CUTP NEWSLETTER FOURTH EDITION
JUNE 2026
WELCOME TO THE FOURTH EDITION OF THE CUTP NEWSLETTER
We are a hub of innovation and development situated in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc – the perfect location for businesses working in the technology sector.
We are home to almost 60 science, technology, and knowledge-based businesses. From start-ups to internationally recognised brands, our Tech Park offers exceptional quality office spaces alongside the University’s distinctive expertise and skills base.
TENANT INTERVIEW
Cognisco: Using Behavioural Insight to Build Workforce Competency
Who is Amanda Knight?
Amanda Knight is Chief Executive Officer of Cognisco and a Principal Business Psychologist, specialising in behavioural assessment, organisational consultancy and workforce risk mitigation within highly regulated environments.
With a background in occupational psychology, Amanda has extensive experience in designing evidence-based assessment solutions that help organisations understand and evidence the skills, capability, judgement and behaviours of their people. She combines commercial leadership with psychological expertise, working with customers in safety-critical and compliance-driven sectors to improve decision-making, strengthen workforce resilience and reduce operational risk.
Amanda is also a Steering Board Member of BedX (Bedfordshire Opportunity Exchange), a Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce initiative that helps local businesses connect with major regional contracts and infrastructure projects, supporting collaboration and growth across the region.
Who are Cognisco Ltd and what do they do?
Founded in 1998 and headquartered at Cranfield, Cognisco is a specialist workforce competency management company. With more than 25 years' experience, the business was born out of the rail incidents of the 1990s and early 2000s, with a clear purpose: helping organisations understand whether people are truly competent before incidents occur.
Today, Cognisco's MyKnow 365 platform enables organisations to measure, manage, monitor and evidence the skills, capability and confidence of their workforce.
Cognisco works with customers operating in highly regulated and safety-critical environments, helping them identify knowledge gaps, assess behavioural decision-making and reduce operational risk. Their assessment methodology combines competency, confidence and behavioural insight to provide organisations with a deeper understanding of workforce capability. Customers include Network Rail, His Majesty's Civil Service, the NHS, John Lewis and organisations across the construction, energy and financial services sectors.
Cognisco is also proud of its strong and loyal team culture, with many employees having been with the business for a significant number of years. The company has a notably low staff turnover rate, reflecting its collaborative and supportive working environment. Even team members who move on to pursue other ventures often remain closely connected to the business, creating a valued network of former colleagues, partners and advocates.
Why was Cranfield University Technology Park chosen as the location for Cognisco's offices?
Cognisco chose Cranfield University Technology Park because it provides an ideal environment for innovation-led businesses. The proximity to Cranfield University, with its strong reputation for technology, engineering and business excellence, creates a collaborative and forward-thinking ecosystem.
The connection to Cranfield is also personal for CEO Amanda Knight, who is a Cranfield University alumna. Amanda completed research work at Cranfield University's School of Engineering early in her career, making the Technology Park a natural and meaningful location for the business to establish and grow.
The company's journey within the Technology Park reflects its own growth and evolution over the years. Cognisco originally started at the Cranfield Innovation Centre before expanding into Conway House and later Trent House as the business grew. Following the shift towards hybrid working during and after the pandemic, Cognisco returned to the Innovation Centre, where it continues to benefit from the flexibility, professional environment and strong sense of community the Park provides.
What does the future look like for Cognisco?
Cognisco continues to develop its MyKnow 365 platform, with a particular focus on workforce resilience, risk mitigation and skills intelligence. As organisations increasingly face challenges around compliance, workforce capability, AI adoption and operational risk, the need for effective and measurable competency management has never been more important.
Cognisco is expanding its work in areas such as cyber resilience, design teams and supply chain competency management, taking a collaborative approach with customers through industry round tables and discussions focused on the key challenges organisations are currently facing.
Any awards or recognition?
Cognisco has received recognition for its innovative approach to competency management and assessment. Most recently, the company won the "Most Successful Launch" award at the KPMG Learning Supplier Awards for its partnership work supporting the Cabinet Office with line management standards assessments.
The business is also recognised for delivering secure, enterprise-grade competency management solutions and is an approved supplier on the UK Government G-Cloud framework.
Has CUTP supported Cognisco's growth?
Yes, Cranfield University Technology Park has provided Cognisco with an excellent base from which to grow and evolve over the years. The Park has remained highly supportive as the business has adapted to changing requirements and wider world events. The professional environment, strong infrastructure and innovative business community have all contributed positively to the company's development.
Being part of a wider network of ambitious and technology-driven organisations has also created opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing and business visibility. The association with Cranfield's reputation for innovation and excellence further strengthens Cognisco's position within its market sectors.
Could CUTP do anything better?
As the technology landscape continues to evolve, additional opportunities for networking, collaboration events and connections between resident businesses could further enhance the value of the community and encourage even greater innovation and partnership opportunities across the park.
