NETPark is a globally significant science park where innovation is the order of every day. It is where thinkers go to think, inventors go to invent, and doers go to do.
In the almost 20 years since it opened NETPark has become a jewel in the region’s business crown and is home to 40 science, engineering and technology companies.
Owned by Durham County Council and managed by Business Durham the council’s business support service, NETPark is a value-adding proposition that any firm operating in these areas should know about before choosing a location or considering a move.
Funding for Phase Three confirmed
The first two phases provide more than 600 jobs and the Council have recently confirmed phase three to double the size of NETPark will go ahead, with £61m funding confirmed. The expansion will attract new companies to the park and provide additional space to the many growing firms already there.
Phase three will include 232,000 sq ft of laboratory, office, production and storage space with potential to create 1,250 new jobs and support 2,200 more in the supply chain. It is expected to break ground in Spring with the first units ready for occupation in November 2024.
Janet Todd, Project Director at NETPark, will steer the way through phase three. In her previous role as NETPark manager she made sure the science, engineering and technology mix was never diluted in order to secure the high tech, high value jobs now based there.
She said: “It is a huge project that is both exciting and challenging. We are very keen to keep the campus feel – NETPark is a very collaborative community of businesses that complement each other, have open access and work closely together and we want to maintain that.
“NETPark has been fully occupied for three years and it has been challenging to accommodate the many companies that want to grow. The larger units in phase three – up to 35,000 sq ft – will allow that to happen while freeing smaller laboratory and office spaces elsewhere.
“Although the build is speculative we have a healthy pipeline of enquiries from many tech based companies – some of which have grown over the years from starts ups to now employing in excess of 200 people.”
Dyman – a journey of growth at NETPark
One company which has grown on the park is Dyman Advanced Materials, producers of high-quality synthetic diamonds for use in industry, medicine and the jewellery sector.
As an idea that had been in Gary Gibson’s mind for 30 years, Dyman was set up in 2018 when Gary moved on from Ibex, another company at NETPark he also founded.
He felt the time was finally right to take on the challenge he’d set himself as a student so many years ago – to create synthetic diamonds.
“We are actually ready to start selling products – so it has been a very fast move to market. We plan to start very quietly exporting to a diamond distributor in the EU and gradually ramp up production.
“The first products will be for industrial use but there are lots of industries the diamonds are used in – for drilling in the oil and gas industries, cutting tools in the automotive industry, as scalpels in medicine and in high end electronics.”
Dyman has had quite a journey of growth at NETPark and Gary hopes to be in a position to move into phase three when it is ready next year.
“NETPark is perfect for high tech companies and their staff – the physical environment with the green spaces and walks, the well-designed buildings with plenty of parking. It all gives the right perception of the businesses based there and helps with staff retention,” said Gary.
To find out more about the companies and opportunities at NETPark visit the website www.northeasttechnologypark.com
