JUNE 2001 BROADSHEET - Visit to Scientific Generics, Harston
Our visit to Scientific Generics was an outstanding success. It was, as expected, oversubscribed, but no one was disappointed because all those who found at the last minute that they were not able to go, conscientiously phoned or e-mailed in and completely absorbed the reserve list. What a well disciplined club we are!
Some may have been disappointed that we were not able actually to march round the Generics site, but it was obvious that with all the expansion and building works going on it would have been a very messy business and the welcome, riveting talk and generous buffet more than made up for this. This was a result of the company's tremendous commercial and technological success and, as our speaker pointed out, it was very necessary to expand on this village site at Harston in order to continue the principle of having one large open plan office, which has been an essential element in this success. All the engineers can see what everyone else is doing and cross pollination is crucial. Furthermore, peer pressure was a very potent management tool.
Our speaker was Dr Duncan Hine, Deputy Group CEO who was ably assisted by Dr Paul Perry and Dr Kerstin Potter over questions during the buffet afterwards. Duncan explained how Generics had become the despair of business analysts. It just doesn't fit into any organisational category. They have 150 engineers working for 150 companies at a time on completely disparate subjects. His expression was that they were entirely agnostic in what they did. For example one engineer, a keen skiier, had perfected a carving toboggan. Rather than say we're not in that business they charge a company for its development and will realise a percentage of the royalties for years to come. Mainly their work ranges from engineering, eg. fuel cells, the internet, media, life sciences, eg. blood analysis, and energy to business innovation. The recruitment policy is to find top scientists and engineers regardless of their background and this has led to an entirely polymath crew with very strong motivation, considerably aided by the potential to share in the financial rewards of their inventions.
For more details try their web site: www.genericsgroup.com or the visit organiser, Ruth Shaw, Marketing Communications Manager: RShaw@scigen.co.uk
The Club is very fortunate in benefiting from the sponsorship of the following organisations:-
There are also other companies who give us generous help with specific meetings and services.
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