£33 million joint investment to boost skills, support jobs and bolster green manufacturing in UK life sciences industry

£33 million of joint Government and industry investment with leading global firm Kindeva Drug Delivery in UK medicines manufacturing will ensure a new generation of green, low carbon, respiratory inhalers are made in the UK, supporting efforts to grow the economy.

The investment will create 40 full time jobs and safeguard 218 existing full time jobs across Kindeva's sites in Clitheroe and Loughborough.

This is the 6th investment delivered through the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), which has supported UK life sciences manufacturing with £340 million in joint Government and industry backing in the last financial year, and £416 million, since 2021. Through this ongoing work, the Government is helping the UK's thriving life sciences sector to grow our economy and create well-paid jobs across the country; 1 of the Prime Minister's 5 priorities.

This funding comes from the Chancellor's £650 million:- 'Life Sci for Growth' war chest, announced in May this year, to fire up the UK's life sciences sector and helps to deliver the Science and Technology framework through reforming regulation, boosting investment and driving up talent and skills.

Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman MP, said:- "Our £94 billion life science sector is 1 of our great industries; based on a deep long term partnership between industry, investors, Government, the NHS and disease charities; supporting us all to live healthier lives and providing over 250,000 high skilled jobs in research and development clusters all around the UK. It is also driving billions of pounds worth of direct investment into the UK, something this Government is determined to capitalise on through our global leadership via the Oxford Covid vaccine and NHS Recovery trial. The pace of new technology is transforming the sector and today's investments signal our commitment to domestic manufacturing and skills enhancement, to deliver a robust future for UK life sciences that will not only play a key role in the country's future economic success, but in improving our health as well."

Health Minister Will Quince said:- "The Pandemic demonstrated the importance of investing in our ability to manufacture medicines in the UK, and of upskilling staff in the sector, so we can respond rapidly to health emergencies. This investment in low-carbon inhalers will also help the NHS meet its net zero ambition. Life sciences is a key growth area and 1 of the UK's most successful sectors and this is another example of how we are partnering with industry to supercharge manufacturing and research, supporting thousands of high value jobs and enabling patients to benefit from the latest innovations."

LSIMF follows on from the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund (MDMTF) pilot programme which launched in April 2021. Over its lifespan, MDMTF delivered £75 million in joint Government and industry investment, while also creating 224 new jobs and protecting 345 existing roles.

Kindeva Drug Delivery is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization ("CDMO") specializing in pharmaceutical drug device combination products, such as:- inhalers, nebulizers and medicated patches.

Kindeva's Global Chief Commercial Officer, David Stevens, said:- "This joint investment creates a myriad of new opportunities for colleagues within the UK, as significant technical and regulatory expertise is required in the development and manufacturing of complex inhalation pharmaceutical products. Furthermore, it provides Kindeva with a springboard to expand our capabilities and capacity, while simultaneously partnering with the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world to bring the next generation of green inhalers to market, with a common goal of safeguarding access to necessary therapies for our patients and also reducing our impact on the planet."

The Government's Life Sciences Vision, published in 2021, set the ambition to create a globally competitive environment for Life Science manufacturing investments, building on the strengths of our manufacturing R&D, our network of innovation Centres, the manufacturing response to COVID-19 and delivery of the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund. Life sciences are also central to the UK Science and Technology Framework, which identifies the critical technologies set to make the biggest difference to health and life science progress, as well as plans to improve the regulatory landscape for life sciences.

'Create It Together' SCA Classes Group Exhibition

AS well as always providing a stimulating calendar of exhibitions throughout the year, Southport Contemporary Arts is also valued across the Region for its delivery of wellbeing at community level for all Sefton based practitioners through its extensive portfolio of taught art classes and workshops, at ArtsLoft and ClayWorks, in the Town Centre.

Regular attendee, Phred Brown from Southport, easily sums up its addictive merits:- "I spend all day at the ArtsLoft on a Thursday and it is a real sanity saver; laughter, friendship, creativity, what's not to like? Love it!"

Aimed at developing the creative talents of the individual, although each class is introduced to the same skills, it is the way in which each artist then goes on to apply them that is important.

