MP Real Estate announces sale of The Platinum Building, St John’s Innovation Park in Cambridge

MP Real Estate, acting on behalf of Ignis Asset Management, have secured a sale of The Platinum Building on St John’s Innovation Park, Cambridge, to St John’s College, Cambridge for £7.11 million.
 

 

St John’s Innovation Park is located on the north side of Cambridge at the junction of the A14 and A10, opposite the Cambridge Science Park. The prime multi-let long leasehold office/R&D property is located at the heart of the Innovation Park and extends to 40,842 sq ft over ground and 2 upper floors.

 

 

The building is let to five tenants: Teraview Limited, Telstra Limited, Ensors LLP, Amantys Limited and Light Blue Optics, and produces an income of £681,500 per annum. A small 2,500 sq ft suite at ground floor is currently vacant.

 

The sale price reflects a net initial yield of 9.00%.

 

 

Andrew McGahey, Director,  MP Real Estate commented: “We are pleased to have secured a disposal of this asset for our client, meeting their pricing and timing expectations in what remains a challenging market.”

 

 

Commenting on the sale, Stuart Paterson of Ignis Asset Management said “Our strategy to sell before the year end has been achieved, and MP Real Estate worked tirelessly to meet our goals. We are very pleased with the outcome.”

 

Ignis Asset Management was represented by MP Real Estate and Lambert Smith Hampton, whilst the purchaser was represented by Savills.

 

MP Real Estate

 

MP Real Estate is a new specialist Property Investment and Development consultancy based in Cambridge.

 

 

Directors Andrew McGahey (left) and Neil Perrin (right), pictured above, offer a bespoke service that is both personal and efficient, with client care a priority.

 

Andrew was recently Head of Lambert Smith Hampton’s Cambridge office and specialises in Investment purchases, funding and sales, acting for many of the major UK institutional investors and high net worth individuals. He has recently been involved in the funding of the new Microsoft Research building on Station Road, which Microsoft will occupy later this year, and the purchase of the multi-let St Andrew’s House.

 

Neil is formerly the Head of Mixed Use development at Savills Cambridge office and works with clients that include Aldi, Premier Inn, Costa Coffee and Marstons. He has recently acquired the former Barclays Bank in Bene’t Street, Cambridge for Kings College and is working on Octagon Park in Ely and The Arcade in Walthamstow - two major mixed-use development schemes.

 

Between them, they have over fifty years experience within the property industry and will principally focus on client requirements in the south-east and eastern region.

 

Commenting on the formation of MP Real Estate, Andrew said: “Neil and I have worked closely together over a number of years, and are both focused on delivering a high quality service to our clients.”

 

Neil commented: “It seemed a very logical fit for the two of us to team up. We are able to provide our clients with a fully dedicated service through the challenges of the development and funding process.”

 

MP Real Estate is based in central Cambridge at Millers Yard, Mill Lane.

For more information, please contact:

 

Andrew McGahey

MP Real Estate
23 Millers Yard
10/11 Mill Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1RQ

 

Telephone: 01223 755110
Mobile: 07834 566739
E-mail: amcgahey@mprealestate.co.uk 

 

Neil Perrin
Telephone: 01223 755110
Mobile: 07539 582582
E-mail: nperrin@mprealestate.co.uk

Website: www.mprealestate.co.uk

 

The Platinum Building, St John’s Innovation Park, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS

Images in this article are archived on Flickr. CLICK HERE, then click on any thumbnail to access larger versions.

PR-Inside  24/7  The Open Press  Pressbox

 

THE ELITE CAMBRIDGE BUSINESS CIRCLE

 

The Elite Cambridge Business Circle is an association founded in 2009 by some of the top companies in Cambridgeshire.

 

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial talent and business excellence that abounds here within the county boundaries of Cambridgeshire.

 

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes is executive chairman of the Elite Cambridge Business Circle, and managing director is public relations consultancy Fame Publicity Services proprietor Murdoch MacDonald.


Up and coming entrepreneurs to address the Elite Cambridge Business Circle

All Cambridgeshire business people are cordially invited to attend the next business breakfast networking meeting of the Elite Cambridge Business Circle, which will take place at 8am (concluding at 10am) on Thursday 5 July in the boardroom of the Clydesdale Bank, 13-15 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1NL.

