GSK Invests in UK Manufacturing

GSK has earmarked £275 million of new investments at three of its manufacturing sites in the UK to boost production and support delivery of its latest respiratory and large molecule biological medicines largely destined for global markets.

 With nine sites employing approximately 6,000 people, the company views the UK an attractive location due to factors such as the skilled workforce, technological and scientific capabilities & infrastructure and a competitive corporate tax system. This includes the Patent Box, which encourages investment in R&D and related manufacturing in the UK by delivering a lower rate of corporation tax on profits generated from UK-owned intellectual property. 

 Andrew Witty, CEO, GSK said, “Today’s (July 27) announcement reflects further investment to support our pharmaceutical pipeline and meet growing demand for our innovative portfolio of newly launched products. It is testament to our skilled UK workforce and the country’s leading position in life sciences that we are making these investments in advanced manufacturing here. From their manufacture in the UK, many of these medicines will be sent to patients around the world.’

 The investment is split across three UK sites:

 -    Barnard Castle in County Durham, £92 million: One of GSK’s biggest secondary manufacturing sites, employing 1,100 people and suppling nearly half a million packs of products per day to 140 global markets. The investment will fund the construction of an aseptic sterile facility supporting the manufacture of existing and new biopharmaceutical pipeline assets.

-       Montrose in Angus, Scotland. Approx £110 million: Manufacturing active ingredients for respiratory, HIV and vaccine products and employees over 450 staff, the funding will provide a new, facility for the manufacture of respiratory active ingredients.

-       Ware in Hertfordshire: £74 million,: Employing 1200 staff manufacturing respiratory products, the investment will support further expansion of the company’s new Ellipta respiratory inhaler through additional manufacturing capacity at the site.

 In addition to jobs associated with the construction of the new facilities, the announcement will support current employment at these three sites and is expected to lead to the creation of new employment opportunities.