Silverstone’s long-term ambition to become a world-class hub for innovation is moving forward, with new research and growing regional partnerships reinforcing its role as an economic driver for Northamptonshire and the wider South Midlands.
The Silverstone 2035 Vision was unveiled at the Silverstone Technology Cluster’s Innovation Conference earlier this summer. It brings together more than 50 organisations across business, academia and local government, united in plans to transform Silverstone into a global centre of excellence for high-performance technology.
Adrian Pryce DL, Associate Professor in Strategy & International Business at the University of Northampton and Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, said: “The 2035 Vision is an ecosystem worth investing in. It’s a jewel in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and it has the backing of our MPs. This is about unlocking the full potential of the Silverstone cluster and ensuring our region benefits from its extraordinary capabilities.”
Northamptonshire’s economic strength
A study of Silverstone Park tenants and STC members by Whitecap Consulting, supported by West Northamptonshire Council, underlines the scale of the opportunity. In 2023, turnover across the cluster reached £4.9 billion, growing at 22% a year since 2020. Productivity is almost double the UK average, with GVA per worker of £120,000. The data also highlights that more than a quarter of Silverstone Park businesses are fast-growth scaleups and that the ecosystem has attracted more than £150 million in investment since 2015.
Northamptonshire’s long-standing reputation for engineering excellence underpins this success. Specialisms in testing, electronics, cyber, CAD, automation and digital engineering show how Silverstone has evolved far beyond motorsport to become a hub for advanced industries.
Driving the Vision forward
To deliver the 2035 strategy, six working groups have been created to focus on sport and e-sport, skills and education, connectivity and placemaking, visitor economy, investment, and collaboration. Together they are shaping projects designed to strengthen infrastructure, attract inward investment, and grow the talent pipeline across the region.
Support for the Vision continues to grow. It has the endorsement of three Lord-Lieutenants, five MPs and the UK government’s Office for Investment, alongside backing from Milton Keynes City Council, Buckinghamshire and West Northamptonshire Councils, MEPC-Silverstone Park, Silverstone Circuit, the Open University and Cranfield University. Dialogue is also under way with Silverstone Parish Council to address local planning and placemaking needs.
Adrian said: “This is about creating a business-led platform that is agile and can operate at F1 pace. It is collaborative by design and will allow us to deliver change quickly and effectively.”
Next phase of development
The immediate goal is to secure core funding for a permanent secretariat to coordinate the delivery groups and drive projects forward. Priorities include aligning with East-West Rail and other key infrastructure, deepening ties with Innovate Cambridge, launching promotional events and conventions, and raising Silverstone’s international profile — including plans to translate the Vision into Arabic and Mandarin.
Although motorsport remains integral to Silverstone, Adrian stresses that the 2035 Vision is about much more than racing. “This is about taking the fast-paced thinking of Formula 1 and applying it to other industries,” he said. “We want to attract global investors, support new talent, and ensure economic growth across Northamptonshire and the wider South Midlands.”
With growth outpacing national averages, proven productivity and strong political support, Silverstone is set to play an ever-greater role in the future prosperity of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
To find out more visit: https://www.silverstone2035.com/
