Global medical technology company Convatec has announced plans to establish a new flagship research and development hub in Manchester as part of a £500 million investment in the United Kingdom. The FTSE100-listed firm, which specializes in products for chronic wounds, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and stomas, will relocate its R&D operations from Deeside to Bruntwood SciTech's CityLabs 4.0 facility, scheduled to open in 2027. This strategic move represents a significant commitment to the UK's life sciences sector at a time when several other pharmaceutical companies have been shifting investments overseas.

The new Manchester facility will become one of the largest centers in Convatec's global network, spanning 125,000 square feet across seven storeys in the £42 million CityLabs 4.0 building. Located on Hathersage Road facing the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St Mary's and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the state-of-the-art facility will focus on research in four key therapeutic areas: advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care. The company cited Manchester's "vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which includes leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions" as the primary reason for selecting the location.

Approximately 200 staff will be employed at the new Manchester hub, with most positions transferring from Convatec's existing R&D operation in Deeside, North Wales, which has served as a major research center since 1996. The company emphasized that no redundancies are planned as a consequence of the relocation and that the Deeside manufacturing site will remain unaffected, continuing to employ around 400 workers. The new Manchester facility is approximately 50% larger than the current Deeside operation and has capacity for up to 250 employees, allowing for future expansion.

Convatec's investment comes as part of a broader $1 billion worldwide R&D commitment, with the UK portion representing nearly half of this global initiative. The company, which generated $2.3 billion in revenue last year, typically allocates approximately 5% of its annual revenue to research and development. The relocation to Manchester positions Convatec to leverage the city's concentration of medical research institutions, including neighboring organizations such as the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, biotech company QIAGEN, and MAC Clinical Research, strengthening its pipeline of new products addressing unmet needs in chronic care.

Shed Seven, the Yorkshire Britpop legends, have announced a special one-off summer 2026 performance at Halifax's Piece Hall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their landmark 1996 album 'A Maximum High'. The band will deliver a full album performance followed by a second set of greatest hits during the Live At The Piece Hall concert series on June 6. This Halifax date will represent Shed Seven's only headline show of summer 2026, making it a particularly significant event for both the band and their dedicated fanbase.

The anniversary concert will feature special guest performances from Seb Lowe and The Guest List, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. Tickets for this exclusive event are scheduled to go on general sale at 10am on Friday, October 24, available through major ticketing platforms including Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and the Piece Hall's official website. The band's return to the Halifax venue follows their previous 2021 performance at the historic courtyard, establishing a continuing relationship with the West Yorkshire location.

'A Maximum High' represented a defining moment in Shed Seven's career, reaching the UK top 10 and selling more than 250,000 copies while spawning five Top 40 singles. Band frontman Rick Witter expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration, stating the band is 'looking forward to giving A Maximum High the birthday party it deserves' and noting particular excitement about 'revisiting some of the songs we haven't played for decades.' The event promises to attract fans from across the country for what organizers describe as a 'one night only' celebratory event.

Shed Seven joins a diverse lineup of artists scheduled for the 2026 Live At The Piece Hall series, including Embrace, Ethel Cain, David Gray, Billy Ocean, Opeth and The Ks. The band's upcoming schedule also includes appearances at the Isle Of Wight Festival in June, featuring headliners Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure, followed by a supporting performance for Richard Ashcroft at Englefield Estate in Berkshire as part of the Heritage Live series in July. Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL, CEO of The Piece Hall Charitable Trust, emphasized the significance of hosting these 'Yorkshire heroes' back at the venue for this milestone celebration.