The North: The place to be for pharma manufacturing?

Adeel Aslam highlights Northern England’s pharmaceutical potential at the Bionow pharma manufacturing conference 2024.

Bionow supports the growth of life sciences companies in the North of England through networking, events and business support services. They hosted their 2024 pharma manufacturing conference in Speke, Liverpool, one of the UK’s leading bioprocessing regions. After giving the welcome address, Adeel Aslam, our Technical Director and Northern Powerhouse Investment Champion, joined a panel alongside the Chair Andy Jones, Tony Meaden, Simon Reid, Mark Proctor and Chintan Patel. The topic of the panel was “The North: The place to be for pharma manufacturing?”, offering a platform for the discussion of the region’s development.

A rich history and a bright future

The North of England has a rich history in pharmaceutical manufacturing, marked by significant contributions to these industries from the 19^th century to the present day. Today, the North of England remains a key player in the life sciences sector, and investment is continuing to grow. Recently, AstraZeneca announced the intention to invest a massive £450 million to build a vaccine factory at their manufacturing site in Speke, demonstrating their ongoing confidence in the North West’s life sciences industry, as well as the North’s importance in the global pharmaceutical landscape.

Government support and investment

The panel discussed how the government’s support of these investments highlighted that the North is worth investing in. Adeel said, “Whilst it's great to see the large organisations presence and investment, another area that we’re working in supporting companies or trying to scale up.” Adeel’s efforts are displayed by his appointment as the Northern Powerhouse Investment Champion by the Department of Business and Trade. He collaborates with other champions to promote the North as a desirable destination for businesses considering investment in the region.

Q. What is the Northern Powerhouse?

Launched in 2014, the Northern Powerhouse is a government initiative aimed at boosting economic growth in the North of England. Through investment, improving infrastructure and fostering innovation and skills development, the North will become a better connected, globally competitive Northern economy that could compete with other European countries.

Strengthening the supply chain

A critical component of the discussion was the pharmaceutical supply chain which faces numerous challenges including disruptions, cost management and sourcing. Resilient and flexible supply chains are needed to withstand these uncertainties. Adeel believes that we need to change our outlook on the supply chain from transactional to value driven. Adeel stated, “There's a lot of value that our supply chain can offer back into the challenges that organisations face.” Efficiency in supply chains will improve by investing in local manufacturing capabilities and fostering strong supplier relationships.

The power of collaboration

The panel agreed that collaboration is key to continue the North of England’s emergence as a powerful leader. Panellist Chintan Patel echoed this sentiment, stating. “We are better together than apart”. The life sciences industry requires a joined-up approach, highlighted by chair Andy Jones quotation of the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”

Moving forward

The North of England, with its strategic advantaged and ongoing investments, is well-positioned to become a global leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Specifically, the North West is experiencing the strongest expansion in England outside of the capital, according to the Business Desk. Events like the Bionow conference, and the contributions from Adeel and the other industry experts, play a crucial role in accelerating this potential. Adeel’s vision continues to inspire confidence and optimism for the future of pharma manufacturing in the region.