St John ’ s Innovation Centre exists to provide a dynamic and supportive incubation environment to accelerate the growth of ambitious innovative firms in the Cambridge region ...
A number of highly successful Cambridge technology businesses have started life at the Centre , which works with many businesses across the Region , not just its tenants . Successful innovative firms including Autonomy Corporation PLC , RedGate Software Ltd and Jagex have occupied units in the past .
Accommodation
The philosophy of the Innovation Centre is to provide security and flexibility to tenants , and the Centre therefore offers an easy-in , easyout policy with renewable leases for two years and the option to break on one month ’ s notice .
The facilities are all-inclusive and offer high quality connectivity , reception , security , fax , photocopying , conferencing and exhibition space . There are six meeting rooms and a boardroom , which are well used and are free of charge to tenants .
The Conferencing and Catering facilities at St John ’ s Innovation Centre are ideal for all business events in the area , with an on-site restaurant and five Conference Rooms .
The facilities were purpose-built to offer the most up-to-date rooms and facilities for all business needs : conferences , exhibitions , seminars , workshops , meetings and training courses . St John ’ s Innovation Centre offers affordable facilities with capacity from 4 to 80 people . A common area , referred to as The Atrium , provides a relaxing environment for tenants and visitors with a comfortable seating area , 24-hour news channel , newspapers and books .
Business Support
The Centre and its team are well networked and closely linked with all the business support organisations in the area , having been instrumental in the creation of the Cambridge Technopole ( www . cambridgetechnopole . org . uk ). The team is also very close to business angel networks and investment community generally .
The team provides a range of advice to businesses and regularly works with public sector schemes to support them .
Tenants at the centre are able to utilise a number of business support opportunities . A monthly mingle is held to encourage the sharing of ideas , skills and expertise through networking with other tenants over coffee and cake . Local businesses sponsor these events , extending the link with tenants and companies in the local entrepreneurial community .
Tenants are able to promote job vacancies on the St John ’ s Innovation Centre website , gaining the attention of professional , qualified job seekers in the region .
Employees based at St John ’ s Innovation Park are automatic members of the Travel for Work Partnership . Not only does this mean access to services such as assistance for employers in creating a Travel Plan , but also all commuters get special discount on bicycles , bicycle accessories and train tickets .
Tenants also have access to the Chaplaincy to People at Work Cambridgeshire ( CPW ), an independent registered charity offering support and guidance . It seeks to work in any multi-faith workplace setting , offering impartial support and counselling and always respecting an organisation ’ s diversity policy .
Fostering Growth and Innovation
St John ’ s Innovation Centre focuses on supporting knowledge-based and high-growth businesses . It has a team of in-house business advisors who seek to provide the best strategic and management advice , Leadership and Management training and introductions through its network , thereby increasing the chances of business success .
The centre provides a welcoming environment for tenants and visitors
St John ’ s Innovation Centre has delivered a number of governmentfunded programmes . Both Understanding Finance for Business and Coaching for High Growth were funded by the East of England Development Agency , as part of the government-funded Solutions for Business programme . In 2012 St John ’ s Innovation Centre became part of the consortium ( which includes Grant Thornton and Pera ) delivering the national GrowthAccelerator Service to help growing businesses unlock and sustain their high-growth potential and support businesses looking to raise finance . In 2015 it became a consortium partner of The Enterprise Europe Network and through close collaboration with Innovate UK , St John ’ s Innovation Centre is able to provide organisations across the East of England with a unique opportunity to access both UK and European sources of funding and support .
St John ’ s Innovation Centre offers a wide range of highly effective training programmes and workshops , all designed to help business grow and improve the performance of staff and management teams . Training services are delivered by leading experts in their fields , using the latest techniques and knowledge .
St John ’ s Innovation Centre is well placed to provide collaborative advice , support and recommendations to science parks , techno parks , incubators , innovation , entrepreneurship and intellectual property and can effectively deliver the tools and methodologies to accelerate growth , develop knowledge intensive services and provide best practice exchange .
Memberships and Accreditations
St John ’ s Innovation Centre has been a member of the United Kingdom Science Park Association since 1987 , and a member of United Kingdom Business Incubation ( UKBI ) since 1999 .
In December 2010 , St John ’ s Innovation Centre was granted full membership of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network ( EBN ) and thus became the first accredited ‘ BIC ’ ( Business and Innovation Centre ) in the East of England , joining a network of only 10 such accredited organisations within the UK .
Further Information
St John ’ s regularly hosts visitors from overseas and provides far more than just accommodation . A full list of tenants is available on the St John ’ s web site : www . stjohns . co . uk , and further information is available from Miranda Edwards , email medwards @ stjohns . co . uk , tel 01223 420252 .
196 UKSPA Directory 2016 / 17 Full Member • England