World leading technology firm Dyson has bought Hullavington airfield, an ex-RAF base, with plans to convert it to a multi-million pound research and development hub.
It’s hoped that the new hub will create thousands of new jobs in the South West as the company’s founder Sir James Dyson pledges to invest millions on developing new technology.
“If Dyson is investing significantly in skills training… this could be a massive boost to the inclusive growth to which we all aspire”
The company is just one example of how the South West is becoming home to some of science, technology and engineering’s biggest successes and follows not only the opening of the Dyson School of Engineering in 2015 but also the set up of its Bristol technology hub just last year.
Nick Sturge, Director of Bristol’s leading technology incubator, the Engine Shed, agrees: “This is a great endorsement of the strength of the South West as a place to invest in R&D. 3,000 new jobs is a lot, though we don’t yet know the mix of those jobs.
“I very much hope, in the interests of having the most positive impact on the region, that there will be a mix of jobs – at different levels and different skills. We have a lot of people, fairly close to Hullavington who may not ordinarily be in position to step into high-value R&D jobs.
“But, if Dyson is investing significantly in skills training, which they say they are, I think this could be a massive boost to the inclusive growth to which we all aspire. Education providers, Dyson and the rest of the business community need to work together to make the most of this opportunity, for the long term, and I think we can – and will.”
“The new campus will also help raise the profile of the South West on the global stage”
Andrew Mulvenna, Bristol-based entrepreneur and Founder of investment and growth platform Accelerated Digital Ventures (ADV), adds: “This is a huge opportunity for people in South West England, including Bristol and Bath, due to the creation of jobs and opportunities it will drive.
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“The new campus will also help raise the profile of the South West on the global stage, by attracting more world-class companies, seasoned technology executives and entrepreneurs to the South West region. This will also mean greater opportunities for investors such as ADV to fund the businesses and entrepreneurs, created in and around the campus.
“I relocated to Bristol from London in 2008 when starting my internet software company, Brightpearl. We quickly built a global business with 120 employees. The more people see innovation happening in the region – whether through investment from companies such as ADV, the establishment of the Dyson campus or the building of businesses like Brightpearl – the more inspiration and innovation they will create here.”
To stay up t0 date on Dyson’s and other technology companies in the South West and their exciting plans, check back regularly on the TechSPARK website or sign up to the TechSPARK newsletter. You can also follow Dyson on Twitter here: @Dyson.
[Image credit: nicksarebi]
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Shona Wright
Shona covers all things editorial at TechSPARK. She publishes news articles, interviews and features about our fantastic tech and digital ecosystem, working with startups and scaleups to spread the word about the cool things they're up to.
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