CUTP NEWSLETTER AUTUMN EDITION
SEPTEMBER 2026
THE CUTP NEWSLETTER:
AUTUMN EDITION
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.
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CUTP OPEN DAY
Cranfield University Technology Park is delighted to announce its upcoming Open Day, on Tuesday 6th October 2026 8.00am – 11.00am. Welcoming both current tenants and external visitors, for an exclusive look inside one of the region’s premier hubs for innovation and enterprise.
Whether you are a local business owner looking for a new base, an entrepreneur seeking a collaborative community, or a neighbour curious about the cutting-edge work happening on your doorstep, this event offers the perfect opportunity to explore everything the Technology Park has to offer.
Explore Our Facilities
During the event, visitors can drop in at their convenience to take a guided tour of the Park. The tours will showcase our modern office spaces and professional Conference and Meeting Rooms, which are designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. You will also get a firsthand look at the onsite facilities and support services that make the Park a vibrant ecosystem for growth.
Complimentary refreshments will be served in our amazing onsite café. It is the ideal spot to relax, enjoy some excellent food and drink, and discuss potential opportunities in a casual, welcoming setting.
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TENANT INTERVIEW
ASK
Who is Alex Speed?
Alex Speed, MD of ASK Europe, has been working in the Leadership & Development industry for many years, and heads up a team who are passionate about L &D, embedding behavioural change and performance improvement in a wide variety of organisations worldwide, across the public and private sectors.
Who are ASK and what do they do?
ASK Europe have been in business for more than 30 years, and the heart of our work is delivering change through learning, coaching and leadership development that helps to shift the culture and behaviour in teams. At the heart of that work is our focus on people – on why they do what they do, how they communicate, and the goals that drive us forward (in life and in business!). It’s our commitment to the people and shared values shaping our own team that shapes the pulse and drive behind our work and is what we are most passionate about sharing with our clients.
Since ASK formed, back in 1994, our focus on the people in every business has remained our foundation; the world of L&D may have changed in many ways, but every programme and intervention we run is designed and built around the individuals, it’s for the organisational values, and the people it will most benefit; tailoring the programme to each client means we can deliver real, measurable change and performance growth, no matter what those goals may be.
Why was Cranfield University Technology Park chosen as the location for ASK's offices?
We are always learning, always growing and always looking for new ways to thrive as a team – and that’s a big part of why we chose to base our head office in Cranfield; a place recognised globally for leading education, research, development and learning. It’s the perfect environment for what we do, achieving such a wide-reaching reputation for learning, while still maintaining the sense of community that’s so important to our own values and work.
The team at CUTP are just as committed as our own to giving everybody access to every tool, technology and development they need to achieve their own goals – and we often benefit from the various coaching and development programmes CUTP run, as well as from the excellent professional and administrative support that helps us to do what we do. That sense of community means that many of the businesses based here have built relationships and a network that’s always willing to help each other, to support the local community and environment, and to support and celebrate success and achievements that benefit individuals and businesses.
What does the future look like for ASK?
Our goal is always to continue growing ASK, supporting more clients, and continuously learning ourselves so that we can always incorporate the most recent and significant advances in L&D into our programmes. Whether that’s tools, technology, methodologies or the psychology that drives every single person we work with – in our own team, in our global network of Coaches and Associates, or in our client’s teams – we are incredibly proud of our reputation as a business leading change.
Any awards or recognition?
With so many years in business we’ve seen a lot of change, and all the highs and lows that can come with – but no matter what changes we face, our commitment to striving for excellence and adapting to every opportunity has helped us to keep going, keep learning and to achieve many accolades and awards. Our most recent celebration was just last month, when we won a Gold Award as Business of the Year with less than 50 employees in the Bedfordshire SME Business Awards, a win which also qualifies us as finalists in the national awards. We’re always proud of the work we do – but having our success and achievements recognised by business experts and industry awards is a wonderful reason to celebrate as a team.
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THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR ANNUAL TENANT BBQ A HUGE SUCCESS!
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for the CUTP Annual Tenant BBQ on Tuesday 14th July.
We were absolutely thrilled by the overwhelming turnout this year.
Seeing our vibrant community come together, chat and relax, made the entire event incredibly special.
A massive thank you goes out to the incredible team at Novus Cafe. They provided an outstanding spread of delicious food and kept everyone beautifully catered for throughout the day.
Our events simply could not happen without their hard work and fantastic service.
We hope you enjoyed the food, the sunshine (when it finally made an appearance) and the chance to connect with your neighbours.
Thank you for being such a wonderful part of the CUTP community, and we are looking forward to seeing you all at our Christmas event on Tuesday 15th December 2026.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Cyber Security Event
UK businesses lose up to £4.6 billion annually to cyber-attacks, threatening organisations of every size.
Protect your company by attending the Cyber Security Event, hosted by SCG Midlands
.
Innovation Centre Conference Room (Unit 14)
Secure a place today, to gain invaluable security insights!
WEDNESDAY
23rd September
10.00AM – 11.30AM
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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
A home for growth, collaboration and innovation
"MPA has been based at the Innovation Centre since March 2022, and in that time it has become much more than a place to work. It has been the backdrop to a period of real change for the business, from transforming into an EOT, acquisitions and new services to hybrid working, events, podcasts and webinars.
Since moving to Cranfield, MPA has evolved considerably. Most notably, we have acquired EFM and OFD, broadening the expertise available to our clients and strengthening our ability to support innovative businesses in a more joined-up way as they grow.
For our team, the Innovation Centre has become an important hub for collaboration. Hybrid working gives us flexibility but having a shared space where colleagues can come together, exchange ideas and work through challenges face to face remains hugely valuable. It helps us stay connected as a team and creates the kind of environment where collaboration happens naturally.
The office has also given us a space to bring people together beyond MPA. We have hosted events for clients and neighbouring businesses, welcomed guests for meetings, and used the space to record podcasts and deliver webinars. These moments have helped us share knowledge, build relationships and create conversations with businesses across the wider community.
Cranfield feels like a natural home for MPA. We work with innovative UK businesses developing new products, services and technologies, so being surrounded by a community associated with research, engineering, enterprise and growth feels particularly relevant to who we are.
Growing an innovative business is exciting, but it can also bring complexity. As companies scale, pressures around finance, funding, tax, people and long-term planning can quickly increase.
Our role is to help make those challenges easier to navigate. For our clients, that means being able to access joined-up support across areas such as accounting and business advice, R&D tax credits, grant funding, fractional finance, HR and legal services — giving business leaders greater clarity and confidence as their needs evolve.
The people at the Innovation Centre have also made a real difference to our experience. The team consistently provide a warm welcome, helping staff, clients and visitors feel at home from the moment they arrive. Those everyday interactions contribute to the sense of community that makes the Centre such an enjoyable place to be.
Renewing our lease feels like a natural next step. We are looking forward to continuing that story at the Innovation Centre and remaining part of a community that shares our belief in the value of innovation."
MPA (Michael Price Associates)
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