The domestic cricket season may have ended months ago, but one local solicitor has notched a New Year century not out for Warwickshire.
Barry Sankey, of Wright Hassall, has completed 100 leases in 12 months for the University of Warwick Science Park, which has four sites across the region.
Mr Sankey started working for the embryonic University of Warwick Science Park in 1982, and has been their retained property lawyer ever since.
And the last 12 months have meant another busy year for both him and the sites, despite economic pressures.
“Considering this was a year when many businesses have struggled, the innovative firms at the park have continued to grow and see the glass as half full,” Mr Sankey said.
“We have completed 100 leases – for both new properties, expansions and renewals.
“We’ve always believed in regular communication with the tenants even though we act for their landlord and, as a result, we’ve found that many are committing to new leases to give their businesses a long-term agenda.
“I think that speaks volumes about what the Science Park offers tenants and it is no surprise to me that they seem to have ridden out the recession well.”
The University of Warwick Science Park has helped hundreds of businesses – from start-up to fully fledged businesses - and has two sites in Coventry, one in Solihull and one in Warwick.
John Barnes, manager of the Warwick Innovation Centre on Gallows Hill, said: “We’ve found that this year we’ve had a lot more renewals than departures so that’s excellent news and a sign of the resilience of the businesses on our parks.
“We have worked with Barry for 27 years and the relationship has always been good. Being with Wright Hassall, means that he is now just round the corner from our Warwick site, which is obviously a bonus, and we hope that 2010 goes as well as 2009.”
