New innovation centre to nurture small firms

New businesses are to benefit from Anglia Ruskin University’s expertise and facilities, following the opening of a new business innovation centre for medical and advanced engineering.

Local councillors, industry partners and small businesses were invited to the facility on the university’s Chelmsford campus for a sneak preview of the £6m facility before it is officially opened later this summer.

Known as The MedBIC, it provides a state-of-the-art environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the medical and advanced engineering sectors to grow and speed their ideas to the marketplace, while being able to call upon Anglia Ruskin’s resources and academics should they need to.

The building is just metres from the Postgraduate Medical Institute (PMI), which brings together every NHS acute hospital, private healthcare provider, hospice and mental health trust in Essex.

Alongside supportive academics, researchers, consultants and clinicians who will assist with prototyping, clinical trials and testing, we aim to speed up the route to market for Essex businesses

Working with occupant companies and a wide range of sector-focused industry partners and experts, The MedBIC can offer access to finance, markets and technology through a range of commercial, technical and business support services.

For those considering setting up a business, The MedBIC can provide a professional, yet comfortable setting for fledgling businesses to be nurtured with the support of like-minded individuals. This industry-driven space encourages open innovation and knowledge transfer, offering a new business the space to grow and expand with all the support it needs to ensure success, including a range of membership packages to suit all business needs, from a dedicated desk or office space, the occasional use of a desk away from home, or simply a prestigious business address.

The MedBIC, developed in collaboration with Essex County Council and Chelmsford City Council with support from key private sector firms and large employers in Chelmsford, also hosts meeting and seminar rooms with video conferencing, reception and telephony services, parking and catering options. On the ground floor are laboratories and workshops for civil, mechanical and medical engineering, all providing cutting-edge technology and technical support for SMEs.

Mike Jefferson, director of the specialist health centre, has seen his seven-strong team become the first tenants to take advantage of the facility, having been working alongside the PMI with its access to clinical trials. He said: “As a newly-established business, being able to work in partnership with Anglia Ruskin over the past few months has been a tremendous boost and we are really looking forward to working out of The MedBIC.

“Having access to the facilities and expertise will help us provide a much better service for our clients and will be vital to growing our business. We’re delighted to be on board.”

Aideen McCambridge, manager of The MedBIC, added: “We hope that the co-operative workspace and start-up-focused programmes at The MedBIC will help make the entrepreneurial visions a reality. Alongside supportive academics, researchers, consultants and clinicians who will assist with prototyping, clinical trials and testing, we aim to speed up the route to market for Essex businesses.”