Textile artist, Jo Landy, who runs the Thursday class, adds:- "The Creative Textile class is a joy to teach - all abilities are catered for and the class members derive a great deal of inspiration and encouragement from each other. We cover all aspects of textiles including:- print, stitch, felt making and heat techniques and it is lovely to see new skills being learned and translated into finished pieces. Everyone works at their own pace and they continue to surprise me with very individual and quality work."

Deliberately keeping the groups small, over the last year SCA has delivered regular:- Oil Painting, Textiles, Throwing, Felting and Mixed Media classes in addition to specialist workshops led by professional and experienced artists from the
 SCA network covering such activities as:- Willow Animals, Book Binding, Sculpture, Illuminated Lettering, Mosaic and Stained Glass.

As Norrie Beswick Calvert, 1 of the SCA Directors, emphasizes:- "We are really proud of the developments that our students make and seeing their individuality shine through is an added bonus."

Sue Herlihy, who attends Amanda Clark Price's Tuesday Mixed Media Class confirms:- "Students have access to a wealth of materials and resources and are always encouraged to experiment."

A view upheld by fellow classmate, Linda Orpen:- "A collaborative, friendly group who share knowledge and expertise in a relaxed non competitive atmosphere."

'Create It Together' is an exhibition and sale of work that certainly showcases the diversity and resourcefulness of these students including examples from the Textiles, Ceramics, Drawing and Painting and Hand Printing activities.

Running classes for beginners as well as more advanced artists, the exhibition will also embrace work from SCA's Young Creatives Art Club and its adult Autism Friendly class.

Some of the most popular classes occur at ClayWorks, SCA's dedicated fit for purpose ceramics studio. Timetabled classes are scheduled twice daily weekdays with a Young Potters group led by Alice Odgers meeting up on Saturday mornings. Delivered by a team of skilled potters, students are encouraged to exploit a wide range of making and decorating methods, including coiling, slab building, casting and throwing.

Sam Cookson, who describes himself as a:- 'prolific and unapologetic tinkerer,' runs several of the classes:- "Clayworks studio is a thriving melting pot of both aspiring and well travelled ceramicists, working alongside each other in a classic art School environment, with many students learning through practice and really finding their own creative voice as artists in their own right. Each class is its own microcosm of personalities and pottery styles across all skill levels, and the willingness to continue learning through setbacks, failures and the inherent unpredictability of ceramics shines through in the accomplished complete works on display."

Southport Contemporary Arts grew out of the demand within the Town's creative community to raise its profile around the locality for:- painters, textile artists, filmmakers, photographers, printmakers, sculptors, jewellers, musicians, poets and performance based artists.

Celebrating its 10th Anniversary in 2019, since its inception the SCA network has annually gone from strength to strength, adding the:- 'ClayWorks' studio in May 2016, in response to the need for local artists who wanted to work in ceramics. In April 2017, the suite of craft studios above:- 'ClayWorks' and 'ArtsLoft' was set up to deliver wide ranging art and craft based workshops including:- printing, felting, knitting and crochet, textiles, portraiture and life drawing, oil painting and an autistic friendly group. In accord with its all embracing policy to engage with as many local artists and practitioners as possible, a stair lift was added to provide full access to the 1st floor studio space.

SCA's 'Open Door' policy is typified by Anne Burman's weekly class:- "Knitters and crochetters, from complete newbies to advance, are welcomed to the group. They share skills and encourage each other. No such thing as:- 'can't do' - if you want to do it we will help (though I must admit defeat on 1 knitting technique!). Our motto is what is said in knit club stays in knit club as no topic of conversation is sacrosanct everything is up for discussion in a kind supportive atmosphere."

Norrie concludes:- "If you're thinking of making a start on, or developing your skills why not think about joining 1 of our small group, friendly sessions and let your creativity fly!"

More information about SCA's current series of workshops and classes can be found at:- SCA-Network.Co.UK, or by emailing to:- ArtHousesCA@Gmail.Com.

Southport Contemporary Arts' Mixed Classes exhibition will be on display, at the:- ArtHouse, Eastbank Street, from:- 22 August 2023 to 2 September 2023.