Business and civic leaders celebrate £60m investment success at Skylon Park

Civic leaders joined business leaders at a special event to celebrate £60m of investment at Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone.

Former Zone chairs, board members and the Skylon Park project team were also at the event which showcased the zone’s transformation into one of the region’s most dynamic business locations over the last decade.

It was held on November 29 at the former munitions factory building, the Shell Store – itself transformed into Hereford’s first business incubation and networking centre as part of the investment.

Chairman Charles Ingleby told guests that successful partnership working between the public and private sectors had been vital.

“This is really a celebration of everything that’s happened on Skylon Park over the last decade or more. This was 110 acres of largely derelict land, 80% of which was owned by Herefordshire Council.

“There were no internal roads, there was contamination, and virtually no utilities, or if there were any utilities, they were in the wrong place.

“I think key to success is how the public and private sector have combined. They can work in tandem very well. You’ve got to make it easy for businesses to invest and I hope that we have done that.”

The celebration event, which was attended by former zone chairs Roger Phillips, Bill Jackson and Andrew Manning Cox, also highlighted the zone’s particular success in supporting local business growth. Skylon Park is now home to more than 100 businesses, with 1,500 jobs in place and ambitions to create another 1,100 more.

Managing director Mark Pearce, who thanked investors and supporters of the zone at the event, said key to the zone’s success has been its determination to provide clarity and certainty to businesses wherever possible, de-risking their investment decisions.

Installing infrastructure such as utilities, superfast broadband and road access had made plots genuinely development ready and given businesses confidence to buy and then build.

This strategically planned approach has led to the development of more than 650,000 square feet of commercial space, with a further 180,000 square feet committed.

Council leader Jonathan Lester revealed plans to replicate this success across the county: “We are committed to investing another £12 million for other market towns to make sure we keep starting economic growth in those market towns to spread the wealth and to spread the focus because we want better paid jobs in all of Herefordshire for all of Herefordshire’s citizens.”

Plans are already in motion for the first phase of this work with £8 million earmarked to invest in the infrastructure to open up Ross Enterprise Park with the first phase ready for businesses in 2026.

He added: “The enterprise zone is a brilliant example of where Herefordshire Council, the public sector, can work in harmony with the business sector and be guided by the business sector because you all know what you’re doing.”

The zone continues to attract significant investment, with HR Smith Group recently announcing plans for a £6 million advanced manufacturing centre.

The development, which will create up to 50 new jobs, marks the group’s third project at Skylon Park, bringing its total investment to £11 million. The new facility will include machine shops and an apprentice school, supporting the development and manufacture of aerospace search and rescue equipment.