, enabling long-term planning and development.

Developing science and technology is one of the aims not only of the local councils but also of national government. So does this mean that investors should be looking towards STEM organisations when creating their portfolio? Best investment advice is to spread investments across a range of geographic and business sectors so whilst STEM companies should be considered, so should businesses in other sectors in order to create a balanced portfolio.

If you’re looking for pensions or investment advice, or if your situation has changed and you may therefore need to review your existing investments, contact Beckworth by using one of the links on our website.