Science Students see Bright Future in
Hi-Tech Business
 | Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC) has welcomed back a group of young scientists as part of its exciting new programme aimed at inspiring the future generation of hi-tech innovators. Year 12 science students from Riverside College (Runcorn and Widnes) and St Chad’s Catholic High School (Runcorn) are the first cohort of the Daresbury SIC Student Mentoring Programme. The initiative, set up by entrepreneurs working in the Daresbury Innovation Centre, aims to give students a clearer insight into possible careers in science, innovation and entrepreneurship. |
In the first cohort, 10 entrepreneurs from the Campus are each participating with a student to provide an insight into opportunities possible with an A Level qualification in science. A £100 award, sponsored jointly by the participating company and Daresbury SIC, has been given to each successful student approved onto the scheme.
The programme involves close interaction between a mentor entrepreneur based at Daresbury SIC and the student throughout the course of their year 12 studies. Students are given a first-hand introduction to the workings of a growing hi-tech company, and to how cutting-edge technology is harnessed to develop a commercial product or service.
In the meeting held at the Daresbury Innovation Centre students shared their experiences to date and heard about the benefits of a career in science and innovation from Campus staff.
Craig Peacock, a student from Riverside College mentored by Lisa Layzell of Thinspace, is delighted with the opportunities the scheme has given him. Craig said: “I’m planning to study software engineering at university and the mentoring scheme has given me the opportunity for some training with Microsoft. The scheme has also helped me see scientists in a different light – it’s not all lab coats.”
Chelsea Hatfield of St Chad’s, mentored by Manoj Ranaweera of edocr.com, added: “I’m hoping to study forensics at university and the mentoring scheme has given me an opportunity to make contacts in the industry. As for the £100 award for making it onto the programme – it’s still in the bank!”
Maureen Gibson, Head of Science at St Chad’s, said: “The hands-on nature of this programme is ideal for inspiring our future generation of scientists, and we’re delighted to be a part of it. Our visit to Daresbury provided further confirmation of how much world-class science we have on our doorstep, and we look forward to the students taking every possible advantage to gain inspiration and insight from it. Our students have really had their eyes opened to the huge opportunities available to them when they study science, and this is one of the ways we’ll be promoting science to next year’s cohort of sixth formers.”
Robert Wakeling, Managing Director of mobile telecommunications company Wadaro, said: “Wadaro is in business because its founders are passionate about the technology we have to offer. We’re really enjoying communicating some of that passion to budding scientists – and inspiring them to become part of the future generation of successful hi-tech entrepreneurs.”
For further information please contact:
Jane Smith
Smith & Smith PR
T: 0161 236 5560
jane@smithandsmithpr.co.uk
Hi-res images of the students with mentor companies are available on request from Smith & Smith PR
Notes to editors:
Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus (Daresbury SIC)
Daresbury SIC is an internationally recognised location for hi-tech businesses and leading-edge science. It represents a fundamentally new approach to driving UK competitiveness in global science and innovation. Daresbury SIC was formed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Science & Technology Facilities Council along with the Universities of Liverpool, Lancaster and Manchester and Halton Borough Council. For more information please visit www.daresburysic.co.uk.
Participating companies:
 | Auralis Ltd This speciality pharmaceuticals company has created a unique platform to ensure the supply and continual delivery of challenging but highly regarded critical care products. www.auralis.co.uk |
 | Calon Associates Products, services and solutions for intelligent controls.
Calon is the UK's leading supplier of products and services for intelligent networked controls in commercial buildings and filling stations. www.infranet-partners.co.uk |
 | edocr edocr creates an environment for (business) documents to be interacted: giving life to documents. It uses the best of web 2.0 technologies allowing authors to obtain valued information about their readership whilst allowing those who require documents to find them easily with added value coming through interactivity. edocr is evolving and many new functionality will be introduced in coming weeks and months. Why not upload your documents, tag and experience the difference? www.edocr.com |
 | Godel Technologies Software application development.
A leading provider of high quality software development services for businesses in the UK, Europe and North America. www.godeltech.com |
 | IBM IBM Strategic Growth Business Unit. Activity ranges from algorithm development in digital media to large scale scientific computing problems. Benefits from physical proximity to the next generation supercomputer ‘Blue Gene’, recently installed at the Laboratory. www.ibm.com/uk |
 | Inventya Ltd For innovative and creative individuals, businesses, and business support providers who seek validation for new business concepts, Inventya provide a range of products (software, online solutions) and services (feasibility studies, market research) that combine best practice business methods with the latest digital technology to deliver outstanding and cost effective results. www.inventya.com |
 | M-Send Ltd m-send is a future focused, proven mobile business solution provider. Put simply, m-send enables companies to extend their brands, existing business services and management processes through the mobile channel. Whatever the requirement, m-send has the capabilities to deliver a tailored mobile solution that creates revenue growth and internal cost efficiencies for businesses - whether helping to open new mobile channels that access customers, managing relationships or supporting employees. By consulting and working closely with clients, m-send ensures that needs are met and that the opportunities mobile presents are maximised. www.m-send.com |
 | National Skills Academy for Nuclear Nuclear training solutions. The leading body for an employer led strategy to develop and accredit high quality nuclear skills and training provision. www.nuclear.nsacademy.co.uk |
 | Thinspace Ltd Thinspace is a specialist IT/AV hardware and software company based in the North West of England. A leading solutions provider specialising in Thin Client hardware and software. We offer scalable server based computing solutions ideal for small organisations to large multi-national companies, focusing on increased security and manageability whilst reducing costs. www.thinspace.co.uk |
 | Wadaro Ltd Wadaro offers innovative and cost effective solutions to the problem of monitoring wireless networks. Wadaro patented technology is applied to 2G, 3G, Wimax, TETRA and other bearer technologies to help service providers ensure good Quality of Service, reduce costs and maintain customer satisfaction. www.wadaro.com |