[Pictured: Elite Cambridge Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes and managing director Murdoch MacDonald.]

“Cambridge News” and “Cambridge Business” magazine are currently running a competition “Entrepreneurs – the Ones to Watch” looking for the next big things in business.

A panel of independent judges has now decided upon the 25 finalists.

Six of these up and coming entrepreneurs have been selected at random to present their ideas to the Elite Cambridge Business Circle at Clydesdale Bank Thursday 5 July.

After the six presentations, there will follow an informal discussion about successful entrepreneurship, chaired by Jenny Chapman, Business Editor of “Cambridge News”.

In addition, the meeting will provide another excellent opportunity to network with other top Cambridgeshire business people.

The cost is £10 per delegate, which includes bacon rolls (or vegetarian alternative if you pre-order), tea, coffee and juice.

To book, please send your cheque payable to 1MarketPlace Ltd to:

Elite Cambridge Business Circle
10 Miller Road
AYR, Ayrshire
KA7 2AY

If you wish to pay electronically online, please phone or e-mail for account details.

Murdoch MacDonald
Managing Director
The Elite Cambridge Business Circle
Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833 667322

E-mail: murdochmacdonald@hotmail.com

LINK:

"Cambridge News" article

eg technology celebrates 10 years of innovation

Product development and engineering consultancy eg technology is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month.

Established in 2002 by Andrew Ede and Danny Godfrey, the Cambridge-based company has a lot to celebrate, with strong revenue growth, the addition of 5 new employees and record project sales over the last 12 months. The company will be celebrating with an event for clients and staff at the end of the month.


[Pictured: eg technology directors Andrew Ede and Danny Godfrey.]

eg technology offers product design and development services to the medical, biotech and consumer sectors with a strong track-record of developing medical devices with CE and FDA approval. Clients include Bosch, Smith’s Medical, AlertMe.com, Sphere Medical & Health Enterprise East.

Recent successes include the eg-designed Duofertility Monitor being awarded Cambridge Design Icon status as one of the top 20 products designed in Cambridge over the last 40 years and the launch of the British Gas Safe & Secure wireless security system which was designed by eg for AlertMe.com.

The eg team has grown in size and expertise recently with further additions to the design, engineering and electronics teams.

Danny Godfrey, Director at eg technology comments: “When Andrew and I sat down in the Kingston Arms to write our business plan 10 years ago, we were fairly cautious about our ambitions.

“The past ten years have exceeded our expectations in pretty much every way. We have grown a wonderful team whose creativity and enthusiasm for the challenging work that we do make each year that passes ever more enjoyable,” says Danny. “We’ve worked on some fascinating technologies alongside some brilliant people.”

Andrew Ede, Director at eg technology, comments: “We are very aware that our success rests on the quality of the team around us, a network of high quality suppliers and technical specialists, the quality of the projects we have chosen to work on and the growth of Cambridge as a prominent force in the technology sector. By continuing to build on this formula we have no doubt that the next ten years will be just as exciting.”

About eg technology Ltd

eg technology is one of the UK’s leading product design, development and engineering consultancies. Whether we are working with a small biotechnology start-up or an industry-leading blue-chip, our clients receive a level of service that forms the foundation for a long-term relationship.

Based at the heart of the Cambridge technology cluster, we work with companies worldwide to develop engineering solutions to specific product needs. We don’t simply “solve problems” – our experience ensures that we solve the right problems, managing risks and reducing time to market.

www.egtechnology.co.uk

The Elite Cambridge Business Circle NEXT MEETING

You and your colleagues are cordially invited to attend the next business breakfast networking meeting of the Elite Cambridge Business Circle, which will take place at 8am (concluding at 10am) on Wednesday 14 December in the boardroom of the Clydesdale Bank, 13-15 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1NL.


[Pictured: Elite Cambridge Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes and managing director Murdoch MacDonald.]

The theme is “The Prospects for Cambridge Business in 2012”.

As usual, there will be a stellar panel of platform speakers, including:

* John Bridge OBE, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce
* Andrew McGahey and Andrew Gordon, Directors, Lambert Smith Hampton
* Ken Ford, Chairman at Brainjuicer Group PLC
* Charles Nixon, Chairman and a founding director of Cambridge Marketing Colleges
* Claire Ruskin Member of PA’s Management Group at PA Consulting Group and CEO (Interim) at Cambridge Network
* Alastair Fish, Business Restructuring Manager at BDO LLP

After the main speakers, there will follow an informal discussion chaired by Jenny Chapman, Business Editor of Cambridge News.

