New facilities support growth

The new facilities – at its Cambridge Science Park headquarters – have been called the Auton Building in recognition of Dr Paul Auton, who was CEO of Cambridge Consultants from 1983-1998. He unveiled a plaque today to mark the official opening of the new premises, which will house 120 engineers focused on developing wireless communication technology. The opening ceremony comes just a month after the completion of expansion work on the restaurant in the company’s main building – which serves free lunches to staff every day.

The growth of the firm is set to continue, with equally strong recruitment plans for 2015 – including around 40 additional wireless job opportunities. And work has already started on the next phase of the building expansion plans, with the foundations being laid for a three-storey extension to the new Auton Building.

“I set a growth agenda with the aim of doubling the size of Cambridge Consultants by the end of 2016,” said Alan Richardson, CEO of Cambridge Consultants. “Two years into that, we have grown substantially and successfully. At the same time, we have maintained our people-focused culture. That’s a vital element of our growth because to maintain our position as the fast innovative product development partner of choice, we must remain one of the best places to work in the region for truly talented people.

“Our clients recognise that innovation is key when it comes to securing – and maintaining – competitive edge in today’s fast-paced high-tech marketplace. Cambridge Consultants continued to grow throughout the global recession and that growth is now accelerating as more and more clients turn to us to solve their most complex technical challenges – fast. Our investment in new facilities will enable us to keep pace with that soaring demand and ensure our staff have a world-class environment in which to thrive.”

The Auton Building contains a mixture of open-plan office space and world-class engineering facilities. Roof-based antennas can transmit and receive terrestrial and satellite wireless signals and feed them – with minimal loss – directly to engineers’ desks. A dedicated optics lab, with Kevlar-reinforced laser safety curtains, enables the safe use of class-4 lasers in development work on the next generation of sensors for industries ranging from oil and gas to medical devices. The building can accommodate 120 engineers in a modern, bright, environmentally-responsible setting.

In its 54-year history, Cambridge Consultants has been involved in a range of world-first technology breakthroughs. And, to date, some 20 businesses have spun out of the company since 1975 – including CSR, Xaar, Domino and Inca Digital.