As the covid crisis continues, EPIC tenants and the members of the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster continue to adapt to the new norm in terms of day to day working practices, and the needs of the national and global economy. The crisis has highlighted certain industries who are critically important not just to the country’s economy, enabling working from home or from another virtual office to maintain safe working practices for all and continued employment, but also for maintaining the wellbeing of our society, providing a link for communications to our friends and family, and key workers for the more vulnerable of our society.

As UK society cautiously opens up after the lockdown, the leisure and hospitality industries are also employing new ways of operating. For example, table reservations and menu ordering via smart phone apps and contactless payment, all possible due to the implementation of wi-fi and broadband telecoms technology. Telecommunications is one of those industries critical to maintaining a stable global economic community as well as robust national society, without it the world as we know it today could not exist.

The reliance on telecoms permeates into even the highest governmental levels of our society, and in recent years as global politics adapts to the sliding of economic power towards the east, national security has become a topic of discussion and political and economic negotiation.

In recent years, the US administration has suggested telecommunication products manufactured in the east are a potential threat to national security, and is recommending restrictions be placed on products provided by eastern companies including Huawei and ZTE, and that internet service providers look to US and European manufacturers for equivalent products. In recent months, this US initiative has spread to European countries including Germany, France and the UK. One of the largest global internet services providers, British Telecom (BT) has found itself in the middle of this discourse. BT provides internet services throughout the UK, the US, and another 180 countries. In 2019 it reported revenues in excess of £23 billion.

It’s estimated that telecommunications systems currently operating in the UK, Europe and the US use significant amounts of equipment sourced from the east, in excess of 70%. Whether we like it or not we’re all reliant on it. The US-led push to use alternatively sourced equipment for future networks, although possible, is not straight forward and will have time and financial implications for all of us.

The Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster is a group of internationally recognised companies with expertise in all aspects of telecommunication system manufacture, not just the physical components based on micro-electronics, including photonics, terrestrial radio and satellite technologies, but also the imbedded adaptive software programming providing the intelligence, versatility and security aspects of commercial systems. These companies, a mix of established and exciting well-funded start-ups, are highly adept at managing a constantly evolving market place, supported by local partners including South Devon College, other regional university research centres, and the TDA at EPIC Paignton. The recent visit of the Totnes MP Anthony Mangnall to EPIC acknowledges the importance of the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster to local and national economies, with Anthony providing a welcomed link to Westminster and government.

A recent report published by the Photonic Leadership Group highlighted that UK hi-tech companies have been resilient against the negative impacts of the Covid-19 crisis. It’s projected that UK photonics companies including those in Torbay will continue to grow with a projected growth of around 10% during the next two years. As the balance of trade shifts from eastern to EU & US telecom equipment manufacturers, providing opportunities this side of the Pacific, and for sure the Torbay hi-tech community for years to come.

The importance of the photonics sector to the UK economy has been recognised by Westminster and an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) has been set up with the purpose of raising the awareness of the photonics industry and recognise the impact it makes on the UK economy and its potential for future economic growth. Participation in this APPG would raise the profile of Torbay as a hub for research and innovation in this field. Earlier this year, the government published the UK Research and Development Roadmap which was welcomed by the Photonics Leadership Group and the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster members. The Roadmap identifies the importance of investing in technologies to support UK security and prosperity. The resilience of UK hi-tech industry including the significant contribution of the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster was illustrated by 90% of photonics manufacturers safely manufacturing and exporting through the pandemic, and many predicting growth. Covid-19 has also highlighted the contribution of photonics to rapid diagnostics, track and trace and the core fibre optic network that keeps everyone connected.

This is an ideal time for a school leaver or recent university graduate with an interest in technology to get involved and develop a career in the hi-tech industry. Starting salaries are above the national average and working as part of a team of enthusiastic individuals is rewarding with opportunities to travel worldwide and make a difference to society.

Superb Media Ltd, a market-leading and innovative company, joins Torbay’s EPIC Centre.

The company designs, builds, creates and markets custom e-commerce solutions for forward-thinking retailers. Their clients include Tripp Luggage, Usborne Publishing, Defected Records, Missy Empire and Portmeirion Group.

Since its launch in 2012, Superb is now one of the industry’s most respected group of companies and employs over 120 staff across Europe. Superb’s 97% client retention rate is a product of their agile, collaborative and creative work, with meticulous attention to detail.

With offices in Barcelona, Ukraine, London and Nottingham, the company’s Directors want to make an impact in Torbay.

Matthew Blay, Co-founder and Managing Director of Superb, said: “It’s fantastic to create a Superb office in Torbay. The EPIC Centre is an amazing place to work and has been a deciding factor in attracting talent. The company and I had aspirations of finding a suitable location in the South West to grow the business. We are passionate about our work, and when we saw the offices at EPIC we immediately had a vision of how we would set up and how we could provide opportunities to local experts.

“One of the reasons for wanting to return to Torbay is to give something back to an area I love. There are many skilled people living in Torbay who have to travel out of the area to find work. Superb has an incredible portfolio of clients and we are offering local people the opportunity to work with some of Europe’s largest brands. We want to work with local universities to develop talent and be an employer of choice. We are looking to expand our team over the next 18 months. This is a great opportunity to join one of the most experienced and technically skilled teams in Europe.”

Superb created three new high-skilled jobs and is currently carrying out interviews for programming and digital marketing positions. The business is planning to expand further this year and take up more space within EPIC.

