I was
delighted to attend the official opening of the King’s Service Centre at the
Quintdown Business Park, Quintrell Downs on Friday last week. The Service Centre specialises in IT support
for staff and students of King’s College, London. As an IT support centre the company has been
able to bring 25 new IT jobs to Cornwall, the type of jobs we desperately need.
King’s
College, London, is one of the top 20 universities in the world and among the
oldest in England. King's has nearly 26,000 students from some 140 countries
worldwide, and more than 7,000 staff.
Quintdown
Business Park was selected as the preferred location for the Centre after a
competitive tender process that pitched Newquay against other areas in the
South-West.
The Service
Centre has been made possible by a number of factors; European funding,
specifically the ERDF investment in Quintrell Downs business park; and the
regional improvements made to Cornwall’s IT and transport infrastructure. The investment in superfast broadband and the
proximity to Newquay airport were also both cited as key factors that led to
the successful bid.
The 25 new
jobs are only the beginning, the Centre hopes to grow the total staff to 100
within the next year. The Centre will
also be taking on apprentices. The overall size of King’s College will give
any new staff member access to a variety of career paths.
Gareth
Wright, Director of IT Services, King’s College was recently quoted as saying;
“We aim to
be an employer of choice in the region, offering vocational training and
development for local staff, to complement the world class academic education
and research the university already provides.”
I wish the
Centre success in the future, the atmosphere on Friday was one of hope and
optimism and I look forward to watching this business develop.
This is
exactly the type of business and jobs that we want to attract to
mid-Cornwall. It is also heartening that
the investment we have made in our infrastructure to date is reaping rewards. We need jobs like those offered by King’s
Service Centre so that our young people can build rewarding and challenging
careers here in Cornwall.
King’s
College is leading the way; other universities are watching this project with
interest. The factors that drew King’s
to Cornwall are still in place; the superfast broadband connection, the airport
that brings the major cities of the UK within a journey time, and the existence
of a stable, skilled workforce.
These new
jobs are a good first step, but there is much more to do. I will continue to press for investment in
infrastructure across mid-Cornwall so that we can build on these qualities and
attract more of the same kind of businesses and jobs.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
seek to make a real difference to the lives of everyone who needs help and
support in any way.
If there is any issue that we can help you with then please
contact us on either 07555069714 or on office@stevedouble.org.uk.
