Showcasing science parks’ growth potential to government
Dr Sally Basker has undergone an interesting few months since taking on the role of Chair at the UK Science Park Association, in addition to her day job running Exeter Science Park.
That has included hosting the UKSPA Spring Conference at the newly opened net zero voco Zeal hotel on the science park.
She has been chief executive at the park since March 2017, when the park was still in its early days. “You take on a start-up science park, you know it’s going to be interesting. I have to say it was perhaps a little bit more interesting than I expected at the time,” she recalled.
“For much of the first year it was me and half a PA. We needed to make some fundamental changes to the park as a company, sort out the finances and get things moving. That first year was about keeping it alive and positioning it to move forwards. Over the past eight years we have seen the construction of six building and, of course, the hotel.”
Since then, the park has grown five-fold and now hosts 45 businesses with 750 workers based at the East Devon site.
“Exeter is not a single sector science park, which is what you should expect in the South West. We do have some health and life sciences, a sector we are aiming to grow, but it doesn’t look anything like Cambridge. It’s much more digital. We have a company here that does pharmaceutical logistics for the NHS, companies providing remote pathology services to the NHS, and another doing that for veterinary work.”
“We’ve got others developing new techniques for spotting diseases and looking at long Covid. But then we've got other businesses focused on net zero and the built environment, we've got some security and defence and we've got a lot of digital.
“And we've seen growth not just through spin-outs from the University of Exeter but from other organisations that are coming to the science park and wanting to be part of this community.
“I’m sure every science park would say their sense of community is what differentiates them from other organisations providing real estate services, but there are the practical benefits too. We provide big company facilities for smaller companies which means providing a level of flexibility for them to grow, to take exactly what they need at any moment in time and to gradually improve their business position. That’s an important part of what we do, ensuring they do not overreach too early.”
The opening of the new voco Zeal hotel underlines Exeter Science Park’s commitment to sustainability and net zero. It’s also a strong commitment for Sally Basker as the new Chair of UKSPA.
“We have to recognise that we are living in a world with finite resources, that we are damaging the world through many of our activities, and we need to turn this around,” she said.
Act now to make a difference
“During my period as Chair of UKSPA there will be a continuous focus on sustainability.
“Sustainability is not for us; it is for our children and grandchildren, for all of our collective futures. We just need to get this right. It’s challenging for all science parks, even the younger science parks like Exeter where we have two or three net zero buildings now; it’s a process of continuous improvement. What we've started with will look out of date within a decade as we discover how to do things better.
“Those are the key things for all of us. If you run a company and your finances are going through the floor then you need to act now. It’s the same position with net zero; our climate is in trouble and we need to act now and we need to make a difference.
“You can't do it all at once and there is inevitably a period of transition but, as much as anything else, it's about getting the culture right with the intent to improve and taking advantage of every opportunity to make those improvements. That’s not easy, but it's something that we all need to do.”
At the same time, UKSPA will be continuing its job of looking after its members and their interests; locally, regionally and nationally.
“As an organisation, UKSPA needs to enhance the policy part of the business – speaking to Government and arguing the case for increasing support to the science park sector – whilst maintaining focus on the most important part of our organisation: delivering benefits to our members.
“I really want to pay tribute to the band of folk – I think there are ten of us – from across the science park community who are willing to stick their hands up and become directors of the UK Science Park Association.
“One should always admire volunteers who are willing to get involved and, in my position as the Chair, I absolutely value every one of them and what they are bringing to UKSPA, positioning us as the leading membership organisation in our field.
“And I think our executive team are doing remarkable work, making such a success of our recent conferences in Warwick, here at Exeter, and our summer event at Rothamsted.
“Another key UKSPA development has been to build up our regional groups. Clearly we all enjoy and value coming together at our major meetings; but there is so much also to be gained by meeting regionally.
“Those meetings are an excellent aspect of what we do, providing a platform for discussion and airing everyone’s views. Every region will have its own particular concerns to focus on. For example, what is happening in Manchester is going to be different to what is happening in Birmingham.
“We are seeing an increase in devolution in many regions of our nation, which will alter how funding happens. The relationship between sciences parks, central, regional and local government will undoubtedly change quite considerably over time,
“But we have to ensure that everybody needs to appreciate what is, for many parts of the country, the jewel in the crown: their local science park.”
Business background
Sally Basker’s own background combines scientific and engineering research with a business focus, using managerial skills to help researchers exploit the commercial opportunities of their work.
“I think at one Ievel it is wanting to be at the table where decisions are made, wanting to be part of the group of people shaping decisions for research projects in the early stages.
“Once you start bidding for research projects and getting grants, then you have to start delivering. It was the ability to see both sides of it. I was involved in the private sector very early on in my career, going from my PhD and postdoctoral work to working for a university technology transfer company.”
Her work ranged from research and consulting, then as director of research for the General Lighthouse Authority at Trinity House. There followed a spell as interim head of business development at the Atomic Energy Authority, some business-to-government work and finally was recruited to head up Exeter’s fledgling science park in 2017.
“Somewhere I've got a civil engineering degree, which I've never really used, but in fact some of it's been useful. I've got this background as a science person and a researcher. I've got an MBA, I've worked nationally and internationally, I've grown businesses, started businesses up and helped other people start businesses too.
“I have managed big infrastructure projects as well, so when I came to Exeter I saw how one might take this forward when it was not in an easy position. I probably sound much more like a business person than a scientist now, but that's where my career has taken me and I've been very lucky.
“Having worked in big companies and small companies and helped set things up, to start businesses, I think it's also salutary lesson when one's running a science park. A lot of the companies are quite young and they need support; they are going through challenging times. It is great to see them succeed and I think that understanding that challenge is important. It helps us empathise with our clients.”
Source of endless joy
A clue to Sally Basker’s collaborative approach may lie in a less well-known passion. “I did a music diploma in timpani and percussion when I was just leaving school, and I did wonder about being becoming a professional musician.
“I suspect the music world is probably pleased I didn't, but I still play timpani and percussion for a number of orchestras and ensembles in the South West. I have done it all my life, so I have far too many drums at home. It’s a source of endless joy for me – and endless challenge – for my partner.
“I think the thing about playing music for me is it is all about teamwork, but in a non-competitive environment. So, at any moment in an orchestral concert, you're thinking, am I blending well enough with everybody else? It's that give and take, which comes from listening to each other in an orchestra and working with each other collaboratively to deliver a performance.
“At work I've been part of teams, I've led teams and I suspect you could talk to any chief executive and they'd say how much they value their teams because we know we can't do it all on our own.
“We focus on science, but it's all about helping people to work together, helping people to raise funds, develop products and services, engage with the right third party support at different points of their journey. That's a critical part of it; always to help facilitate.”
Explore Exeter For more about Exeter Science Park, go to exetersciencepark.co.uk