Science park looks to recruit more tech start-ups

A START-UP support programme for technology companies in Birmingham is to continue recruiting businesses.

The Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) scheme is based at Birmingham Science Park Aston and has recently recruited its 50th business.

The programme was endorsed by Prime Minister David Cameron during a visit to the science park, during which he was accompanied by the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The 50th business to be enrolled within e4f is social gaming firm 2Fold20 Play, a subsidiary of London-based digital media and animation specialists TwoFoldTwenty. The firm works with national and international clients and it chose the BSPA as its base ahead of its parent company.

2Fold20 Play’s founders have a wealth of experience working in the gaming, film, digital and animation sectors for leading global brands including Warner Bros, Impact BBDO, Disney, Philips, and Turner.

The owners of the business, set up with the help of the Creative Advantage Fund, took the decision to base themselves at the science park because of the support network on offer.

David Hardman, BSPA chief executive, said: “2Fold20 Play is exactly the type of future-facing company that we want to foster at Birmingham Science Park Aston to help ensure growth into a profitable venture as soon as possible.

“Start-ups such as this, which have high growth potential, could create many new jobs for local people, which is exactly what Birmingham’s economy needs in order to thrive.”

In recognition of 2Fold20 Play becoming the 50th member of the e4f incubator programme, the science park has extended the normal support period from six months to 12.

Neill Watson, chief executive of 2Fold20 Play, said: “We are thrilled to be forming this new company from Birmingham Science Park Aston, and the funding from the Creative Advantage Fund will enable us to get to work on our first social gaming concept immediately.

“The support and welcome we have received made it a very easy decision to base ourselves in Birmingham and we are very excited about what the future holds.”  

Thomas Dillon, chairman of Creative Advantage Fund, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring 2Fold20 Play Ltd to Birmingham Science Park Aston. This is a model example of specialised finance and business support facilities working together to their common benefit and that of the city. We wish 2Fold20 Play every success.”

The e4f programme offers free support for technology start-up companies, providing the opportunity to achieve growth and commercial success through funding support, expert advice and mentoring for six months. Companies taking part in the programme also benefit from office or desk space, alongside access to telephone and internet services.

The scheme, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has helped create 40 new jobs since being launched in 2009.  Following the launch of the programme’s third phase earlier this year, e4f is now looking for more start-ups to the next phase of the scheme.