Brandon Medical welcomed Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, to its Leeds headquarters recently, to officially launch the region’s £160 m Investment Zone – ‘a transformative initiative designed to position West Yorkshire at the forefront of investment healthcare innovation’.
The medical technology specialist explained that the Mayor’s visit ‘marked a milestone not only for the region’s economy, but also for the UK’s healthtech sector’, with the company chosen as the launch site – it says – in recognition of its ‘trailblazing work in ‘smart’ operating theatre technology, and its ‘deep roots in the local innovation landscape’.
Brandon said: “Tracy Brabin has been instrumental in putting healthcare innovation at the heart of West Yorkshire’s growth strategy. Her £7 bn Local Growth Plan, unveiled earlier this year, prioritises investment in the region’s fastest-growing sectors — with healthtech chief among them.”
At Brandon Medical, the Mayor unveiled the first phase of the Investment Zone – a £4.5 m Healthtech Accelerator that will provide support for up to 240 healthtech start-ups and scale-ups. Delivered in partnership with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, the Accelerator will offer access to finance, regulatory guidance, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities, to help businesses grow and commercialise breakthrough medical technologies.”
Tracy Brabin said: “West Yorkshire is a global leader in health technology, with over 300 companies creating £3 billion for our economy, and Leeds ranking as the third most attractive city in the world for businesses to set-up. Today, I’m announcing extra support for local businesses, so they can access the finance, skills, and markets, they need to create good jobs, and develop life-changing new technologies for patients.”
Brandon Medical CEO, Adrian Hall, said: “We’ve always believed in building things that solve real problems. That’s what drives our work – designing ‘smart’ systems that make operating theatres safer, more efficient, and ready for the future.
“This Investment Zone, and the Healthtech Accelerator in particular, is a huge step forward. It brings together the support, skills, and partnerships, that businesses like ours need to grow –and to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare.
