A Coventry science park is celebrating after scooping a prestigious national award. The University of Warwick Science Park was hailed as the 'Incubator of the Year' at UK Business Incubation Awards in Cardiff. This is the first year that UKBI has run an open awards programme. The science park was chosen ahead of dozens of other similar parks and business incubators across the UK, because of the services it offers to young businesses to help them grow. The University of Warwick Science Park, which has several grow-on units on its main site at Cannon Park as well as Innovation Centres in Binley, Warwick and Blythe Valley, was on the shortlist of two with the Sussex Innovation Centre. Malcolm Buckler, chief executive of UKBI, said: "Many people know of the University of Warwick Science Park operation and know they are good - but I and the others involved in the judging were simply bowled over by just how impressive their team and its performance is today and has been for many years" Science Park director David Rowe said the award was testament to the commitment to assist small firms pragmatically. He said: "We are absolutely thrilled to pick up this prestigious award. It is credit to everyone who works at our sites throughout Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull as well as those businesses who have chosen the University of Warwi ck Science Park as their base. "It is fitting, that in its 20th year, the University of Warwick Science Park has been recognised for its ability to aid the growth of young companies. "So many businesses have started with us with innovative new ideas and have gone on to become major success stories. "One of the factors in that is the number of services and 'add-ons' we offer, but which are tailored to suit individual companies. "Some need help sourcing venture capital, some want to tap-in to our superb links with the university for recruitment and placements, others literally benefit from the prestigious address that comes with being part of the University of Warwick Science Park. "The experience we have built over the years stands us in good stead for knowing which services businesses will need instead of bombarding them with everything available." | 
