The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced the launch of a new digital hub in Leeds, reinforcing its long-term commitment to innovation and expanding its presence across the UK.
Leeds was chosen for its strong academic landscape and established reputation in digital health. The new hub aims to harness this regional strength, fostering partnerships, attracting skilled professionals, and encouraging local investment.
As part of the MHRA’s wider strategy, the hub will enhance regulatory agility and digital capabilities, ultimately delivering better outcomes for patients, the public, and the life sciences industry. It will also serve as a platform for collaboration with NHS organisations, academic institutions, and health-tech networks across the UK.
This initiative supports the government’s Places for Growth strategy, designed to decentralise public sector roles and ensure equitable distribution of opportunities nationwide.
Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:
“There is a global tech revolution in healthcare unfolding, and Yorkshire will help our country lead it. This isn’t just about creating new jobs across the region – it’s also about bolstering a city that’s already leading the way in digital health.
“Driving forward digital transformations like these through our Plan for Change will mean scientists get data for research quicker, inspectors can develop tech to spot problems quicker, and patients get better results.
“As a healthcare innovation powerhouse, Leeds is the perfect place to bring together the MHRA’s regulatory expertise with a thriving tech community, world-class universities, and strong NHS presence.”
Lawrence Tallon, Chief Executive of the MHRA, added:
“We’re bringing regulation closer to innovation. The Leeds hub will strengthen collaboration across the North and help us deliver faster, more effective regulatory processes that support both the health system and UK life sciences.”
Located in Leeds city centre’s Wellington Place, the hub will initially recruit 30 highly skilled professionals in digital delivery, software engineering, and data science. These roles will be part of the MHRA’s Digital and Technology Group, focused on building robust infrastructure and leveraging secure data use to deliver world-class services.
Leeds boasts over 44,000 tech professionals and 11,000 students in tech-related fields. It also houses the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England’s digital operations, alongside growing interest from major tech firms.
Richard Stubbs, CEO of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, welcomed the move:
“The new MHRA digital hub is fantastic news for Leeds and for Yorkshire as a whole. Our region has world class digital and medical technology capabilities, which will be accelerated even further by bringing government infrastructure closer to the innovator community. We’re hugely looking forward to working closely with our MHRA colleagues to drive valuable collaborations and partnerships that will ultimately benefit patient care and deliver local economic growth.”
Councillor Fiona Venner, from Leeds City Council, echoed the enthusiasm:
“We welcome the MHRA’s announcement of the launch of a new digital hub. Leeds is already a centre for digital health and innovation and this rapidly growing market contributes significantly to the economy. The hub will support the creation of jobs and provide career opportunities for local graduates and professionals.
“The announcement adds to the momentum we’re already seeing in Leeds with major organisations choosing to locate roles here, reinforcing the city’s growing national importance as a centre for public service and economic opportunity.”
