InfoLab21

Steve Riches

Director of the KBC

Tel: +44 (0)1524 510440
Fax: +44 (0)1524 510491
steve.riches@lancaster.ac.uk

Career History:

Initially qualified as a Manufacturing Engineer whilst working in the telecoms industry. Progressed on to specialising in advanced manufacturing, large scale automation, the transfer of technology and developing and introducing flexible manufacturing lines.

Commenced career with Plessey and then followed by Standard Telephone & Cables which included a two year secondment to continental Europe working in ITT’s European head quarters in Brussels – the role included standardisation of manufacturing processes for both the manufacture and assembly of printed circuit boards and trouble shooting process and organisational problems in ITT’s factories across Europe .

Progressed to hold more senior management positions, including managing a large telecoms manufacturing complex in North London. Held a patent for a novel reed relay design which at its peek was manufactured at 100,000/week and fully automated the manufacturing for a complete assembly to be made in two and a half seconds. The career route followed to GEC, Plessey Telecommunications (GPT) - Liverpool, managing a multi-function development-engineering group responsible for high technology telecommunications products.

In 1991 project managed the transfer of technology programme to set up and establish a telephone manufacturing facility in Russia.

In 1992 with a career change, became a Director and General Manager of a business services company. Played a major role in building the company up from 6 staff to 45 and a growth in turnover to £4.5million/pa to its being taken over by a larger organisation.

Joined Lancaster University in 2001 to help formulate and implement the University’s Knowledge Transfer and Outreach strategy. As Deputy Director of the Business Enterprise Centre, developed projects and secured funding to set up Outreach delivery teams across the University.

In September 2004 took on the post of Director, InfoLab21 Knowledge Business Centre with a specific remit to maximise Lancaster University’s InfoLab21’s regional impact and provide the industrial linkages for engagement with InfoLab21’s academic departments. Created the InfoLab21 Graduate Academy and a robust delivery infrastructure to support regional businesses with ICT expertise. Currently actively involved in implementing a coherent process to take research opportunities and spin-outs through to commercialisation.