Birmingham Science Park Aston has strengthened its executive management team with the appointment of Charlotte Crossley as Head of Communications. She was previously a Director at leading Birmingham communications agency Core, where she worked for over 12 years.
Miss Crossley, 31, commenced her career in PR in 1999 when she was featured in a Daily Express article on ‘Teenage tycoons’ and acknowledged as the top UK young female entrepreneur for her work in promotions at major events such as the NEC’s Clothes Show Live. In the same year she also featured in a 19 Magazine article on ‘Inspirational 19 year olds’ alongside pop star Jamelia.
During her time at Core, Charlotte was instrumental in growing and developing the business and headed up the media relations team. The successes at Core lead to her being featured in the 2009 ‘Who’s Who’ guide to the top two per cent of company directors aged under 35.
Commenting on the new appointment, Dr David Hardman MBE, CEO of Birmingham Science Park Aston said: “During the last three years we have positioned the Science Park to drive Greater Birmingham’s knowledge economy. A series of new initiatives focussed around creating the ‘opportunity to innovate through partnership’ is directed at our local innovators and entrepreneurs, enabling them to deliver their commercial aspirations to benefit Birmingham’s economy. We have built a new team within the Park to deliver a holistic support offering to the tech community and Charlotte’s expertise in PR and marketing, combined with her entrepreneurial flair, will only strengthen our offering to the entrepreneurs of the future.
“We have worked closely with Charlotte and the team at Core for the last two years to great effect, but I am delighted that her skills will in future be fully focussed on helping to deliver BSPA’s mission.”
The Head of Communications remit covers all internal and external communications, including developing and delivering strategies for employees, partners, clients, stakeholders and a diverse range of target audiences located regionally, nationally and internationally.
Charlotte is joining the Science Park at a critical point in its development plan. A joint venture partner is currently being sought for the £35 million Digital Plaza development; the highly acclaimed Entrepreneurs for the Future programme has already incubated over 50 start-up technology businesses; the euroLED conference for the lighting industry – now in its ninth year – is moving to the NEC from the Ricoh Arena; the LAUNCH future gaming conference is doubling its programme for 2012; and the Park is rapidly gaining significant international recognition for its pioneering Science Park Without Walls initiative, which is being delivered with global technology giant Cisco.
In November 2011, Prime Minister David Cameron visited the Science Park as it became the first active network ‘node’ in Cisco’s National Virtual Incubator initiative.
Charlotte Crossley said: “I am proud and delighted to be joining Birmingham Science Park Aston. This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to help drive the city’s knowledge economy and work with partners and stakeholders to communicate and deliver strategies that will stimulate, attract and retain entrepreneurial talent.”
Charlotte was the 2008 winner of the Communications category in the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards. She will continue in her role as Chair of Birmingham Future’s high profile City Centre Committee, which she has held since 2010.
Birmingham Science Park Aston will be celebrating its 30th birthday later this year, having been founded in 1982. Now wholly owned by Birmingham City Council, the Park is one of the leading science parks in the country.