Menai Science Park Exemplar takes shape for 2018 opening. Check out the story as reported in the Daily Post

The £20m Menai Science Park that is tipped to create up to 700 jobs is taking shape and office space is already in demand. Located close to Gaerwen on Anglesey, the main building is being erected for what will be a cutting-edge business facility. Supported by nearby Bangor University, its aim is to help home-grown firms to start and expand and attract businesses to relocate to the area.

Talking about the science park, Project Manager, Pryderi ap Rhisiart, said: “The demand is there, there are businesses that we hope will be here from day one, which we are pleased with because no one involved in this wants this to become a ‘white elephant’. The interest has come from the local area and people looking to relocate their business from England. Often, they have a connection here already, either they were raised here and want to come back or they went to Bangor University. There are various businesses from app developers, to medical sciences. That university connection is important, both for businesses being set up and future recruitment.”

There will be 70% office space and 30% lab space although this will be flexible with the building able to change to meet the needs of businesses. Pryderi added: “We see this as a place that offers lifestyle and facilities, the views from the offices here are incredible. This is a fantastic place to live and now we have this ‘Google’ type office where people can work and build businesses.”

Supporting the offices and labs is a public space at the entrance where people can work informally and there is also a cafe. On the next floor, the boardroom is taking shape which will feature all the latest technologies and has some of the best views in Wales, looking across Snowdonia.

Pryderi said: “We have called this ‘Wales’s best boardroom’, what is good is that even a small one/two-person business will have this facility. “When they are meeting clients, they will be able to impress them with these facilities.”

There will also be informal and formal meeting rooms. The informal room will have sofas and coffee machines, it is the sort of thing you see at a Google office, very laid back.

“But there will also be formal rooms because some people will still like this approach.”

For businesses moving in there will be support on offer. He said: “Unlike other business parks we will have a business development officer based on site, they can help the businesses, from things like networking to recruiting. We don’t just hand them the key, it is in our interest to see them grow. We are showing people around all the time and the demand is here, people interested in space should get in touch.”