Yorkshire to see hundreds of jobs created in life sciences sector, according to new research

Yorkshire and the Humber will see the creation hundreds of extra jobs and tens of millions of pounds of growth over the next decade in its life sciences sector, according to new research.

This will only be achieved if increases in life science research and development (R&D) rise in line with government targets, according to research conducted by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Specifically, around 620 skilled jobs would be created for Yorkshire and The Humber with the added R&D, along with £46m of extra growth, in 2027 alone.

Yorkshire and the Humber is predicted outperform North East in terms of jobs and growth, with the North East predicted to generate £25m of added growth and 337 extra jobs.

The research suggested that much of the extra growth in Yorkshire and the Humber would come from established “hotspots” for investment in the region such as Leeds, where researchers are known to work with pharmaceutical companies to help develop treatments.

The life sciences sector is made up of industries like food science, plus plant and veterinary science. But the pharmaceutical industry is the single biggest contributor.

Yorkshire and the Humber figures are projected on the basis that R&D in the region’s life sciences sector will jump from £34m in 2015 to £63m in 2027.

The Government set out in the Budget last year that it would commit to increasing its investment in R&D to 2.4% of Gross Domestic Product by 2027, to help the UK catch up with the R&D spending of the most advanced economies like Japan, Germany and the United States.

In time, the investment could rise to 3% of GDP, which the ABPI research shows if met by 2027 would create an even greater boom in jobs.

As a result, more than 1,130 extra jobs will be created in Yorkshire and the Humber, with £85m of growth added to region.

Dr Richard Torbett from ABPI said: “This research underlines why increasing the amount that government and industry spends on innovation is so important. Industries like pharmaceuticals have the potential to generate the jobs of tomorrow, as well as securing the thousands of jobs they provide in Yorkshire and The Humber today.

“But it’s not just about jobs and the economy. Our scientists work hand-in-hand with the NHS to provide medicines which save and improve millions of lives in this country, around the world and in communities in this region.

“By investing in the life sciences like pharmacy we can be part of the battle against illnesses that continue to blight so many lives – while also helping to deliver jobs and prosperity in regions like Yorkshire and The Humber and across Britain.”