In addition, the meeting will provide another excellent opportunity to network with other top Cambridgeshire business people.

The cost is £10 per delegate, which includes bacon rolls (or vegetarian alternative if you pre-order), tea, coffee and juice.

To book, please send your cheque payable to 1MarketPlace Ltd to:

Elite Cambridge Business Circle
10 Miller Road
AYR, Ayrshire
KA7 2AY

If you wish to pay electronically online, please phone or e-mail for account details.

Murdoch MacDonald
Managing Director
The Elite Cambridge Business Circle
Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833 667322
E-mail: murdochmacdonald@hotmail.com

Cambridge Consultants spins out Aveillant to get wind farms turning

New high-tech radar company removes key barrier to wind energy expansion

Cambridge Consultants, creator of a stable of successful high-tech start-ups, today announced the spin out of Aveillant with venture investment from DFJ Esprit and AIFCL, the wind industry fund.


[Pictured: Aveillant's founders Craig Webster, left, and Gordon Oswald.]

Aveillant’s technology will remove the concerns about aviation safety and air defence that are holding back growth in the wind energy industry. Wind turbines in motion can mimic aircraft on an air traffic controller’s radar screen. Aveillant will provide airfields with the accurate radar data needed to eliminate the potential confusion this could cause, without any resulting loss or compromise in performance. The need is urgent; currently 66% of all wind farm applications, equating to 6.5 gigawatts of electricity, are being delayed due to this problem in the UK alone. The launch of Aveillant is a crucial step towards removing a key barrier to harvesting clean energy around the world.

Aveillant’s business will be to supply equipment and services that will reconcile wind turbines with radar. As aircraft fly above wind farms, current radar systems have struggled to distinguish between the aircraft and the rotating turbine blades, potentially causing air traffic controllers to lose sight of the aircraft on primary radar display screens. This can also cause vulnerability for national air defence. Proposed solutions already available lead to undesirable compromises either in radar coverage, sensitivity or accuracy. Aveillant’s wind turbine mitigation approach has been developed in consultation with all the key stakeholders, including wind farm developers, airport operators, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The result is a single mitigation technology that promises to meet both civil and MoD requirements, and will be cost-effective even for smaller wind farms, as well as generating jobs in the green energy sector.


Aveillant will exploit a new step-change in the development of radar technology in the form of its proprietary 3D holographic radar. The Aveillant solution will be able to recognise the presence and position of even small aircraft in the vicinity of the largest wind turbines, providing a level of accuracy that will assure safe separation of aircraft and turbine in the most demanding airspace. This capability was recognised in 2009 when successful trials of a small scale system for the MoD led to sponsorship for a proposal to the DECC’s Aviation Advisory panel. Consequently, it was the leading radar in-fill solution to be selected by the UK Government’s Aviation Management Board in 2010, and received offers of financial support from the Wind Industry.

This first part of a multi-million pound investment is being funded though a consortium of Cambridge Consultants, venture capitalist DFJ Esprit, and the Wind Industry’s funding body, the Aviation Investment Fund Company Ltd (AIFCL). Founders Gordon Oswald and Craig Webster from Cambridge Consultants are both joining Aveillant.

Ray Edgson, Ventures Director at Cambridge Consultants, said: “The unique radar offering is a result of our extensive work with aviation and wind energy stakeholders to create a technical solution which fully meets their requirements. At Cambridge Consultants we have a long history of spinning out successful companies, and we are confident we will see Aveillant go on to do the same.”

Alan Duncan, Managing Partner at DFJ Esprit, commented: “The demand for renewable energy is a global one, with governments around the world setting ambitious renewable energy targets. Aveillant provides us with an opportunity to invest in an industry leading 3D radar and a services business capable of unlocking the global potential of thousands of wind turbines, and the millions of units of renewable energy they will produce.”

Simon Christian, Chairman of the AIFCL, added: “The AIFCL was set up to support the development of technology which would eliminate the radar concerns, and we are pleased to be assisting in bringing this technology to fruition. Aveillant’s solution promises to do this without any loss of ability to the current systems, and we look forward to having the technology available to us.”

