Up to 140 new jobs will be created with the development of a multi-million pound technology centre following a funding bid led by the University of Lincoln. The Boole Technology Centre is just one of a number of projects to benefit from a total of £40 million of support from the Government’s Growth Deal.
The news of the £3.34 million worth of funding for the Centre was announced alongside five other major projects for the county for 2015/16. The entire bid was supported by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in order to provide Greater Lincolnshire with new resources and powers to build infrastructure, create jobs and train local people.
The Boole Technology Centre will complete the first phase of the Lincoln Science and Innovation Park (LSIP), which is a joint venture between Lincolnshire Co-operative and the University of Lincoln. It will be sited next to the nearly complete Joseph Banks Laboratories. With an initial cash boost of £3.4 million both partners will provide a further £3.75 million of private sector investment to complete the project that will be developed on a 1.5 acre brownfield site, starting in May 2015. It is estimated that the Boole Technology Centre will house between 95 and 140 highly-skilled employees when fully occupied.
The new Centre has been designed to provide a combination of laboratory, workshop and shared working space that will be specifically targeted towards advanced engineering and manufacturing businesses.
Andrew Stevenson, Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Lincoln, said: “The announcement of funding for the Boole Technology Centre is fantastic news. Working in partnership with the Lincolnshire Co-op, it is a further example of how we work with industry to deliver the research, innovation and skilled graduates that are well prepared for the world of work. Lincoln Science & Innovation Park will create a community where the organic exchange of ideas, skills and funding between businesses and academia will bring mutual benefits. The University of Lincoln has an established reputation for developing industry relevant research which drives growth and the Boole Technology Centre will play a significant part in attracting technology-led businesses to the area.”