MIPIM: Sinclair to leave Bruntwood for Liverpool Knowledge Quarter role

Partners in the Liverpool Knowledge Quarter initiative to develop the university district have appointed Colin Sinclair, currently director of workspace development at Bruntwood, to a newly created executive director position.

Sinclair has been at Bruntwood for six years and prior to that was chief executive of Manchester’s investment and development agency, Midas. He brings with him a wealth of experience in marketing, inward investment, and business and property development.

He has worked on a variety of large-scale projects during his time at Bruntwood, including their diversification into the science and technology markets, including the takeover of Manchester Science Parks in 2012 and most recently the futuristic neo office development at Bank House in Manchester city centre.

Sinclair said: “After six enjoyable years at Bruntwood this is an exciting new challenge. I’m really looking forward to working with the partners to create one of Europe’s leading innovation districts, positioning the Liverpool city region as one of the most attractive locations in the UK for science and technology, biomedicine, creativity and research.”

In the past 18 months, Sinclair has also been Bruntwood’s lead director in Liverpool, where the business has focused on creatively designed collaborative workspace at the Cotton Exchange among other buildings in its portfolio. In his new role he will lead on the development of a shared strategy for the Knowledge Quarter, building on the academic, health and cultural assets of the partners.

University of Liverpool vice-chancellor and chairman of the Knowledge Quarter board, Prof Janet Beer, said: “Our aim is to establish the Knowledge Quarter as one of the UK’s most successful locations for knowledge creation and innovation, as well as a strong economic area that is more than the sum of the parts. Colin has an outstanding track record in this area and we are looking forward to working with him.”

The Knowledge Quarter helps generate £1bn in income per year, supporting more than 14,000 jobs and contributing to the expansion of the city region, including major redevelopment projects such as the £335m new Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “The Knowledge Quarter is hugely important, not just for the future economic success of Liverpool, but also the wider city region. This is a hugely exciting time as we see a number of major developments being delivered. Colin already has an excellent reputation in the city and I am very much looking forward to working with him, starting with promoting the city at the international real estate event, MIPIM, this week.”

The post is funded through a partnership between the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Teaching Hospital Trust.

Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood, said: “This is great news for Liverpool and we’re looking forward to working closely with Colin in his new role in the future.​”

Sinclair will begin his role on 1 May and will be based at Liverpool Science Park.