LINKING THE LIFE
SCIENCES SUPPLY CHAIN
The UK continues to remain an
important manufacturing nation,
contributing £148 billion to UK Gross
Value Added (GVA) in 2014, a significant
10 per cent of the UK economy. In this
feature we look at the role that supply
chain organisations play across the
Northern Powerhouse.
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
(UNIVERSITY)
The University of Leeds Institute of Medical and
Biological Engineering (iMBE) is one of the world’s
top 10 bioengineering research institutes from
where they undertake solution focused pioneering
research and education in the fields of medical
devices and regenerative medicine.
Modern day UK manufacturing is increasingly
high tech and high value, and has strengths in key
export sectors like aerospace, automotive, and life
sciences.
Sheffield Hallam University Materials and
Engineering Research Institute (MERI) achieves
the highest standards in materials and engineering
research, with their activities supported by a large
advanced equipment base.
However, the UK has a negative balance of trade,
meaning that more is imported than exported. In
2014, £305.6 billion worth of manufactured goods
were imported - 56% of all imported goods. This
is why strengthening UK supply chains is key to
economic success.
University of Sheffield Department of Biomedical
Science is the number one in the UK for medical
research excellence and top five for biological
research as they aim to deepen understanding of
medical conditions and improve treatments.
Supply chains represent the lifeblood of most UK
companies; where parts are sourced from suppliers,
manufactured or assembled into products, and then
delivered to customers / patients.
YORKSHIRE AND THE HUMBER
Across the North of England, and in particular
Yorkshire and the Humber, there is an abundance of
companies who form a key part of the supply chain
of health technology businesses.
The region has a hub of innovative supply chain
companies that provide cutting edge solutions
on a global scale. These companies - big and
small – are the backbone of healthcare technology
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across
the region. From plastics to electronics and
regulatory consultancy to sterilisation, these are the
organisations that supply the medical device OEMs
that in turn produce the life enhancing products
often adopted by the NHS.
Here are just a few examples of the strength of the
orthopaedic sector and its supply chain operating
across the Yorkshire and Humber region:
denotes Medilink Yorkshire
and Humber member
04
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
(COMPANIES)
Castings Technology International (Cti) specialises
in casting design, materials development
and selection, specifications, manufacturing
technologies, quality control, testing and
performance for the global supply chain.
AMRC Castings provides advanced casting
expertise and manufacturing capabilities, including
computer process modelling, design for casting
manufacture and precision castings.
HEALTH ECONOMIC GROUPS
York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC)
provides consultancy and research in health
economics to the NHS and the pharmaceutical and
health care industries.
University of Sheffield School of Health and
Related Research (ScHARR) is ranked fourth in
the UK for health research, ranging from prioritysetting, modelling and pre-protocol work through
to large clinical trials.