Manchester manufacturer receives £165k grant creating 11 jobs

The Manchester City Council-managed Corridor Growth Fund (CGF) has made two further awarded Elucigene Diagnostics with £165k grant helping to create 11 jobs at the firm.

The CGF is a £2 million fund managed by Manchester City Council, and supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, to back research and development-related employment growth in the city’s Corridor area.

Grant funding totalling £1.66 million has been provided through 14 awards, helping create 106 jobs and safeguard a further 13 since May 2013.

Elucigene Diagnostics develops, manufactures and sells DNA-based genetic testing kits for a number of genetic conditions.

They received a full award of £165k from the CGF to create 11 new jobs (the large majority of them graduate positions) and support their expansion to a bespoke new R&D facility at Citylabs.

A global company with approximately 75% of their revenue coming from exports, Elucigene Diagnostics hopes to expand into new markets and promote Manchester as an international business hub.

Since 2013, Elucigene Diagnostics have expanded to approximately 2,000 sq ft at MSP’s MedTech Centre and are planning to move to a larger, purpose-built facility later this year at MSP’s new Citylabs development on the University Hospitals campus.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester’s science and research base is one of the city’s key strengths and it is important that we continue to encourage it to help promote the city’s economic growth.

“This has always been an innovative city and the Corridor Growth Fund is making a contribution towards ensuring that continues.”

Scott Higgins, Managing Director of Elucigene Diagnostics, said: “The Corridor Growth Fund has provided a valuable boost to help us create a number of high value jobs in Manchester.

“Working with Manchester Science Partnerships has given us the flexibility to grow the business whilst only using the space we needed at each stage of our initial expansion.

“Together with the Corridor Growth Fund, this has enabled us to commit to a new permanent facility, which will allow the business to realise its full potential.”

Businesses interested in applying for grants via the Corridor Growth Fund should contact corridorgrowthfund@manchester.gov.uk to request an application pack.