New Day Dawns for Eclipse

Wednesday 14 January 2009

One of Europe's leading independent laboratories, with an international reputation for high quality analysis, support and advice, has chosen Kent Science Park as its new home after its 30 employees out grew their previous premises.

Eclipse Scientific Group, which operates seven UKAS accredited laboratories located throughout the UK, plus a further three centres in Ireland, provides high quality analytical and consultancy services to the, food, water, pharmaceutical, environmental, agrochemical and animal feed industries.

The relocation from Ashford Business Park, near Sevington, will see Eclipse Scientific take more than 12,000 sq ft in Building 550 at the Science Park, whose community of small and medium-sized businesses was recently the focus of a visit by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

James Speck, Site Director at Kent Science Park said: “In today’s highly competitive world we are delighted to have helped retain the jobs provided by Eclipse Scientific in the county.

“The arrival of Eclipse Scientific strengthens our cluster of environmentally-focused science based businesses, which in turn will help us attract other like-minded businesses and with them important new jobs for the Swale economy.”

Adrian Goldsmith, General Manager, Eclipse Scientific Group, said: “These new laboratories will be the second largest in the group and enable us to provide an even higher level of service, specifically to our clients in the food and water industry throughout the South East."

“We are very ambitious to grow and confident that we will achieve this at Kent Science Park.”

The news of Eclipse’s arrival is a further vote of confidence in Kent Science Park as a location for ambitious high-growth knowledge-based businesses and will see the number of people employed at the park break the 1,200 barrier for the first time since Shell left in 1996.

Commenting on the significance of the relocation, Cllr Andrew Bowles, Leader of Swale Borough Council said: “At a time when all we are hearing is bad news about the economy, it is very good news that a company such as Eclipse wants to grow and to remain in Kent."

“The Science Park is ideally equipped to provide the onsite needs of companies such as Eclipse and we look forward to working with them in the future."

Eclipse Scientific plans to be fully operational at Kent Science Park by the end of December.