Leading International Businesses Take Up Residency at MIRA Technology Park

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November 5, 2012
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Leading International Businesses Take Up Residency at MIRA Technology Park

NUNEATON, England, November 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

            Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and

                 Skills to open the first building completed at the site

    MIRA Technology Park, the 1.75 million sq. ft. technology park development granted
Enterprise Zone status in August last year, has reached the first milestone in its aim to
become Europe's most advanced independent transport technology facility - with the
successful completion of its Control Centre.

    The 43,000ft2 building, which represents GBP6 million of investment and is being
opened today by the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and
Skills, is the first new building completed since being granted Enterprise Zone status.
MIRA Technology Park has already attracted a number of high profile international
businesses. Bosch Engineering, Lockheed Martin, Ashok Leyland, Norgren and Triumph
Motorcycles have all have taken secure facilities on the 830 acre site and are being
announced at the opening ceremony today.

    Peter Fouqet, Bosch UK President comments; "The Bosch Group will be expanding their
engineering services to the Midlands, providing customised solutions and technical support
to vehicle manufacturers. Bosch offers bespoke engineering solutions for a wide range of
customer applications, from global to niche brands in sectors as diverse as automotive,
agriculture, construction, marine and rail. Bosch engineers located in the Midlands will
help transfer knowledge, skills and expertise, to provide a dedicated Bosch engineering
service solution for customer research and development projects in the UK."

    Terry Spall, Commercial Director, MIRA Technology Park Ltd, adds; "When we first
announced the development of the MIRA Technology Park in October 2010 we, and all parties
involved, were very clear about its potential to create jobs and attract business
investment to the region. We are delighted to be able to now announce the arrival of these
high calibre businesses who, by being based here at the Technology Park, are literally
placing themselves in the geographic heartland of the UK's automotive industry."

    Since 2010 a total of 188 technology related jobs have been created as a result of the
development and 145 jobs are due to be created in 2013. The aim is to create up to 2,000
jobs in the Technology Park's first ten years (up to 2020) and continue to build on the
success of the Control Centre. Planning application for the second development, a four
store office building, has already been approved.

    Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "The opening of MIRA's Technology Park is
excellent news for the Midlands. It has the potential to become Europe's largest
independent transport research and development (R&D) cluster. Enterprise Zone status has
helped MIRA to attract high profile names in industry to use the Technology Park as an
engineering base.

    "I'm determined to support investment in R&D because it is central to ensuring we can
attract advanced manufacturing companies and create more highly skilled jobs here in the
UK."

    Paul Cleaver, President of Norgren, one of the businesses that will be based at the
Control Centre, comments; "Our latest development work requires unique testing
capabilities in which MIRA specialises, making it the ideal base as we continually seek to
deliver Engineering Advantage for our global customer base. We will continue to tap into
the simulation capability and workshop facilities MIRA offers, as we embark on an exciting
project involving fuel efficiency for heavy commercial vehicles. This is research and
development for technology that doesn't exist today, but has huge potential in the near
future."

    MIRA has earned an enviable reputation since it was formed in 1946 as the government
funded Motor Industry Research Association. The MIRA business is now known for being a
comprehensive transport engineering solutions provider to the automotive and defence
industries as well as engineering smart solutions for future transport technologies.

    Dr Geoff Davis, Business Development Director, MIRA Ltd concludes: "As our track
record over the past 3 years has shown we are an increasingly successful business with
ambitious plans. Those plans include becoming Europe's most advanced independent transport
technology solutions provider, and the MIRA Technology Park is an integral part of those
plans."

    Notes to Editors

    Further information on schemes in place at MIRA Technology Park:

       
        - New graduate scheme started at MIRA last year, first intake 12 with a
          further 10 to be recruited next year
        - New apprenticeship scheme started last year, first intake 8 with a further
          round of recruitment planned for next year for a further 5 places
        - MIRA is also providing places for students from the Midlands Studio School
          studying engineering and business

    About MIRA

    MIRA Ltd is a world-leader in advanced engineering, research and product testing. Over
the past 65 years it has grown into a truly international organisation with facilities
located around the world. MIRA's work spans the Automotive, Defence, Aerospace and Rail
industries and includes the development of ground-breaking low carbon vehicle
technologies.

    About Norgren

    A world leader in pneumatic motion and fluid control technologies, Norgren works
closely with customers to gain a deeper understanding of their engineering needs, and then
connects its people, products and expertise to give their equipment and their business a
clear advantage. Norgren's reputation rests on a world-class portfolio of high performance
products, the innovation and technical expertise of its 6000-plus people, and an ability
to deliver exceptional local service. A subsidiary of the GBP2.13 billion turnover
engineering group IMI PLC, Norgren has a sales and service network in 75 countries,
technical centres in the USA, Germany, UK and China, and manufacturing facilities around
the world. http://www.norgren.com

MIRA

CONTACT: For more information contact Heather Kirkman or Sheeba Ali on +44-(0)121-265-2760 or via email heather.kirkman@grayling.com / sheeba.ali@grayling.com. For further information relating to Norgren contact Luke Bull or Louise Stanley at Wyatt International on +44-(0)121-454-8181 or email luke@wyattinternational.com / louise@wyattinternational.com.

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