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Business Secretary to visit Speedo swimwear factory

The Business Secretary is visiting Speedo’s Nottingham headquarters to witness how the firm develops swimwear for top athletes.

Vince Cable will tour the firm’s global research and development facility to see how Speedo designs equipment including the Fastskin Racing System worn by Great Britain swimmer Rebecca Adlington OBE. Speedo will also discuss its contribution to the local economy with the Minister.

Afterwards, the Business Secretary will visit Nottingham University Innovation Centre and learn more about university and private sector collaboration with businesses such as GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry, Ordnance Survey and technology firm e2v. e2v has received £6.25 million from the Regional Growth Fund and has licensed technology from the innovation centre.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Nottingham is clearly a place for innovative businesses and individuals to thrive and that’s thanks to the investment firms and universities are prepared to put into researching new products and design.

“Speedo is a world leader in swimwear products and is using cutting-edge technology, as well as first class skills, to ensure it remains at the forefront of its industry.

“And with centres such as Nottingham University’s Innovation Centre creating a space for the research base and business to come together in partnership, Nottingham is a place for companies and ideas to thrive and grow.”

Vince Cable will announce that the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and GlaxoSmithKline are to jointly fund a new Chair in Sustainable Chemistry who will be based in the planned Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Nottingham.

He will also announce £670,000 of EPSRC funding for a new photoelectron spectrometer that will give accurate measurements of liquids – the first of its kind in the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .