The Globe Innovation Centre granted planning approval
Fri, 24 Jan 2014 11:10:00 GMT
Alan Lewis, the University of Huddersfield and 3M join forces to invest in a multi-million pound innovation and enterprise project
Pictured left to right: Vice Chancellor Professor Cryan, Stefan Gabriel, President of 3M New Ventures and University of Huddersfield's Visiting Professor of Innovation and Alan Lewis, Chairman of Hartley Group, at the site of the Globe Innovation Centre in Slaithwaite.
Plans to develop a multi-million pound innovation centre in West Yorkshire were granted planning approval today at the meeting of local councillors in Huddersfield. After an hour-and-a-half of discussion, the plans were approved unanimously with all 12 councillors voting in favour.
The project is a partnership between the Hartley Group, the international technology company 3M, and the University of Huddersfield , winner of the Times Higher Education Award for University of the Year.
With the University of Huddersfield as a shareholder, the Globe Innovation Centre is going to be linked to the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre.
In addition to nurturing start-ups in its own right, with angel funding from Hartley and 3M, the development represents a large addition of grow-on space for the University’s own 3M Buckley Innovation Centre.
Alan Lewis CBE, Chairman of Hartley Group, told the councillors: “I have been an investor in Yorkshire my whole life. I am very passionate about regenerating the industrial base of Yorkshire and creating employment. This project will create a centre of excellence for innovation and enterprise which will be a beacon in Europe.”
He said afterwards: “This marks a continuation of the crusade to nurture future entrepreneurs who will be the life-blood of economic development in the UK”.
Speaking in support of the application, Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, told councillors: “Hartley and 3M are international companies who could choose to invest anywhere in the world... but at this time of restricted global liquidity they and the UK University of the Year have committed to a project that will lead to both urban and economic regeneration in the Yorkshire region.
“This is a fantastic opportunity, and through my role as Chair of the Business Innovation Growth Panel for the Leeds City Region, I know first-hand there are areas that would jump at the investment presented here today.”
