West Yorkshire’s Investment Zone is taking the next steps, with Huddersfield playing a key role in healthcare innovation.

Today (April 8), Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, announced £4.5m to fuel the growth of hundreds of healthtech companies in the region, kicking off the delivery of West Yorkshire’s Investment Zone, which could unlock £220m of investment and support the creation of 2,500 jobs over the next five years.

The £4.5m funding will see 240 small and medium-sized businesses receive intensive support and masterclasses over the next four years, helping them to navigate regulations, break into new markets, and overcome barriers to growth. The support will be delivered in partnership with Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber.

This follows the launch of the Combined Authority’s £7bn Local Growth Plan, which details proposals to support rapidly expanding industries in West Yorkshire, such as health technology.

Mayor Brabin, said: “The first priority of our Local Growth Plan is to boost our region’s fastest growing business sectors, because we know that’s how we’re going to drive investment, create jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.

“Today, we’re launching £4.5m of new support for our world-leading health technology firms, which already generate £3bn for our economy but could go even further with the right backing.

“This will help with access to finance, skills and workspace to bolster collaboration with hospitals and universities, boosting growth and helping us build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”

The new support for the healthcare sector has been funded through the £160m allocated for the region’s Investment Zone over the next 10 years.

The Investment Zone will be anchored around Bradford, Huddersfield and Leeds, with three locations - the Digital Health Enterprise Zone at the University of Bradford, National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC) at the University of Huddersfield and the Leeds Innovation Village at the site of Leeds General Infirmary - to be flagship innovation sites.

Closest to home, the University of Huddersfield’s £250m NHIC has been taking shape, with its second building - the Emily Siddon building - coming together and set to be opened this Winter. It will host new purpose-built diagnostic facilities, including MRI and CT scanners.

Initial investment of £3.6m from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is supporting the construction of the fourth floor of the building, with this to provide collaboration space for health academics, hospital practitioners and businesses to test, launch and commercialise new ideas from December 2025.

An additional £2m investment will support the University to deliver a new business incubator scheme, designed to help early-stage start-ups to access finance, skills and workspace. The support will include training and workshops, mentorship, and access to specialist equipment and co-working space at both the Emily Siddon Building and The Glass Box business centre.

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