Cambridge Consultants has created more than 20 companies in the past 50 years. Five of them have gone on to be listed on the London Stock Exchange, and several have been sold in multi-million pound deals. The company has created over a billion pounds worth of value and more than 3,000 jobs through its spin outs, and is seen by many as a founding father of the Cambridge Phenomenon.

For further Questions and Answers on Aveillant please CLICK HERE.

Industry leaders explore road to efficient transport in new report

Workshop hosted by Cambridge Consultants offers market-driven efficiency measures to reduce transportation’s carbon footprint without costly infrastructure projects

Cambridge Consultants, a leading design and development firm, has released a report discussing the critical needs and opportunities presented by ageing and inefficient transport systems across Europe. The report, entitled “The Efficient Journey: Creating a commercial reality or just a dream?” is the culmination of a 24-hour transport workshop hosted by Cambridge Consultants that included experts from TomTom, Siemens AG, British Gas, and other industry and academic leaders in the transport and energy space.


The report examines the current situation in the transport sector and defines the “efficient journey” as the one with the smallest carbon footprint with most economic and social benefits. It also explores the many factors in business and customer transportation decisions, which go far beyond CO2 emissions, looking at how to modify behaviour and the use of market signals to achieve better outcomes. The report also includes several case studies looking at major shifts in transportation behaviour, government projects and market driven solutions, examining projects from Los Angeles to Stockholm.


The report suggests several possible solutions to decrease transport’s carbon footprint. Controlling price is a notable tool, including price increases on less efficient travel methods, and higher pricing as a load balancing tool during peak travel times. Intriguingly, mobile devices could play a significant role in allowing consumers to make better-informed decisions. Sophisticated automotive ‘Black Boxes’ could provide data to Pay-as-You Drive insurance, in-vehicle driver advice (e.g. the optimum gear for a given speed) and fuel monitoring. Social media could also play a key role, as real-time information-sharing among peers gains increasing influence over behaviour.


Four broad categories are identified by which to measure “the efficient journey”: transportation, technological, economic and experiential. These cover costs (economic, financial and social), fuel efficiency, energy storage, resource allocation and traveller experience. Once the goal of diminishing travel’s carbon footprint is established, some disagreement on how to address the goal drives competition, and competition drives innovative solutions.

“Behaviour will not change based purely on scientific arguments, particularly when it comes to travel choices. With transport accounting for 20-25 percent of world energy consumption, we must be resolute in our determination to effect significant change in infrastructure, technology and consumer decisions,” said Dr. Liz Orme, Commercial Director of Energy and Transport, Cambridge Consultants. “Surprisingly, large government funded infrastructure projects are not necessarily the solution. Our conversations suggest that governments need to set broader transportation goals and then focus on market mechanisms to drive behavioural changes and allow competition to drive innovation.”

Cambridge Consultants are innovators in the development of transport applications, specialising in intelligent transport systems that function at the interface between technology and operations. Deploying techniques such as active traffic management, transport RADAR and NMCS compatibility, Cambridge Consultants’ team of engineers and experts have enabled their clients to resolve the challenges and demands placed on today’s transport infrastructure.

To request a full copy of “The Efficient Journey” CLICK HERE

About Cambridge Consultants

Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology critical issues for clients worldwide. For over 50 years, the company has been helping its clients turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether they are launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of over 300 engineers, designers, scientists and consultants, in offices in Cambridge (UK) and Boston (USA), Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, transport, energy, cleantech and wireless communications.

Created by three Cambridge graduates in 1960, the company has grown into a leading technology business, renowned worldwide for its ability to solve technical problems and provide innovative, practical solutions to commercial issues. In 2009, the company was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade. For more information visit: www.CambridgeConsultants.com

Cambridge Consultants is part of Altran, the European leader in innovation and high technology consulting. The Group’s 17,500 consultants, operating worldwide, cover the entire range of engineering specialities, including electronics, information technology, quality and organisation. Altran offers its clients ongoing support throughout the innovation cycle, from technology watch, applied basic research and management consulting to industrial systems engineering and information systems. The Group provides services to most industries, including the automotive, aeronautics, space, life sciences and telecommunications sectors. Founded in 1982, Altran operates in 20 priority countries. In 2010, it generated a turnover of €1,430 million. For more information visit: www.altran.com