The region is ideally placed for Life Sciences businesses who need to be close to the Cambridge Life Science cluster and provides a natural spill-over for venture-backed companies seeking expansion space at a lower operating cost to demonstrate value to their shareholders. Our existing cluster includes diagnostic, drug development, manufacture of reagents, clinical research services and remote monitoring systems to name a few.

The life sciences cluster around Cambridge has been a key driver of above-average corporate employment growth in the region (within 20 miles of the city centre). During the pandemic (April 2020 to March 2021), employment in this sector grew by 10.3%. This vital sector benefits nearby areas like Huntingdonshire, home to over 60 life sciences companies attracted by affordable mixed-use facilities and proximity to the cluster. As the industry advances towards personalised medicine, the demand for manufacturing facilities and support services near R&D hubs will rise, making Huntingdonshire well-positioned to meet these needs.

Huntingdon, St Ives, and St Neots are all within 20 miles of the University of Cambridge, a globally renowned research hub. The talent attracted to this life sciences centre extends to the surrounding areas, including Huntingdonshire, where housing is more affordable than in Cambridge, where homes cost 11.9 times the average income (Halifax, 2021). Many scientific professionals choose Huntingdonshire's vibrant market towns for their equivalent quality of life. The local life sciences and healthcare sector already employs around 1,500 people, growing at over 10% annually.

Huntingdonshire has benefited from significant infrastructure investment, including the £1.5bn A14 upgrade (2020) improving access to Cambridge, Peterborough, London, and key international ports like Felixstowe. High-speed rail links connect the region to London and the North, while a guided busway links Huntingdon and St Ives directly to Cambridge. This enhanced connectivity allows Life Science Service and Support companies to operate affordably outside the cluster while maintaining easy access to clients and attracting talent from both nearby and further afield.

The UK aims to lead in cutting-edge technology and research, driving progress towards a net-zero economy. The Life Science Service and Support sector underpins key industries critical to UK economic growth, including Biopharmaceuticals, Healthcare, and MedTech. Invest in Huntingdonshire's Economic Development Team actively seeks funding and skills support to boost this sector locally, aligning with national priorities and fostering growth in vital industries.

Both Inotiv and NBS Biologicals have chosen Huntingdonshire to benefit from the region's robust life sciences ecosystem, excellent connectivity, and cost-effective facilities. Inotiv's recently expanded Hillcrest UK site (formerly part of Envigo/Blackthorn) was selected for its strategic proximity to Cambridge's life sciences cluster, offering enhanced infrastructure and upgraded laboratory space to support client growth and operational consolidation. Similarly, NBS Biologicals, which has operated from Huntingdon since 1994, emphasises its ability to manufacture and supply high-quality, affordable research reagents by leveraging local skills, production demand, and competitive operating costs relative to Cambridge