BOOK NOW | How is the North West’s life sciences sector performing?
Place North West’s annual update on the rapidly growing sector is back for a second instalment. The half-day event will delve into schemes across the region and ask what the big players are doing in this space.
From the 2m sq ft MIX Manchester to Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, it is clear the North West is pinning its growth ambitions on the life sciences industry.
On 7 November, Place North West’s sector update will explore what is being built and where, find out which innovative companies are being tapped up to occupy the space, and ask what good looks like when it comes to developing labs.
Liverpool City Region has been designated as life sciences investment zone and will benefit from £160m of government funding to turbocharge its science economies.
In Manchester, the Oxford Road Corridor is the city’s primary life science cluster and continues to grow and attract investment.
Join delegates from Kadans Science Partner, Bruntwood SciTech, Natwest, and Sheppard Robson to hear about the opportunities to get involved in one of the country’s fastest-growing sectors.
The conference is sponsored by MIX Manchester, Fairhursts Architects, and Morgan Sindall Construction.
Experts will answer questions such as:
- Where are the growth hotspots for life science clusters?
- What are the main challenges facing life science developers in today’s market?
- How is the industry pivoting to take advantage of the UK’s ambition of being a life science superpower by 2030?
- What makes a great lab?
- How can regional cities like Manchester and Liverpool compete with the Golden Triangle?
Place North West’s Life Sciences Update will be held at Manchester Hall on Bridge Street on 7 November 2024. The event will start at 8am and end at midday.
Expect a mixture of engaging presentations and dynamic panel discussions – as well as the networking opportunities we know are important for your business.
In addition to the pre-panel breakfast, you can also expect breaks in between sessions and a post-panel lunch.
What you will take away from this event:
- A clear understanding of the various life sciences clusters in the North West
- An idea of the region’s position in the national life sciences conversation
- Information on lab space including rents, take-up, and supply
- New contacts for your business
Confirmed speakers
Dace Dimza-Jones is the national life sciences inward investment specialist for the Department for Business & Trade. She will provide insight into the companies the North West is trying to attract to its labs and shine a light on how enticing the region’s life science offering is compared to other parts of the country.
Mark Alexander is a legal director at Freeths’ Liverpool office. With expertise in acting for developers, investors, and lenders on acquisitions, disposals, property finance, and landlord and tenant matters, Alexander is well-placed to provide a sense of what actually is going on in the life sciences sector – and whether the market’s interest remains red hot or is waning.
Jamie Bottomley is a director at Track Real Estate. Track Capital has its finger on the pulse when it comes to life sciences in the North West, advising both tenants and landlords within the space. He will provide an update on how the market is performing and let us in on what he is hearing from both occupiers and developers as the sector matures.
Kate Bull is the director of economic strategy, skills, and sustainability at Liverpool City Council. Bull is responsible for crafting the path forward for Liverpool’s economy, which is increasingly leaning on its potential to become a life sciences hub. Expect her to share why the city has focused on the sector and what it is doing to attract businesses.
Lorna Green is the chief executive and co-founder of LYVA Labs. Established in 2022 with £10.5m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, LYVA Labs is focussed on delivering economic growth through the commercialisation of innovation. This means inspiring ideas, creating partnerships, and attracting investment. LYVA Labs has a £6m pre-seed investment for health and life sciences, as well as deep-tech start-ups. It provides incubator and accelerator programmes, innovation consultancy, and can proof R&D grants for regional SMEs.
Steven Gregory is the North West area director at Morgan Sindall Construction. Gregory, whose firm has been active within Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter, will provide a contractor’s view on the life sciences market and discuss what goes into creating the labs of the future in an uncertain construction market.
Joanne Henderson is the executive director and head of life sciences at CBRE. Henderson will provide a snapshot of the Life Sciences market both in the North West and across the country. She will explore themes such as supply and demand, rents, and take-up, as well as highlighting where the UK’s next life science hotspots are.
Tim Jones is the vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool. Universities are one-third of the triple helix that is crucial to the success of life sciences clusters. At Place’s event, he will explain the role the University of Liverpool is playing to drive the city’s economy forward.
John Leake is the business growth director for Sci-Tech Daresbury. He will update attendees on the latest from the innovation campus, which is home to IBM and Hitachi, among others, and explain its role within the wider Liverpool City Region life sciences cluster.
Laura Sherliker is a director at Fairhurst Architects. With over 20 years of experience in leading science and innovation projects across the UK. Sherliker specialises in creating dynamic ecosystems and placemaking. She is dedicated to building vibrant communities. With a keen eye for detail, she excels in managing complex multi-phase projects, ensuring that each initiative not only meets but exceeds expectations.
Colin Sinclair is chief executive of Sciontec Developments. Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter is the beating heart of Liverpool’s life science investment zone. Sinclair will delve into the challenges the city is facing when it comes to developing much-needed lab space, while exploring the growth opportunities up for grabs, and explaining how the various stakeholders work together to unlock them.
John Willis is the programme lead for the Liverpool City Region innovation zone at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. With 21 projects in the pipeline, the innovation zone has the potential to attract £800m of investment into the region – creating 8,000 jobs in the process. The innovation zone has already secured £160m in support from the government and is set to run for 10 years.
Andrea Winders is head of inward investment for Life Sciences & Health in Greater Manchester. Attracting life science companies to Manchester is about more than just building labs, as Winders will explain. They have to be in the right places, developed with a focus on placemaking, and tailored to the specific needs of occupiers. Winders will tell us where future economic growth is coming from in the life sciences space.
Book your ticket today by using the form below.
If you cannot see the form, please contact events@placenorthwest.co.uk.
