Bee House anniversary highlights demand for flexible innovation space at Milton Park
Milton Park’s Bee House has marked its fourth anniversary on 20 May 2026 on World Bee Day to celebrate four years of helping ambitious businesses start, scale and grow within one of the UK’s leading innovation communities.
Since opening in 2022, Bee House has become one of the Park’s most dynamic workspaces, designed to give companies the flexibility to evolve in one place from co-working space through to established operations across Milton Park.
Over the past four years, more than 225 companies have been based at the Bee House. Today, it is home to 91 businesses, with occupancy at 89%, that encompasses science, technology, media and professional services.
Companies currently based at the Bee House include Elemica International, LIO Health, Middleton Advisors, Oodle Financial Services, Smith Robotics and Total Projects.
At the heart of the building is the Hive Café, operated by Pierreponts, which serves breakfast, hot lunches, freshly made salads, baguettes and homemade cakes, and provides an informal meeting space for occupiers, visitors and the wider Milton Park community. Since 2024, it has welcomed an average daily footfall of 400-500 people.
Purposefully created through the transformation of an existing building, Bee House combines flexible co-working space, serviced offices and meeting facilities designed to support businesses at every stage of growth.
Demand for collaboration and event space has continued to grow, with meeting room bookings increasing by 52% since 2022. The facilities are regularly used by companies based within the Bee House, occupiers across Milton Park and external organisations visiting Oxfordshire’s innovation cluster.
Bee House plays an important commercial role within Milton Park’s wider growth ecosystem, alongside the Innovation Centre at 99 Park Drive, which together provide an accessible entry point for companies looking to establish themselves in Oxfordshire while creating a pathway for longer-term growth across the Park.
The building itself also reflects Milton Park’s long-term sustainability ambitions. Formerly home to RM Technology, the University of Oxford spinout which started at Milton Park in the 1980s and today employs more than 1,700 people, the building was refurbished, significantly reducing embodied carbon compared to new build development.
Pollinator-friendly landscaping and biodiverse planting further reinforce Milton Park’s commitment to creating a greener, more resilient environment for businesses and people.
Lorna Wright, flexible workplace manager at Milton Park, said: “The Bee House plays a critical role in how we support business growth at Milton Park. It gives companies a clear starting point but more importantly, a pathway to scale without needing to leave.
“We’re seeing businesses build traction here and then move into larger space across the Park as they grow. That continuity is a real advantage and a key part of how we support ambitious science, technology, media and innovation companies. I’d also like to thank the Milton Park team for their ongoing role in bringing the Bee House to life day to day.”
Sarah Stevens, co-founder and people director at hoomph, which joined in 2026 said: “As one of the newest occupiers at Bee House, hoomph was drawn to the space because it reflects the kind of business we are: creative, collaborative and people-focused. We wanted an environment that would inspire our team and create opportunities to connect with other businesses and Bee House immediately stood out.
“The sense of community here has been fantastic from day one. There’s a real energy in the building, with like-minded companies, which creates opportunities for collaboration that you simply don’t get in a traditional office setting. For us, being based at Bee House is about more than just office space, it’s about being part of a thriving business community that supports our growth, strengthens our culture and gives our team a place they genuinely enjoy coming to every day.”
Mike Pendleton, projects director, Total Projects, which is one of the Bee House’s original companies, said: “As a long-term occupier of Bee House and a Milton Park occupier before this, I couldn’t speak more highly of the space and the experience it offers. The building experience is a perfect balance between professional and welcoming, creating an environment where you can enjoy coming to work.
“There is a strong sense of community, making it easy to collaborate with others in the building, whether that’s informally in shared spaces or through professional projects enabling business growth. The welcoming atmosphere of the building gives a feeling of being part of something larger than just your own office, helped by the approachable and proactive Bee House team, always going the extra mile to ensure everything runs smoothly and supporting us as our business grows. Overall, Bee House offers a great place for businesses to thrive.”
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