Skilful Urban Growth: Unlocking Innovation in Science and Technology Sectors

One notable trend is the clustering of tech and science facilities. Recently securing the Nan Fung Life Sciences Real Estate, ISG is currently reconfiguring and extending a 100,000sqft commercial office space, delivering high-specification laboratory, write-up space, and office accommodation. This will draw talent and collaboration opportunities to the doorstep of the Francis Crick Institute.

Planned sector growth will require a holistic approach to skills development, rooted in partnership between central and local government, educators, research institutions, training organisations, and the private sector. This is essential to realise the full potential of our cities and regions.

We already have a formidable skills base and, as home to four of the world's top 10 universities, the infrastructure to keep growing it. However, while talent is evenly distributed across the UK, opportunity is not. Seizing the unique characteristics of different regions to create vibrant environments that attract business clustering, foster innovation, and support thriving communities is a real opportunity here.

I recently joined a discussion with planning consultants Turley, where the significant potential for high-tech-led town centre regeneration was recognised. However, areas outside the greater Southeast, specifically the ‘golden triangle’ pose more significant challenges due to historical markets and pre-existing clustering of activities. ISG’s latest report ‘Rethinking the skills conundrum’ spotlights opportunities to rethink how we use planning data and tools, enabling the clustering of high tech across wider areas of town and city centres.

Place increasingly matters in this sector – and this is intrinsically linked with talent attraction and retention, and the precursor stage of upskilling. Canary Wharf and Kings Cross may at first seem unlikely locations for scientific endeavour but make clear sense as part of a clustered technology ecosystem, with excellent transport links and proximity to the culture and amenities of a vibrant global city. Lessons can be learned by regions limiting their sights to out-of-town high-tech and science business parks, usually accessed via private vehicles. To draw talent from broad demographics, these facilities should integrate into wider community situations.

The UK’s re-entry into the Horizon programme offers UK companies and research institutions unmatched opportunities to lead global innovation and development, focusing on standing apart in a global market. Physical infrastructure matters in attracting and retaining the world's best science and technology talent. Providing the right type and quality of space for cutting-edge experimentation and research is critical.

The benefits are not only for the workforce, but ultimately the end communities they operate in. Delivering benchtop to bedside facilities, such as the UCL Institute of Neurology, accelerates treatment development for dementia, resulting in a better treatment experience for existing patients. Local clustering benefits, such as DeepMind in King's Cross, collaborating with the NHS to improve diagnosis and treatment, demonstrate the power of collaboration supporting the science and technology industries' legacy through successful regeneration.

The healthcare and technology sectors' inextricable link have a transformational impact on patient outcomes through new treatments and cures. Attracting the best talent into both fields is critical to sustaining the pace of innovation and discovery. Providing flexible and adaptable spaces to support these activities is a key element. Understanding construction investment not only provides a secure pipeline of appropriately skilled talent but also influences and informs the clustering of complementary organisations driving healthcare innovation.