THE UNIVERSITY OF UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER INCUBATOR COMPANY LIMITED

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

PUBLICATION SCHEME

INTRODUCTION

1. Legal requirement

1.1 Adopting a publication scheme is a requirement of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This Act promotes greater openness and accountability across the public sector by requiring all 'public authorities' to make information available proactively, through a publication scheme.

1.2 'Public authorities' are defined in the Act and include universities and the act also applies to companies wholly owned by at least two public authorities. The act therefore applies to The University of Manchester Incubator Company Limited.

2. The Publication Scheme

2.1 A publication scheme is a document which describes the information a public authority publishes, or intends to publish. In this context, 'publish' means to make information available, routinely. These descriptions are called 'classes of information'. The scheme is not a list of the actual publications, because this will change as new material is published or existing material revised. It is, however, the public authority's commitment to make available the information described.

2.2 A publication scheme must set out the classes, or categories, of information published. It must also make clear how the information described can be accessed and whether or not charges will be made.

3. Who we are

The University of Manchester is recognised as one of the global leaders in academic research with a total of 37 research subjects of "international excellence" (2001 Research Assessment Exercise). This prolific research activity form part of the largest academic campus in Europe produces world-leading breakthroughs.

The role of The University of Manchester Incubator Company Limited will be to provide facilities management for the Manchester Incubator Building and the Core Technology Facility Limited, this function is expected to be transferred from the Manchester Incubator Company Limited in the near future.

4. Accessing information covered by the publication scheme

4.1 The classes of information we publish are described in the second part of the scheme.

4.2 Next to each class we have indicated the manner in which the information described will be available. We have also indicated whether charges apply to material in each class.

4.3 To request information available through our publication scheme please contact:

The Company Secretary

University of Manchester Incubator Company Limited

The Manchester Incubator Building

Grafton Street

Manchester

M13 9XX

Tel: 0161 606 7200 or Fax 0161 606 7300

5. What about information not covered by the publication scheme

5.1 From 1 January 2005 information not made available through the publication scheme may be requested.

5.2 Requests will have to be made in writing and the Company will normally have 20 working days to respond. We may charge a fee. We will not be required to release information to which an exemption in the Act legitimately applies.

6. Feedback

6.1 It is important that this publication scheme meets your needs. If you find the scheme difficult to understand, please let us know. We also welcome suggestions as to how our scheme might be improved. Any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme should be sent in writing to the Company Secretary at the address in 4.3 above.

6.2 If we are unable to resolve any complaint, you can complain to the Information Commissioner, the independent body who oversees the Freedom of Information Act:

Office of the Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

7. Further information

7.1 More information about the Freedom of Information Act is available on the Information Commissioner's website at:

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

7.2 Either part or the entire Publication Scheme is available in other formats on request. Other formats include hard copy, Braille and larger print.

8. The main groups of classes of information in the Publication Scheme are:

1. lEGAL FRAMEWORK

2. financial

3. human resources/HEALTH AND SAFETY

4. services and facilities

5. marketing and external relations

6. contact details