.jpeg)
SITE NEWS
📢 CUTP is delighted to announce the appointment of a new operator for our onsite café.
Matthew and Louise Lancaster of Café Novus will be taking over on Monday, 1st June 2026.
Please pop in to say hello and try their delicious selection of hot and cold food, coffee, cakes, and pastries. Café Novus can also cater for any breakfast or lunchtime buffets required for your onsite meetings.
Thank you for making 2025 so memorable. Your energy and insights are what make ourcommunity truly special.
We are thrilled to officially welcome Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems (Europe) Ltd (SEWS-E) to the Cranfield University Technology Park community.
As a global leader in the design and manufacture of automotive wiring harnesses and electrical components, SEWS-E's arrival strengthens our ecosystem of high-tech innovation and engineering excellence.
Thrilled with Our Move to Cranfield Innovation Centre – A Brilliantly Run Shared Office Facility!
We’ve recently made the move to a shared office facility, and the experience has exceeded our expectations on every level.
The space itself is modern, well-maintained, and incredibly well-organised — it’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into creating a professional yet welcoming environment.
The onsite café is a real bonus — great coffee, fresh food, and a comfortable spot for informal meetings or a quick break.
From day one, the reception team has been outstanding — friendly, professional, and always ready to help. They’ve made settling in easy and created a great first impression for our visitors. We also must commend the facilities manager, who is both approachable and highly professional. Their attention to detail and proactive support has made all the difference in ensuring a smooth transition.
We’re genuinely pleased with the move. It’s a fresh, energetic environment that reflects where we are as a business — focused, collaborative, and forward-looking.
A big thank you to the whole team, for making this such a positive step forward!
Holly Marles
Marketing & Key Accounts Manager. Curio Group
Thrilled with Our Move to Cranfield Innovation Centre – A Brilliantly Run Shared Office Facility!
We’ve recently made the move to a shared office facility, and the experience has exceeded our expectations on every level.
The space itself is modern, well-maintained, and incredibly well-organised — it’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into creating a professional yet welcoming environment.
The onsite café is a real bonus — great coffee, fresh food, and a comfortable spot for informal meetings or a quick break.
From day one, the reception team has been outstanding — friendly, professional, and always ready to help. They’ve made settling in easy and created a great first impression for our visitors. We also must commend the facilities manager, who is both approachable and highly professional. Their attention to detail and proactive support has made all the difference in ensuring a smooth transition.
We’re genuinely pleased with the move. It’s a fresh, energetic environment that reflects where we are as a business — focused, collaborative, and forward-looking.
A big thank you to the whole team, for making this such a positive step forward!
Holly Marles
Marketing & Key Accounts Manager. Curio Group
WHAT OUR OCCUPIERS SAY
"The CIC has been foundational to our growth as a company in the last 9 years – the flexibility to scale-up to different office sizes based on our growth has meant we've never looked anywhere else for our HQ.
-
The location of CIC is excellent, as it has enabled us to recruit a talented team from the local and surrounding areas to support the growth and development of our logistics business. The CIC site has access to several major commuter routes, which has been vital in supporting our growing business which now operates nationally.
-
The standard of facilities onsite are First Class, from available parking, quality of suites, communal and refreshment areas, separate meeting rooms, plus ongoing maintenance and site investment has enabled us to focus on running our business, while receiving support and guidance on other site amenities across our operational network. Based on the location and site standards, we've utilised onsite meeting rooms to hold regional, national and client meetings, bring together our full team into one location, without having to explore other options. Some of our clients have been so impressed with the site facilities, that we have hosted Client meetings onsite too, which the CIC management have fully supported, enabling us to strengthen our customer relationships even further.
-
The management team at CIC are AWESOME. The hands-on-support, flexibility and passion to provide excellent service is a huge asset not only for the CIC site but for tenants too. The team have been fantastic in supporting any requirement or requests and have provide guidance on all matters that we have brought to their attention. If you're looking for a professional Business Management Partner to enable you to focus on growing your business, look no further than the CIC Team.
The location of the CIC, just a few minutes from the M1 and major rail links is a real value-add for us; even more so the close tie-up with Cranfield University and its Executive Management hub and various events and networking opportunities means the CIC really is a "hidden gem" for entrepreneurs and start-ups in the area."
Jason Drake
Managing Director, Go Service Solutions Limited
Julie Probert
01234 756 000 | 07720 469 198
julie.probert@mayfieldproperty.co.uk
Holly Dawson
01908 887 608 | 07917 243 887
holly.dawson@bidwells.co.uk
Emily Tarry
07825 813 610
emily.tarry@bidwells.co.uk
Julie Probert
01234 756 000 | 07720 469 198
julie.probert@mayfieldproperty.co.uk
Holly Dawson
01908 887 608 | 07917 243 887
holly.dawson@bidwells.co.uk
Emily Tarry
07825 813 610
emily.tarry@bidwells.co.uk