Global medical tech giant Convatec announces Manchester hub

As part of a £500m investment in the UK, the FTSE100 company will move its R&D operations from Deeside to Bruntwood SciTech’s CityLabs 4.0.

Convatec products help treat and support those with chronic wounds, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and stomas. Last year, it generated $2.3bn (£1.7bn) in revenue.

Of that revenue, approximately 5% is spent on research and development each year, according to Convatec. That money will go towards supporting the 200 jobs coming to Manchester when its new R&D hub opens in 2027.

Most of those jobs will be transfers from the Deeside operation, which was founded in 1996. The company said that it had chosen to have open a flagship R&D facility in Manchester because of its “vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which including leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions”.

Convatec also operates a manufacturing site in Deeside, which it says will not be impacted by the transfer of R&D operations to Manchester.

At CityLabs 4.0, Convatec’s neighbours will include the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust’s Oxford Road campus, biotech company QIAGEN, R&D organisation APIS Assay Technologies, ophthalmic instrument manufacturer Takagi, and MAC Clinical Research.

The Sheppard Robson-designed building opened earlier this year. The £42m CityLabs 4.0 spans 125,000 sq ft across seven storeys with a mix of offices, labs, and collaboration spaces. Its project team included Arup, Hilson Moran, Gardiner & Theobald, and Layer Studio. Thanks to main contractor GMI Construction, the building was net zero carbon in construction. It boasts an EPC rating of A.

• Get the lowdown on the North’s thriving life sciences property scene at Place’s Life Sciences Update 2025 on 13 Nov. Book your ticket.

Convatec’s move to Manchester was part of a wider announcement of a $1bn (£740m) investment into R&D, with half the money earmarked for the United Kingdom. The other half will be centred on the company’s US operations, including an expansion of its facility in Boston.

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting moment in Convatec’s commitment to pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch,” said Convatec interim chief executive Jonny Mason.

“Our plans to invest more than $1bn – 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.”

Dr. Divakar Ramakrishnan, chief technology officer and head of research & development at Convatec, added: “The significant expansion of our R&D capabilities in Boston and plans to establish a new flagship centre in Manchester are investments in the talent, technology, and infrastructure needed to accelerate innovation in pioneering trusted chronic care solutions.

“They reinforce our belief in the strength of the US and UK life sciences sectors and position Convatec at the forefront of medical technology innovation for years to come.”

Convatec added that its investment plans were contingent on government support, but that it viewed the UK as a power player in life sciences, noting its “deep talent pool, strong research base, and supportive environment for innovation”.

The press release continued: “It is critical that UK Government policy, legislation, reimbursement decisions and initiatives enable companies like Convatec – with UK manufacturing, R&D and other investments in the UK – to serve the best interests of patients, protect patient and provider choice, and deliver value for taxpayers.”

CityLabs 4.0 itself was built due to public sector involvement. The building was delivered by Bruntwood SciTech, a joint venture between Bruntwood, Legal & General, and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.

CityLabs 4.0 was financially supported, in part, through a loan from the North West Evergreen Fund. The £140m fund, which is managed by CBRE, was established in 2010 by the local authorities in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Cumbria and supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Commission and European Investment Bank’s JESSICA Programme.