Innovation Park Medway (IPM), which forms a third of the county’s North Kent Enterprise Zone and will be Medway’s flagship economic hub for innovation and business growth, is set to welcome its first official resident, heralding the beginning of another exciting phase of growth and regeneration for Medway.
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance is returning to Rochester Airport in Medway after a period of 18 years based in Marden. The unique, bespoke and brand new modular buildings are currently under construction and will open in May. The charity currently has around 30 staff based in Marden, all of whom will move to the new site which has the capacity to accommodate around 44 staff.
Councillor Alan Jarrett, Leader of Medway Council, said; “We welcome back Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance to Medway with open arms. The charity is in the midst of a significant phase of development and it’s vital that the infrastructure enables it to continue carrying out and improving its great work. It’s fantastic that Innovation Park Medway will enable them to achieve this. It is fitting that our first official resident is returning “home” to Rochester Airport – this is just the beginning of an incredibly exciting period of economic regeneration in Medway.”
Adrian Bell, Chief Executive of Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance, said: “It is very exciting for us to be part of Innovation Park Medway. At this significant time of development within our service, our new charity offices will enable our hardworking team to foster their creativity and work with volunteers, fundraisers and supporters alike to ensure we can continue being there for the people of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Rochester Airport is an integral part of our ability to operate our two aircraft and run our service smoothly for years to come, so we are very much looking forward to the months ahead.”
Innovation Park Medway will offer high-value technology, engineering, manufacturing and knowledge-intensive businesses the opportunity to grow in a bespoke commercial development within a collaborative business environment. The forthcoming remodelling of the operational Rochester Airport is enabling up to 100,000m² of innovative new business space and the site will offer outstanding transport and digital connectivity, access to world-class research and development facilities and highly skilled talent through the cluster of Kent and Medway-based Universities. A substantial number of new jobs will be brought to Medway as businesses start to locate to the Park – bringing valuable new skills, and new residents to the area.
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