2035 Progress Report
To be the world’s premier destination for high-performance innovation, where sport, science, engineering, technology & leisure converge to drive a sustainable future.
Six Strategic Delivery Groups drive the 2035 Vision:
Sport / e-Sport Silverstone – VR-AR will drive innovation in elite sports testing and training, as well as new business, leisure and educational revenue opportunities
Campus Silverstone – coordinating regional skills training, education and management / leadership development, as well as R&D capacity
Live Silverstone – facilitating sustainable transport, digital connectivity and place-making
Destination Silverstone – developing the year-round visitor economy through business, education, convention and leisure tourism
Invest Silverstone – securing funding for infrastructure development, commercial and educational real estate and business support
Connect Silverstone – collaboration within the Silverstone ecosystem, across the Ox-Cam Growth Corridor and globally
These six strategic groups are working to identify the tasks, work streams and projects needed to deliver the 2035 Vision, with each one leading on one of the key “Enablers” below.
ADVANCED RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & COMMERCIALISATION: Cutting-edge innovation facilities will turn R&D into scalable breakthrough solutions and commercial propositions.
SMART, SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE: Digital transformation, smart grids and low-carbon solutions as model for clean growth, with integrated public transport and smart energy systems
INVESTMENT & BUSINESS GROWTH: Incubator hub to support high-growth businesses, start-ups and scale-ups, with streamlined planning and fiscal incentives to attract inward investment and venture capital
TALENT & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Coordinated research, educational and training offer to equip future generations with technical, entrepreneurial, managerial and leadership skills
WORLD-LEADING DESTINATION FOR SPORT, TECHNOLOGY & LEISURE: Master-planned approach to generate year-round business, education, convention & leisure tourism
CONNECTED & COLLABORATIVE ECOSYSTEM: Business-led delivery platform to facilitate stakeholder engagement and strategic marketing communications regionally, nationally and globally
Silverstone Vision 2035 Progress so far:
SILVERSTONE 2035 VISION
Co-created by senior leaders from 50 organisations across 3 counties
Strong brand identity with momentum, launched at STC’s Innovation Conference in June
Regional coalition established to lobby UK government & promote Silverstone globally
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?
Silverstone active in 5 of the UK’s eight priority sectors
USP is the D in R&D – fast-paced F1 thinking for NPD, with a need to support ex-F1 entrepreneurs
Four clusters not one:
Motorsport: well-established
Technology: growth potential
Tourism: embryonic, needs master-planning
Education: emergent, currently fragmented
‘Donut’ challenge – everything within 20 miles, lack of amenities at Silverstone’s core
Need digital & transport connectivity, place-making in a challenging local government context
Integrated and master-planned approach essential
FORWARD MOMENTUM
Recognition by but independent identity within key Ox-Cam Growth Corridor
Coalition delivery platform established, with 6 strategic delivery groups up & running
STC a key partner, with MK Council, Open University & Cranfield now engaged
Silverstone Parish Council dialogue underway
Good regional media coverage generating new support weekly: 80+ now on database
2035 Vision supported by 3 Lord-Lieutenants, 5 MPs and UK government Office for Investment
NEXT STEPS
Secure core funding from key stakeholders, sponsors & partners
Detailed work streams identified and costed
Collaboration and promotion within Whitehall
Alignment with Ox-Cam Growth Corridor and closer links with East-West Rail
MOU planned with Innovate Cambridge
Promotional event and convention planning
Translation of 2035 Vision into Arabic and Mandarin
Promotion of Silverstone 2035 globally
ECONOMIC STRENGTH & GROWTH
£4.9bn total turnover in 2023 across Silverstone Park and STC, up from 2020 with a 22% CAGR
High productivity: Silverstone boasts a GVA per worker of £120K outperforming Northamptonshire (£60K), MK (£83K, and UK average (£74K)
INNOVATION, SCALEUPS & FUTURE GROWTH
27% of Silverstone Park companies are high-growth scaleups (vs. 15% in STC), much higher rate than regional UK averages
23% of STC companies show innovation activity, the highest across the compared areas
SECTOR & SKILLS SPECIALISATION (LOCATION QUOTIENTS)
High-value activities such as Testing (+81%), Engineering (+75%), and Manufacturing (+61%) are over-indexed versus UK average
Key specialisms: Electronics, Cyber, CAD, Automation & Digital Engineering
FUNDING & INVESTMENT SIGNALS
Silverstone companies received over £101m in grant funding and £51m in equity investment since 2015
COMPANY COMPOSITION
85%+ of companies are SMEs, making the ecosystem highly entrepreneurial
51% increase in company formations since 2015, outpacing Northamptonshire Top 100 (+43%) and MK Top 50 (+29%)
SUMMARY
High potential for international investment and enhanced cluster collaboration
Inward investment required for
Infrastructure development
Educational, research, industrial & tourism real estate
Fuelling R pipeline to benefit from the D of R&D
Business support and training for start-ups, scale ups
Source: Beauhurst & Datacity analysis of MEPC Silverstone Park tenants & Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC) members by Whitecap Consulting, kindly funded by West Northamptonshire Council (June 2025)
