Welcome to Ware
Ware is an established life sciences location having been a strategic R&D location for GSK for over 50 years. So not only does it have a legacy of science, it also has a huge pool of talent that call it home. It’s also a beautiful, thriving place to live and work.
“Hidden Gem” for talent
191,000+ science and innovation professionals within a commutable distance
Affordable housing
More affordable housing, both to rent and buy, than London and Cambridge
Excellent school options
Abundance of OFSTED good and outstanding nurseries, primary and secondary school options
Thriving Community
Plethora of clubs and events and 60+ restaurants, bars, eateries, cafes and pubs
A rich talent pool
on the doorstep
With over 191,000 science professionals in a commutable area — including 39,000 actively seeking roles — Ware is a talent-rich, ‘hidden gem’ hiring zone with lower competition than Cambridge or London. Identified by LinkedIn Talent Insights (Mar 2025) as especially strong in biotech, pharma, and research, the region offers expertise across molecular and cell biology, drug development, bioinformatics, oncology, immunology, stem cell research, and regulatory compliance. Strategic proximity to world-class universities (UCL, Cambridge, Imperial, Hertfordshire) and major employers such as GSK, AstraZeneca, and Roche ensures access to both early-career and senior talent, making Riverlabs an unrivalled base for growth.
Affordable
on lots of levels
London, Oxford and Cambridge aren’t just expensive for the business, with sky high lab space rents and costs. They are really expensive for everyone who works for that business too. The costs of buying or renting a house are huge and massively impact whether staff can afford to live near where they work. The great news is that beautiful Ware is also much more affordable from a buying and renting perspective too, with a lot of new housing (>5,000 new homes by 2028) in the local plan.
Abundance of ‘Good’ and
‘Outstanding’ schools
Ware is blessed with an impressive range of schools to choose from. This is vital when assessing a location's suitability when it comes to the needs of a workforce. Ware has over 20 childcare nurseries, 10 primary schools (all Ofsted rated ‘Good’), 2 special needs schools and 2 secondary schools (both Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’) as well as independent schools like St Edmund’s College and Prep School.
More quality of life…
less compromise
Ware is a bustling, leafy, riverside market town and one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in Europe, due to its location on the banks of the River Lea, and we can definitely understand why. From its historic centre (202 listed buildings) to its riverside location providing plenty of outside space and an abundance of nature, Ware provides the perfect life balance for busy scientists and their families. There is a thriving independent shopping scene with over 60 restaurants, bars, eateries, cafes and pubs and lots of weekly and monthly produce and craft markets showcasing local artisan suppliers. There is something for everyone – sports clubs including boxing, bowls, pickle ball and cricket, a newly £1m refurbished lido, gyms and leisure centres, football teams, Real Ale festivals, summer concerts and much, much more.
For all leasing and general enquiries
Contact Jonathan Hawkes
07808 102 393
jonathanhawkes@riverlabsware.com
