More than 80 of the South West’s top clinicians, academics and businesses attended the launch of a membership group tasked with stimulating the growth of the region’s life science industry.
Medilink South West provides knowledge and support to businesses in the key sector, helping them grow and maximise opportunities within life sciences and healthcare. 
It brings together the NHS (clinical need), academia (technology), business (innovators, suppliers) and investors to drive industry competitiveness in the fast-growing sector.
Business West, the organisation behind the Swindon & Wiltshire initiative, has formed the consortium with new company Medilink South West Ltd. It will develop strong links with the University of the West of England (UWE) and the Academic Health Science Networks of the South West and West of England.
The launch at Business West’s headquarters at Leigh Court, near Bristol, opened with a welcome from Medilink South West chair Prof Richard Luxton, followed by short presentations from Gary Stapleton, director 3M Health Care Business Group and chairman of Medilink UK, and Kevin Kiely, joint founder and managing director of Medilink Yorkshire & Humber, who spoke passionately about the work of Medilink UK and how it’s actively helping businesses.
Medilink UK Award (2014) winner, Dr Xiabing Huang, managing director, Moor Instruments spoke enthusiastically about his membership experience of Medilink South West and how it has helped him make the right connections and access advice and support on funding. 
Medilink South West managing director Carolyn Bruce-Spencer, pictured, said: “We were excited to mark the next stage of Medilink South West’s journey. It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces in a room with such a great buzz.
“I’m delighted to be involved in this unique member led organisation. My task is to re-energise and lead Medilink South West by spreading the word and providing access to advice, support and information.
“Business West, the University of the West of England, the South West Academic Health Science Network and the West of England Academic Health Science Network are working closely together in order to make this organisation a success for members and other stakeholders. I look forward to helping grow this unique organisation.”
Life sciences businesses in the South West employ around 20,000 people while the sector is worth an estimated £9bn to the regional economy – some £8bn from the NHS, which has 136,000 staff in the region. Businesses in the sector tend to be highly innovative and range from university spin outs and start-ups through to multinationals in the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
Swindon is a major hub for the industry with large employers such as US pharma giant Patheon, which makes antibiotics at its Covingham plant, US firm Catalent which makes fast-dissolving tablets at Blagrove, and French-owned medical supplies firm Vygon at Blagrove.
For further information on Medilink South West contact Carolyn Bruce-Spencer on carolyn.bruce-spencer@medilinksw.com or 07794 406 864
