Meeting Place brought together delegates from across the public and private sectors for what we believe is London’s first built environment life science event under the new Labour government.

In recent years, the capital has worked hard to meet Oxford and Cambridge’s prestige, as it affirms itself as one of the key corners of the UK’s Golden Triangle. London is now stepping up to establishing clusters from zones one to nine that will help push the UK’s offering on a global stage.

But with planning a hurdle and lab space at a premium, the real estate sector has a pivotal role to play if we are to realise that ambition. It also has a moral obligation to deliver social impact for local communities whilst doing it.

Launching with a keynote from Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London (Business and Growth), and with data surfaced by Sue Foxley from Bidwells, the event explored macro issues with global markets, the new national policy and hyperlocal initiatives in the capital.

The industry is growing rapidly, anchored around the goal to be ambition, inclusive, sustainable and, most importantly for those in the room, delivered in partnership. No longer are scientists shrouded behind mystery, hidden away in labs in the countryside.

Science has moved into the city, inhabiting urban spaces and helping to grow local communities, embracing technology, creating new jobs and showing the next generation what their career in life sciences could look like.

Howard and Sue were joined on our panel by Paul Bailey from LS Estates, and Olaide Oboh from Socius. From retrofitting labs at 17 Columbus Courtyard in the heart of Canary Wharf, to the world-leading London Cancer Hub in Sutton, the panel discussed how London’s exciting emergent clusters will prove key in cementing the UK’s position as a scientific superpower.

Here are the key takeaways from the event…

1. Collaboration is key

You might call it an ‘Arc’ or the ‘Golden Triangle’, but our panellists liked the term ‘galaxy’. London is full of collaborative clusters; emerging, growing and exploding as life science and technology booms across the UK.

The industry is growing rapidly and anchored around an ambitious goal, but it must also be inclusive, sustainable and – most importantly for those in the room – delivered in partnership between private, public and third sectors.

We all want to build a network, a community, a life. London provides the perfect opportunity for just that; leaning on some of the world-leading universities and teaching hospitals, the concentrations of new developments – such as Sutton and Canary Wharf – will allow researchers to put down roots, while still tapping into well-established networks.

London is already a global leader in climate tech, with the sector set to be worth $100bn by 2030, and life science investment needs to move in the same direction.

40,000 people are already employed in labs, research and innovation spaces. We need to use the network to help us understand the vision for long-term growth and provide the infrastructure to support rapid change.

2. Embrace the next generation

Those moving through school now are already far more familiar with technology and AI capabilities than many of us in the room. We need to ensure we bring innovation into the classroom and allow young people to play with things, break them and understand the science behind them.

Once we have demystified the industry, we can help the next generation move into the thousands of new jobs that the industry will create.

Currently, 75,000 students are completing life sciences courses in London and a further 18,000 are in postgraduate study. There are also 15,000 AI businesses based in London and our next generation knows how to unlock this and use it for good.

With 49% of life sciences jobs non-degree level, more needs to be done to show young people you don’t always need a university degree to work in the sector. While core technical skills such as maths and science do need to grow, we also need to give children lateral skills in arts and creative subjects. To compound this message, the GLA is focusing on promoting the sector, reforming the apprenticeship levy and refocusing skills training.

3. A race for space

We need to see health as infrastructure. The goal is to have seven million square feet of life science space in the city by 2030. This means the industry will need to invest in the development of new spaces, the communities around them, and then the people to work in them.

31% of SMEs in the Golden Triangle already face barriers to finding appropriate space and we need to look more closely at the journey of these small businesses to help us understand how to scale appropriately.

4. Don’t overlook local communities

With that ambition comes a great responsibility – as well as meeting the need for space, the industry must also deliver tangible change for local communities through social impact.

It’s not just a moral imperative – London provides the perfect test bed for research and innovation. With the most diverse set of patient data in the country, it allows for clinical trials that are truly reflective of our communities. This data can help us identify the impact health inequalities can have on people from different backgrounds, improving patient outcomes.

What’s next?

Firstly, each UK region has been asked by the new Labour government to produce a growth plan, and the first line relates directly to relationships with universities, prompting clusters to work with local education providers.

Secondly, there is the hope to develop a productive relationship with the EU that would allow research to scale up while keeping intellectual property rights within the UK. Rejoining The Horizon Programme has helped significantly in this regard.

Finally, we need to articulate on a local level the real benefits this development can usher in for communities, amplifying the knock-on benefits for job creation, economy and life-changing research. We must also focus efforts on infrastructure and housing, so that, when people find careers in life sciences, they have the amenities and housing to support their families when settling into the new community.