Facilities, Lab Space and Hot Desks

Facilities, Lab Space and Hot Desks

Base your entire company on campus, just your R&D staff, or take a hot desk when you need it.

In our newest £11.4M technology facility, cTAP, we invite businesses to work alongside researchers from our newly-founded Department of Chemistry and offer access to a unique suite of cutting-edge instrumentation and facilities worth almost £7 million.

Renting offices and integrating all or part of a business onto the campus enables faster business growth by providing easier access to our research, knowledge, events, training and facilities.

Each business is allocated a relationship manager to match the business to the appropriate skills and facilities they need.

To find out more about cTAP contact our Head of Partnerships and Business Engagement for Physical Sciences, Martin Gilmore.

Contact Martin via Teams

Email: m.gilmore@lancaster.ac.uk

Cutting-edge facilities

The three-floor building provides more than 10,000 square feet of space and houses equipment and facilities across four broad pillars. We have the in-house expertise to train business staff to use our equipment as well as assist companies in the design and execution of experimental techniques. All of our facilities are supported by teams of experienced technicians and businesses can access them via a variety of agreements, from one-off usages to exclusive hire.

  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

    Including solid and liquid state NMR devices currently used for the analysis of biological samples and identification of smart materials for energy storage.

  • Mass Spectrometry and Separations

    Including an extensive range of liquid, gas and gel permeation chromatography and spectrometry devices used to identify and detect individual compounds in complex mixtures and with applications including environmental analysis, impurity monitoring, pharmaceutical testing and forensics.

  • Microscopy and Nanofabrication

    Including atomic force and scanning electron microscopy used to understand the structure and surface topography of materials, alongside a nanofabrication device capable of 3D printing of structures on a nanoscale.

  • Optical Spectroscopy

    The department is equipped with a wide and varied range of instruments for optical spectroscopy, including dedicated CD and time-resolved fluorescence equipment.

  • X-Ray

    The Department is well-equipped for X-ray diffraction of single crystals and powders, as well as for X-ray fluorescence.

  • Elemental Analysis

    The department is equipped with a several options for elemental analysis of samples.

  • Sample Preparation

    Much of the analytical equipment available in Chemistry requires some form of sample preparation, and shared equipment is available for some applications.

An overview of the space

The three-floor building provides more than 10,000 square feet of space to house facilities, including laboratory and write-up space, meeting accommodation and dedicated rooms for instrumentation.

Independent assessments underpinning the case for investment in the cTAP estimate that the investment will enable the university to realise £90 to £150 million in additional value to the economy over the next 15 years. It will also see the creation of more than 100 high-value jobs within SMEs.

North West England hosts the largest manufacturing sector in the UK generating £21 billion. There are 16,500 high-value manufacturing companies in the North West, employing 400,000 people.

Funding

The cTAP programme is part-funded (£9,084,336) from the North West Operational Programme for the European Regional Development Fund.

International companies welcome

We welcome international companies and liaise with the Department for International Trade, the Government’s single destination for information on UK trade, investment, tourism and education.(DIT) helps businesses export and grow into global markets and also helps overseas companies locate and grow in the UK.

GREAT.gov.uk is the government’s single destination for information on UK trade, investment, tourism and education.

Our location

Lancaster University’s parkland campus is situated on the outskirts of the beautiful and historic city of Lancaster, Lancashire. Lancashire is in the Northwest of England and has a large and diverse economy consisting of a strong mix of over 35,000 registered companies representing all sectors of the UK economy. Lancaster University is a truly global university, with over 12,000 students from over 120 countries.

Lancaster University

Benefits to your business

  • Lancaster University is ranked in the top 10 for interactions with SMEs
  • Flexible and bespoke accommodation package with the option of lab scape and hot desks
  • Extensive state of the art research laboratories and R&D facilities
  • Access to world-class research
  • Increase opportunities to access public funds for collaborative R&D.
  • Opportunities for student placements throughout the year
  • Assisted recruitment of graduates into your business
  • Enhance and develop current services and products
  • Access to high-quality university staff and students
  • Business development team to facilitate relationships with our local, national and global contacts
  • Specialist programmes to access international markets
  • Access extra resources for skilled students all year round
  • Opportunities to partner with the University in the delivery of training
  • Collaborative with other resident companies on campus in the Lancaster Environment Centre and the Health Innovation Centre - annual events programme with company breakfast/lunch meetings
  • Access to the wider university community through business partnerships staff

Professional training

Our expert technicians provide training and support for our extensive facilities for research. We can also provide bespoke tailored interdisciplinary training programmes and on-going continuing professional development provision. We share expertise and increase competitiveness and productivity of individuals and organisations through better use of knowledge, technology and skills.

Benefits of Our Professional Training

  • Expert training on a wide range of specialist facilities
  • Flexible, part-time programmes specially designed for busy professionals
  • Access to excellence in research and teaching
  • Taught by our academic staff and industry professionals
  • Gain essential skills needed by employers to develop their workforce and give you and your employer the competitive edge
  • Opportunities to enhance career paths and improve employability
  • Valuable networking opportunities
  • Helpful staff and simple recruitment systems

Contact

Synne Darwell

Synne Darwell

Business Co-location Administrator