Medical products and technology firm Convatec has unveiled plans for a new research and development site in Manchester as part of over £742 million of investment in the UK and US over the next decade.
The FTSE 100 listed firm said it has earmarked £500 million of investment in the UK, which will see it open the new “flagship” Manchester hub in 2027.
The site is set to be one of the largest in its global network of technology and innovation centres, according to the group.
The new site will be located at Citylabs 4.0 the £42m, 125,000 sq ft Bruntwood SciTech facility on Hathersage Road facing the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St Mary’s and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital site in south Manchester.
It will be the location for vital research in four of their main fields; advanced wound Care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care and will place them firm ‘at the forefront of medical technology development’.
It comes as a welcome boost for Britain’s life sciences sector amid a shift to the US to offset US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs.
Drugs giant GSK recently revealed plans to put nearly £22 billion into US R&D and manufacturing over the next five years.
Convatec said around 200 staff would be employed at the new site, most of which will transfer from the firm’s existing R&D site in Deeside, North Wales.
The firm said there were “plans for further growth in the years ahead”, with the site around 50% larger than the current facility and having capacity for up to 250 employees.
There are no plans for redundancies as a result of the relocation and the firm is set to keep some R&D operations in Deeside to assist with manufacturing.
Convatec said the Deeside R&D site had “served as a major centre for R&D” since opening in 1996, but that Manchester was now seen as the “ideal location” for the expanded facility, “given its vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which includes leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions”.
The group confirmed its manufacturing operation in Deeside would remain a “cornerstone of its global operations” and is unaffected by the changes, with around 400 workers continuing to be employed at the site following the opening of the new R&D centre.
Jonny Mason, interim chief executive at Convatec, said: “Our plans to invest more than one billion dollars – anchored by major expansion plans in both the United States and the United Kingdom – demonstrates our unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare innovation for people living with chronic conditions around the world.”
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “This landmark investment is proof of how, when the UK and US work closely together to unlock the latest medical breakthroughs, both our countries stand to benefit hugely.
“This is a deal that will create jobs, unlock growth, and improve life for patients from Manchester to Massachusetts – and comes hot on the heels of billions of pounds worth of investments into the UK from top US firms in life sciences and beyond.”
Convatec, which employs over 10,000 employees worldwide, said the move to Manchester would be phased to minimise disruption.
The site will offer R&D across all four of the firm’s specialisms – advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care and infusion care.
Convatec also has an R&D centre in Milton Park, Oxfordshire, which will be kept alongside the Manchester site.
