A home at the heart...
of the Golden Triangle.
Welcome to Ware
Ware is an established life sciences location having been a strategic R&D location for GSK for over 50 years. So not only does it have a legacy of science, it also has a huge pool of talent that call it home. It’s also a beautiful, thriving place to live and work.
Benefits of Ware
Local talent pool
University graduates to seasoned scientists and lab specialists within easy reach
Affordable housing
More affordable housing, both to rent and buy, than London and Cambridge
Good school options
Lots of OFSTED good and outstanding nurseries, primary and secondary school options
Thriving Community
Plethora of clubs and events and 60+ restaurants, bars, eateries, cafes and pubs
Ware…
the life sciences town
Ware has a rich heritage as a life science town. Allen & Hanburys, one of Britain's oldest and largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, had a large presence and production facility in Ware from the 19th century. It was absorbed by GSK in 1958 and GSK have had a continual presence in Ware ever since. The laboratory buildings now owned by Riverlabs were part of the GSK R&D infrastructure in the UK and home to over 500 highly skilled scientists. GSK are still next door neighbours of Riverlabs and have invested a further £65million in a new global production facility on their site next door and still employ over 1,350 in Ware.
Aim higher…
and hire – locally
Hertfordshire’s life sciences sector has been growing, with over 200 life sciences businesses now located across the county. The area is also seen as a leading location for European and UK headquarters outside London and the Western Corridor, drawn by the advantages of competitive costs, access to markets and global connectivity. There are more than 30 significant company headquarters including GSK, Roche, Eisai and Pharmaron, with a significant pool to recruit from – 33,847 scientists, 17,924 Production Operatives and 30,645 Laboratory Specialists.
An abundance of bioscience talent
on the doorstep
There are 8 top quality universities within 1 hour of Ware (University of Hertfordshire, University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University, UCL, QMUL, Birbeck, London Metropolitan University and University of Bedfordshire), taking in >6,700 students each year into bioscience related degrees. The University of Hertfordshire, which is on Ware’s doorstep produces c.1,000 bioscience graduates annually alone.
Affordable
on lots of levels
London, Oxford and Cambridge aren’t just expensive for the business, with sky high lab space rents and costs. They are really expensive for everyone who works for that business too. The costs of buying or renting a house are huge and massively impact whether staff can afford to live near where they work. The great news is that beautiful Ware is also much more affordable from a buying and renting perspective too, with a lot of new housing (>5,000 new homes by 2028) in the local plan.
Abundance of ‘Good’ and
‘Outstanding’ schools
Ware is blessed with an impressive range of schools to choose from. This is vital when assessing a location's suitability when it comes to the needs of a workforce. Ware has over 20 childcare nurseries, 10 primary schools (all Ofsted rated ‘Good’), 2 special needs schools and 2 secondary schools (both Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’) as well as independent schools like St Edmund’s College and Prep School.
More quality of life… less compromise
Ware is a bustling, leafy, riverside market town and one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in Europe, due to its location on the banks of the River Lea, and we can definitely understand why. From its historic centre (202 listed buildings) to its riverside location providing plenty of outside space and an abundance of nature, Ware provides the perfect life balance for busy scientists and their families. There is a thriving independent shopping scene with over 60 restaurants, bars, eateries, cafes and pubs and lots of weekly and monthly produce and craft markets showcasing local artisan suppliers. There is something for everyone – sports clubs including boxing, bowls, pickle ball and cricket, a newly £1m refurbished lido, gyms and leisure centres, football teams, Real Ale festivals, summer concerts and much, much more.
Unique, highly-accessible,
in-town location
From Riverlabs it’s a <10 minute walk to the historic and thriving town centre – and ALL that it has to offer. Easy for before, during, and after a busy day…
For all leasing and general enquiries
Contact Jonathan Hawkes
07808 102 393
jonathanhawkes@riverlabsware.com
