Porton Science Park businesses provide opportunities to the next generation

Several businesses at Porton Science Park are currently hosting exciting work placements for third year science and engineering university students.

The scheme sees six students from universities across the country on placements at some of the Science Park's leading companies, including Cervus Defence, which specialises in data science and data analytics; KalVista, a pharmaceutical company; and Fluorogenics, which manufactures biological reagents for life sciences sector.

The undergraduates on work placements are studying computer science, chemistry and biomedical science, and some may secure full-time employment at the Science Park on the back of their placements and successful completion of their degrees in the next one-two years.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: "Porton Science Park has gone from strength to strength since it opened in 2018, and these six work placements represent a significant increase on previous years, so it shows that businesses at the park are growing and prospering.

"Thanks to significant investment from Wiltshire Council and our partners, Porton Science Park has affirmed its position as a nationally important centre of excellence in specialist health, life science and defence and security sectors.

"The park has proven to be a real success for south Wiltshire, and has brought significant high value employment to the area."

Porton Science Park opened in 2018 on the science campus that is also home to the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Public Health England (PHE) Porton, and it already has more than 100 people working on site.

The first £10m phase opened with funding from Wiltshire Council, the local Growth Fund and the European Regional Development fund, working closely with the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP).

Find out more about Porton Science Park (opens new window).