An international molecular diagnostics group has significantly expanded its presence in Manchester in a boost to the region’s life-sciences sector.
Yourgene Health has opened a new 43,000 sq ft global headquarters at Manchester Science Park which is part of Bruntwood SciTech’s network of specialist science and technology campuses.
Yourgene Health works in partnership with international specialists in the field of DNA technology to advance diagnostic science and enable the delivery of genomic medicine. Primarily, it develops, manufactures, and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic products, for reproductive health, precision medicine and infectious diseases.
The company is a long-standing customer of Bruntwood SciTech – a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General – and has now expanded within the tech and life science specialist’s network twice in a matter of years, growing from a team of two to 200.
The business initially established itself within the Greenheys building at Manchester Science Park in 2014 with just two desks, before expanding into an 8,000 sq ft space in Citylabs 1.0.
The team subsequently grew to occupy a total of 22,000 sq ft across both Citylabs 1.0 and the Manchester Science Park campus.
In consolidating its space into one headquarters, Yourgene Health now occupies the entirety of the Skelton House building at Manchester Science Park.
The latest expansion follows Yourgene Health’s role during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yourgene developed its own PCR antigen testing method for SARS CoV-2, the Clarigene test, which led to scaling in their operations. This provided Yourgene Health with additional funds to invest across its Genomic Services and Genomic Technologies businesses.
Dr Kath Mackay, director of life sciences at Bruntwood SciTech, said: “Yourgene is a true success story for Manchester’s life science sector and we’re proud of the role we continue to play in the Company’s growth. Its team has worked in partnership with others within the Bruntwood SciTech network for years and it was this collaboration which led to its merger and ultimate expansion.
From supporting them as a team of two through to fully occupying their own 43,000 sq ft building at the Park, the flexible offer we provide to all our customers has played out wonderfully here.”
Lyn Rees, chief executive at Yourgene, added: “Our previous home in Citylabs has been fantastic for the growth of Yourgene and we are excited to now be building on this success and to consolidate our offices and laboratories into one central, global headquarters from which we can continue to innovate and make a difference.
“The Bruntwood SciTech network has been central to our journey from conception and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners within its campuses, both and across the UK.”
