News
UL’s Basingstoke growth story
Tuesday August 27th, 2019
Consolidation offers total service solutions and enables faster market access at UL’s largest commercial test laboratory in the United Kingdom.
UL, a leading global safety science company, announced today that it has consolidated its capabilities in Basingstoke to address the growing demand for testing and regulatory certification services. This significant investment makes it UL’s largest commercial test facility in the United Kingdom. It adds an additional 37,000 square feet to the current facility, tripling its size, of which 15,000 square feet is dedicated to EMC and wireless testing.
For more than 20 years, UL’s facility in Basingstoke has been committed to delivering specialized services across safety, interoperability, wireless and global market access. Because of rapid changes in the market due to technological advances, as well as regulatory shifts, UL has experienced significant client demand to expand this facility and offer EMC, wireless, safety and security services in one single location.
UL continues to be fully committed to the U.K, and U.K. manufacturers, supporting their product launch goals and compliance needs through uncertain times.
This facility demonstrates UL’s commitment to their clients, meeting their needs and understanding the demands placed on them by the pressure of a fast-paced market.
Larger laboratory capacity, shorter test programs and automation, and higher frequency bands are a necessity for companies to compete by having their products evaluated in a faster and more efficient way and crucially, reduce their time to global markets. This expanded laboratory will create one end-to-end service solution to enable companies to remain competitive in this changing landscape.
“This is an important moment in the development of UL’s compliance services in the U.K. The significant investment in new facilities will offer a one-stop service solution with state-of-the art custom-designed chambers and sourced equipment. Due to the enormous demand we’ve seen, we’re raising the bar in service excellence, and we hope to continue to strengthen our partnerships with customers through this expansion. – Phil Davies, site leader and general manager for UL’s Consumer Technology division in the EMEA-LA region.
The growth of Basingstoke’s campus will ensure that communities will live safer, more secure and more sustainable lives. Having grown from its original seven employees in 1987, the Basingstoke laboratory currently employs 150 people and is looking to expand to 250 professionals upon completion of this expansion. UL has built in the capability for future expansion and recruitment to support the continued success of the site and UL’s customers.
With its proximity to the fast-growing M3 ‘tech corridor’, Basingstoke is ideally situated to help UL bring in new talent, while also further developing its relationships with local colleges, universities and other talent sources to develop the wide variety of skills that will be needed at UL over the coming years. This expansion will also help facilitate innovation among the U.K.’s businesses, thereby elevating the country’s position in increasingly competitive industries.
Minister for Investment, Graham Stuart MP said: “UL’s further investment in the UK and development of its new site in Basingstoke is proof the business is continuing to go from strength to strength, following its original investment into the UK twenty years ago. This new site will provide high-quality and skilled jobs for the local community and drive growth in the region as it provides its critical services to some of the UK’s leading and largest businesses. The UK is the number-one destination for foreign investment in Europe, and my department will continue to ensure the benefits of foreign direct investment are felt right across the country
The Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Cllr Diane Taylor said: “I was delighted to meet UL’s team and tour the new UK campus. It’s a real success for the local economy that UL has chosen to grow its facility in Basingstoke, which is renowned as one of the top UK locations for investment in growing technology companies. Staying connected through today’s sophisticated technologies is vital – whether it’s at work, in the home or for our personal use – it transforms lives. I welcome UL’s expertise in supporting clients in the borough, across the UK and globally, to prosper in the complex landscape of connected technologies
To learn more about UL’s capabilities in Basingstoke call 01256 312 100 or visit UL.com.
UL fosters safe living and working conditions for people everywhere through the application of science to solve safety, security and sustainability challenges. The UL Mark engenders trust enabling the safe adoption of innovative new products and technologies. Everyone at UL shares a passion to make the world a safer place. We test, inspect, audit, certify, validate, verify, advise and train and we support these efforts with software solutions for safety and sustainability.
