As an early-stage life sciences business, securing the right lab space is one of your most important tasks. However, finding a facility that meets all your requirements while remaining affordable can be a significant challenge.

At Pioneer Group, our Co-Labs offer the perfect lab space for start-ups and small teams looking for a practical and affordable facility at the beginning of their business journey.

Here is our three-step guide for life science start-ups on how to find the right facility while you’re still busy finding your feet.

Step 1: Assess Your Lab Space Requirements

Equipment and infrastructure: List all the equipment you will need, from essential tools to more specialised pieces of kit. Your lab space needs to provide the equipment and optimal number of workstations you need, with consideration to power sources, ventilation, and utility connections required.

Workflow: How many people will be working in the lab simultaneously? Will you and your team be able to move around the space safely? It is essential to think about the workflow process, ensuring easy access to emergency exits and sensible routes for people to walk around the lab, particularly if you need to accommodate moving mobile equipment regularly.

Safety requirements: Like more extensive laboratories, smaller lab spaces for start-ups must meet relevant health and safety regulations. In addition to day-to-day equipment, you should ensure that safety equipment is readily available. There must be adequate space within the facility for this equipment, accessible emergency exits, fire suppression systems, chemical storage and waste disposal.

Technical support and security: What technical support will you require? For instance, will you need help with equipment setup, maintenance, troubleshooting, and training? You should also consider what security measures you require, including restricted access and surveillance to safeguard valuable equipment and data.

Check out our guide for more details on how to set up a productive lab space here.

Step 2: Researching Available Lab Space for Start Ups

Once you know your requirements and the budget, you can start researching smaller facilities that fit the bill. Start-up incubators, innovation hubs, or science parks are a great place to start – these locations usually provide fully equipped facilities alongside crucial business support.

For instance, at several of our locations, including BioCity Nottingham and Cherrywood Campus, we offer Co-Lab and Co-Lab+ options for tenants. Individual benches can be rented out in our laboratories monthly, where users can access quality equipment, including Centrifuge, PCR, Microscopy, Plate reader, Cell Counter, Analytical balances, and Mobile Benching (1m benching).

For an upgraded membership, Co-Lab+ members can access premium equipment, including: our Analytical Suite (available at Colworth Science Park and BioCity Nottingham), NMR, HPLC, our Mass Spec Tissue Culture Suite (available across almost all locations), Class II safety cabinets, and Co2 Incubators.

Step 3: Evaluating Amenities and Resources

Many facilities offer much more than just a workstation. It’s always worth discovering events, seminars, and networking opportunities organised on-site.

At Pioneer Group, being part of our community means you can access our expert network, a powerhouse of esteemed figures from the world of life sciences who give their time, advice and guidance to the Pioneer Group Collective.

As mentioned above, you should also learn about and use any business support, such as accelerator programmes or competitions. For example, we run a golden ticket competition, with a prize of 12 months’ free lab bench workspace for one scientist at a Pioneer Group location, as well as access to specialist R&D scientists, business leaders and entrance into our partner network.

Other elements worth evaluating are the stability and reputation of the lab space provider. There may also come a time when you go from needing a lab space for a start-up to a lab space for a scaling company. Check for potential growth and expansion within the facility as your business and research progresses. Is there an option for a trial period, or can you visit the space and meet site staff, see the equipment in action, and gauge more of a feel of the overall atmosphere?

What do other users say about the facilities?

Ultimately, a good lab facility should offer you flexible, scalable access to quality equipment, a diverse array of resources, and a strong, supportive community, all while being compliant, secure, and affordable.

We’d strongly recommend checking out any testimonials and feedback from other tenants to understand better the space and the business support provided to its users.