Wayne Loschi, EPIC Centre Director, added: “Superb is a great addition to EPIC. Matt and his team have a top-floor office with stunning sea views and have invested heavily in branding the space. They have exciting growth plans and are working with high-profile multinational customers. We look forward to working with Superb to raise the profile of EPIC, its businesses and the wider hi-tech sector.”

EPIC is partly funded by a £3m grant from the Heart of the South West LEP Growth Deal funding.

EPIC is a centre of excellence, supporting technological innovation and promoting collaborative activity between businesses and research institutions. It focuses on supporting high potential companies and encourages investment into Torbay’s microelectronics and photonics sector, and in the wider Heart of the South West. 

For more information on EPIC visit https://www.epic-centre.co.uk/

The last four months have seen significant changes in all our lives, and those working in hi-tech have also had to adapt our ways of working to the new norm. Torbay, like our neighbouring cities of Plymouth and Exeter, has a well-established and diverse hi-tech cluster. There are many international companies with a presence here in Torbay, utilising ingenuity, advanced technologies and processes to develop world-leading, state of the art products. The companies use a multitude of technologies and expertise including; micro-electronics, opto-electronics (photonics), micro-positioning, radio, satellite, medical & life sciences, computer software, and internet security consultants. There are many other companies involved in specialist areas of complementary skills such as professional talent acquisition and finance, which tie all these diverse yet amazing specialist areas of technology harmoniously together. These companies are also supported by academic partners including South Devon College and regional universities. We have support from local government too, TDA, and the Electronics & Photonics Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Paignton, so altogether we make the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster.

The Photonics Leadership Group recently reported that the UK hi-tech community, specifically the photonics sector, contributes £5.3 billion of gross added value to the UK economy, and employs 69,000 people at an above average productivity level of £76,400 per employee. It’s equivalent to the mighty UK pharmaceuticals, and projected to grow for years to come. Torbay has been identified as a Westminster parliamentary constituency containing photonics and hi-tech industries. However, in spite of this, UK photonics remains a largely hidden economy with little government acknowledgement or media interest.

During the past four months, many companies have implemented tele-working from home, and safe distance practices when in the office. It’s not been easy trying to safe guard an office with many 10s or even 100 employees. Many companies have now distributed face masks to all employees, a new ritual of body temperature measurement and alcoholic hand washing on arrival is mandatory, communal eating areas are out, and a one-way system around the office setup. Hand shaking is certainly is a no-no even with the most admired colleague or visitor.

The crisis along with the global advancement in internet and communications technology (much of it designed in Torbay), has enabled a new way of engaging with the world. Tele-working, webinars and tele-conferences are now considered normal practice, which will continue even when the pandemic is finally over, so maybe the need to commute each day or move to another city will come to an end, or at least less often. Certainly good for the environment, quality of life and more career opportunities for those who live in Torbay.

For the Torbay area there are some positive messages. Since the beginning of the COVID crisis, those involved in the design and development of communications systems have seen demand for products ramping, the need to ship products to global and domestic internet service providers (inc. BT, Vodafone, Virgin Media, etc.) has increased, fuelled by the need for more bandwidth. Whether to support home-working or download your favourite movie in an instant, tele-shopping or surfing the web, or live gaming with a challenger anywhere in the world, or maybe just a daily video call to a loved one far away, the demand is there. Since the crisis started, Vodafone UK internet traffic has increased by 50%. In addition, the accelerated roll-out of next generation 5G communications networks to enable all those extra applications and functionality implemented into smartphones, which are becoming essential for everyday life, whether at home or on the move. All unbelievable some years ago. These services and applications use advanced leading-edge technology and telecom products designed in Torbay by established international organisations like Lumentum, II-VI, Gooch & Housego and Spirent, and new innovative organisations built on local talent like Bay Photonics, Davies & Bell and Effect Photonics to mention just a few. Torbay has a heritage of innovation including Oliver Heaviside, the famous mathematician (1850–1925), the Singer family with their sewing machines in the 1800s, STC in the 50s and Nortel in the 90s.

The Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster provides products and services to a global multi-national community, and even now continues to use its combined powers to evolve and remain a renowned entity for leading-edge innovation and world class products.

If you would like to know more about the Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster, its members and the opportunities that it offers please visit: https://epic-centre.co.uk/torbay-hi-tech-cluster/

Dr Philip Mitchell, Vice Chair of the Torbay Hi-tech Cluster

Guidance from public health authorities recommend people should maintain 2m from one another in order to avoid the spread of Covid-19. Many businesses will therefore be finalising risk assessments on their premises to ensure that measures are in place to offer a safe environment for their employees. For many however this will unavoidably result in reduced capacity which may have a detrimental impact on supplying customer demand and consequently business recovery.

Finding alternative arrangements in third party sites may therefore be an invaluable investment to ensure businesses are able to fully resume their activity.

EPIC has remained fully open since the Covid-19 outbreak allowing tenants access to their independent units and consequently offering the opportunity to work in a safe environment.

EPIC’s design offers contactless access to most units within the building. The configuration also allows businesses the opportunity of relocating some manufacturing processes in these unprecedented times. The centre has labs, a classified cleanroom and modern offices readily available to let. These units lend themselves to locating a process or a team within an autonomous environment. High profile businesses such as Bay Photonics and Prior Scientific have already taken advantage of the adaptability of the centre to set up lean and efficient production facilities from within EPIC.

If you are interested in discussing the available options to switch processes of your electronics business to EPIC, even within a very short timeframe, then please get in touch. Centre Director, Wayne Loschi, will welcome the opportunity to conduct either a video or socially distanced viewing with you. [email protected] Tel 07775 602465.