The Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre has announced plans to create four sector hubs at its 30,000m² operation in Pencoed.
Already home to 22 start-up companies, as well as the manufacturing and customer service centre for Sony in the UK, Steve Dalton OBE plans to develop the state-of-the-art facility into a business incubation centre for start-up companies in the media, digital, gaming and renewable sectors.
The move comes following the demise of several of the Welsh Assembly Government’s technium innovation centres in sites across Wales in 2010. Mr Dalton explained: “The intention of the Welsh Government in creating its technium innovation centres across Wales was a good one, however, in the end it unfortunately wasn’t financially viable to sustain them. However we have the capacity and the infrastructure at our Centre in Pencoed to create something along the same lines for start-up companies in the media, digital, gaming and renewable sectors.”
With modern office space, state-of-the-art facilities, access to a range of specialist support services, and networking opportunities with other like-minded businesses, the Sony UK Technology Centre already houses 22 start-up companies including, Tvonics, Sports Media Services and Dragon Digital Intermediate.
Continued Mr Dalton: “We have already successfully collaborated with Swansea and Glamorgan Universities to offer office space to several entrepreneurial graduates who are now in an environment where they can prosper. With an additional 10,000 sq ft available at the Centre we are now taking it to the next level. We have chosen sectors that not only complement our existing business, but also those that we feel are currently flourishing in Wales, and we hope to be at full capacity by the end of 2014.
“Media is one of the key industries that we are focusing on as it complements our broadcast production facilities at Pencoed. Additionally, with the opening of the new BBC drama village in Cardiff Bay, it is likely that the media industry will grow with more and more production companies looking to locate themselves in Wales. This coupled with the fantastic courses being offered by the Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Studies at Glamorgan University, will mean that we are capable of producing the next Sir David Attenborough. However, all of these graduates and start-up companies will need somewhere to base themselves initially, and we feel that we are the ideal location.”
Opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1992, Sony UK Technology Centre is a division of Sony Europe Limited. Home to the manufacturing and customer service centre for Sony in the UK, The Sony UK Technology Centre has developed a reputation for manufacturing excellence, which has been recognised through the receipt of four Queen’s Awards for Export.
Employing 400 highly skilled employees, Sony Pencoed is the only facility outside of Japan to manufacture high technology broadcast and professional cameras and camera systems for world-wide markets.