I was delighted to see that the Science Museum at Wroughton received planning permission last week for its new storage facility – a 26,000 square metre building that will be home to a whole range of interesting objects.

The Switch on to Swindon team were lucky enough to have a peek in a couple of the hangars recently and the idea that there will be regular public opening is very exciting. We will be working closely with the team at Wroughton to explore how to make the most of this amazing asset to attract businesses and people to Swindon.

From exciting plans for the future to completion of a project that sets Swindon up for the future. The J16 improvements are now finished and as with all major infrastructure there has been some pain along the way. It’s been worth it though as the new layout does significantly boost the junction’s capacity and has transformed this important gateway into the town.

Projects like this are vital for the town’s future economic prosperity. Businesses and people looking to move to an area want to see investment in infrastructure and they want confidence that connectivity, access and the ability to move around are being taken seriously and planned for. If connectivity is one of Swindon’s big plus points then we have to back that up with evidence and this scheme certainly does that.

There was also lots of evidence on show last week that the digital technology sector is thriving in Swindon and Wiltshire at the first ever Techies, an awards event to celebrate digital innovation and entrepreneurship, held at Hartham Park in Corsham. Sponsored by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) the awards featured 12 categories all designed to shine a light on the number of successful companies we have operating in the digital sector. The SOTS team were on hand to present a one of the awards won by Swindon based Render.

Now to the Switch on to Swindon summer ambassadors event on June 14, from 6pm to 8pm. The venue is confirmed and details are now out so you can register for tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/switch-on-to-swindon-phase-2-tickets-45650107701

We will be holding the event right in the middle of historical Carriage Works where you will be able to see the transformation first-hand. Exclusive access will be given so you can see the journey from empty industrial unit to innovative incubation hub featuring cutting edge offices and co-working space.

Our network of ambassadors is now over 600 people strong representing nearly 450 businesses and organisations. June marks the shift into phase two of the campaign and we be sharing plans for taking the SOTS message outside of the town linked to where we believe there is the strongest potential for growth in our target markets.

We’ll also be sharing the latest on an exciting campaign being developed with ambassadors from some of our major employers which will make the most of Swindon’s competitive strengths. New materials and resources along with upgrades of the SOTS website will also be unveiled on the evening.

There is limited capacity for this event so book tickets soon to secure a place and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there.