Liverpool is home to one of the UK’s top three biomedical clusters. More than 5,000 people work across 100 companies in a sector whose growing international reputation is being built on its role as one of Europe’s top biomanufacturing centres, with an emphasis on vaccine production and a leading position in research into infectious diseases.

For example, Eli Lilly, the big US pharmaceutical group, has been on Merseyside since 1963. Its Speke plant, the group’s largest bulk manufacturing facility, has been at the forefront of several new product initiatives over the years and supplies other Lilly facilities with active ingredients for both animal and human health products.