New Advisory Board at Science City York
David Dickson, Managing Director of the York and Leeds based accountancy firm Garbutt and Elliott, chairs the advisory panel which will work alongside the company’s board of directors to further strengthen the region’s position as a hub for innovation and high tech enterprise.
Three specialist sector chairs have also been selected to lead the strategic development of Science City York’s key technology networks – Bioscience York, Creative York and IT & Digital York.
Chris Danks, Chief Executive of Forsite Diagnostics, the first commercial spin out from York-based Government agency Central Science Laboratory, will champion the development of the bioscience network.
Professor Dianne Willcocks, Vice Chancellor of York St John University adds her expertise and influence within the creative industries.
Mark Fordyce, Chairman and founder of York Data Services will head up the development of the company’s rapidly expanding digital network.
The advisory board is completed by Tony Robards, Professor of Innovation at the University of York, Helen West, Chief Executive of Business Link Yorkshire and Science City York’s Delivery Services Manager Andy Gurnell.
In November Science City York celebrates the tenth anniversary of its campaign to make science, technology and innovation the engine of economic growth for the region.
Launched in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and the University of York, Science City York has already assisted in the creation of 87 new technology enterprises and 2800 jobs. A decade on, York retains its status as the region’s only ‘science city’.
David Dickson said: ‘It is so important Science City York’s sector strategy is led by key representatives from both industry and academia and we are very fortunate to have the involvement and commitment of three very experienced sector chairs.’
David continued: ‘The new Advisory Board will ensure that SCY activities continue to be guided by the needs of business and that key partners are engaged. This will also include the new Board working very closely with Science City York’s Sector Specialists and Business Promoters to ensure that priorities and local business interests are met for each sector. We are also keen to ensure activity continues to focus across North Yorkshire.’
Richard Gregory, Executive Chair of Science City York, said: ‘Forming the new advisory board completes Science City York’s transition to a company limited by guarantee. It’s an exciting time of change and progress, cemented by a move to new premises on York Science Park.’
In the last twelve months the team at Science City York has supported and advised 56 technology businesses and led the bid to secure more than £2.8 million of ‘Northern Way’ monies, funding Science City York’s ‘Hub & Spoke’ Project, a major innovative and integrated infrastructure project, centred on York but part of a wider initiative to extend business growth and knowledge transfer across the northern region.
The funding has already been key to developing a dedicated Bioscience Business Centre at the University of York and the expansion of facilities at York Science Park offering vital office and meeting space for new and existing Science Park tenants.
£1.6m is being used to develop a new mass spectrometry suite at the University, providing state of the art facilities rivalling similar centres in Cambridge, Manchester and Scotland, significantly raising the profile of York and the region as a place to carry out high quality science.
The team are now in the process of submitting bids to secure in excess of £20 million from the European Regional Development Fund to ensure Science City York’s continued support of the region’s economic development.
Science City York formally launched its new advisory board at the Royal York Hotel on Monday 19 May at a dinner which also recognised the achievements of the former SCY Strategy Board.
Richard continued: ‘Its vital that we continue to engage the support of all stakeholders going forward including members of the previous Strategy Board who contributed so much to Science City’s development over the last ten years. The dinner was our opportunity to say thank you , to brief them on future plans and current progress, and seek their feedback.’
Left to right: Simon Hill, Yorkshire Forward, Richard Gregory and Gareth Lloyd Jones, former Chair of Science City York, pictured at 19 May event.
Email this item to a friend
Printer friendly version
Add your own comment
Receive new comments by email
