First tenant signs up for £100million science park expansion

An existing tenant of the park, the award-winning manufacturer’s new facility will more than double its operational footprint.

The move will further strengthen the firm’s capabilities and increase capacity, while enhancing its cleanroom facilities, engineering laboratories and testing facilities.

It comes at a time when the firm’s growth has been boosted by deals struck with Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, for the supply of critical RF subsystems for low Earth orbit satellites.

Michael Tyerman, chief financial officer at Filtronic, said: “We opted to stay at NETPark due to its modern infrastructure, the presence of innovative and like-minded companies, and the flexibility it provides for scaling our operations.

“The new facility expands our manufacturing and office space as well as upgrading test facilities. It will support the continued development of our leading-edge products and enable us to scale capacity to meet growing customer demand.

“This commitment to innovation was recognised earlier this year when we were honoured with the King’s Award for Innovation, making us one of the few businesses in the UK to hold both the King’s and the Queen’s Award simultaneously.

“It was also a core reason why SpaceX entered into a strategic partnership with us in April of this year, which includes the ongoing supply of E-band solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs), alongside collaborative efforts in developing and delivering comparable products across multiple frequency bands core to SpaceX’s Starlink constellation.”

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council, added: “Filtronic is one of a number of world-class companies we have at NETPark, and its success story really encapsulates what NETPark is all about.

“It came to NETPark as part of a company expansion in 2014, starting in a small incubator space and going from strength to strength ever since. Here we are 10 years on, with the company having had a spectacular five months during which it has secured £30million of orders from Elon Musk’s SpaceX for RF subsystems for its Starlink platform as part of an ongoing strategic partnership.

“To think there will be critical products travelling through space that were made in County Durham is pretty mind-blowing really and it’s something we should be incredibly proud of.”

20 years of NETPark!

Michael Tyerman, chief financial officer at Filtronic, is pictured in front of the company’s new unit at NETPark with (left to right) North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, NETPark project director, Janet Todd and Leader of Durham County Council, Cllr Amanda Hopgood. (Image: Business Durham)

The announcement was made as NETPark, which is owned by Durham County Council and managed by Business Durham, celebrated its 20th anniversary on the 5th of September.

The occasion was marked with an event held in one of the Phase 3 extension’s new units.

Representatives of NETPark businesses, Durham County Council, and the North East Combined Authority were among those in attendance.

Born from a clear strategic vision and developed and delivered in partnership, NETPark has established itself as one of the UK’s leading science, engineering and technology parks.

It is currently home to more than 40 pioneering companies employing more than 700 people.

NETPark-based companies are developing cutting-edge products that help people live healthier lives, keep people safe, generate sustainable energy and more.

Cllr Hopgood said: “Twenty years ago, when the council took the bold decision to allocate land to establish a science park in County Durham, the vision was for NETPark to become a global hub for engineering, science and technology-based companies.

“It’s certainly achieved that, and the county is reaping the benefits now as NETPark’s success has brought hundreds of higher-skilled, high-value jobs. The 20th anniversary has given us an opportunity to celebrate that success and thank all of the partners and businesses that have made it possible.

“It’s a success based on harnessing the skills and knowledge base of our advanced manufacturing heritage and bringing them together with the research capabilities of a world-class university. The combination of those things makes for a unique and world-class offer.

“We’re now investing £100million to expand NETPark and this will take things to a new level, bringing another wave of high-value jobs. The new units are attracting major interest, while enabling us to retain growing companies like Filtronic in County Durham so they can realise their ambitions here and not somewhere else.

“All in all, we expect the expansion will unlock over 285,000 sq ft of new lab and scale-up production space and create up to 1,250 high-value jobs on site along with a further 2,200 jobs in wider supply chains.”

Earlier this year, NETPark was confirmed as a Growth Site in the North East Investment Zone as part of the £4.2billion devolution deal.

North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said: “NETPark has become a driving force for attracting national and international businesses in Durham and the North East, demonstrating our reputation as a fantastic place to live, work and do business.

“As Mayor, I will back NETPark, and the whole of County Durham, so we create more jobs, attract businesses and investment and create real opportunity for local people. As a Combined Authority we are investing in NETPark through our Investment Zone, creating over 1,200 high skill, high-paid jobs, building amazing new lab and production spaces for businesses to grow; and adding over £600million to the North East’s economy.

“We have spades in the ground, with infrastructure and enabling works already underway. From semi-conductors to the next generation in space technology, we can create a very bright future for NETPark, County Durham and our great North East.”

For more information about opportunities at NETPark visit www.northeasttechnologypark.com.