Merseyside is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s biotechnology hotspots. It is already one of the world’s biggest biomanufacturing centres, a leading vaccine producer for global markets, and the quality of the research coming out of its universities and teaching hospitals is attracting increasing international attention.

When it comes to pharmaceutical manufacturing the Speke area of Merseyside, close to Liverpool airport, has an impressive pedigree. It was producing pharmaceuticals well before ICI Pharmaceuticals, the forerunner of AstraZeneca, was beginning to make a name for itself at Alderley Park, near Manchester.