CEO and Non-Exec Director Rob Rule says “Like many young biotech companies, Entropix has a range of sophisticated technical equipment including complex analytical instruments, DNA sequencing, PCR measurements and fermentation facilities. In order to accommodate our research and development activities, we need lab space. However, we do need proper lab facilities equipped with services (electrical and water supply) along with air handling and fume cupboards. As a start-up business we don’t want to spend precious capital on creating a bespoke lab from scratch. We also need flexibility – we don’t want to commit to standard 5 year commercial property leases because our needs are likely to change rapidly as the company grows and the business model often evolves.
Within the Liverpool City Region there are only 2 suitable facilities – Runcorn Heath and Sci-Tech Daresbury (including STFC’s ITAC incubation facilities). We started our operations at ITAC-Bio in Daresbury and when we were planning to expand we looked at all the options – these included several facilities in Manchester (including the Manchester Science Park, City Labs and Alderley Park) as well as Daresbury and Runcorn Heath. There are no suitable start-up or scale-up facilities in Liverpool City Centre, which is a significant gap for a region in which Life Sciences is one of the core sectors.
Compared with other sites we considered, the team at Runcorn Heath were outstanding in supporting us and meeting our needs. They helped us to design and plan the lab space and fitted it out to meet our requirements. This involved the manufacture of bespoke lab shelving, the installation of lab benches and fume extraction as well as the usual water and electrical supplies. They also installed a modern office space adjacent to the lab which created a great working environment for the whole team. They have unique capabilities for facilities management and maintenance with their own site engineering team. They took a pragmatic commercial approach towards the leasing arrangements and we committed to a reasonable period of time that gave us both what we needed. They’ve also been helpful and responsive to any issues that occurred after moving in”.
For more information go to: http://www.entropix.co.uk
