Milton Park’s Bee House has marked its fourth anniversary on 20 May 2026, on World Bee Day, celebrating four years of helping ambitious businesses start, scale and grow within one of the UK’s leading innovation communities.
Since opening in 2022, the 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.
A thriving business community
Today, the Bee House is home to a diverse mix of businesses spanning science, technology, media and professional services, including Elemica International, Middleton Advisors, Oodle Financial Services, OxeHealth, Smith Robotics and Total Projects. Demand for its collaboration and event spaces has grown steadily, with its meeting facilities regularly used by Bee House occupiers, companies from across Milton Park and external organisations visiting Oxfordshire’s innovation cluster.
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.
A pathway for scale
Purposefully created through the transformation of an existing building, the Bee House combines flexible co-working space, serviced offices and meeting facilities designed to support businesses at every stage of growth.
It plays an important commercial role within Milton Park’s wider growth ecosystem, alongside the Innovation Centre at 99 Park Drive. Together, they provide an accessible entry point for companies looking to establish themselves in Oxfordshire, while creating a pathway for longer-term growth across the Park.
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 are 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 would also like to thank the whole team at Ashdown Phillips for their ongoing role in bringing the Bee House to life day to day.”
Built for sustainability
The building also reflects Milton Park’s long-term sustainability ambitions. Formerly home to RM Technology, the University of Oxford spin-out which started at Milton Park in the 1980s and today employs more than 1,700 people, the building was repositioned through a £12.4 million investment focused on reuse and refurbishment, 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.
The Bee House is managed and operated by Ashdown Phillips and Partners on behalf of Milton Park.
For more information, visit bee-house.co.uk.
