1284 Communications joined life sciences leaders at Charnwood Campus for a round table with MP Jeevun Sandher.

The event at the Loughborough enterprise zone brought together senior figures connected to major sector companies to discuss regional and national policy with the Loughborough MP.

The Leicestershire Life Sciences round table was chaired by Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL.

It involved 18 senior business leaders and academics from across the life sciences sector, ranging from global corporates to scaling SMEs and a PVC from Loughborough University to call for change and explore strengthening collaborations.

Hosted by Gosia Krais, Commercial and Marketing Director of the Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park, the discussion focused on how industry, academics and government can work together to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and shape a unified voice for life sciences in the East Midlands.

Key themes emerged around:

• Removing barriers to growth and unlocking innovation
• Building stronger talent and skills pipelines for local businesses
• Supporting advanced manufacturing, R&D, and investment readiness
• Uniting regional and national policy to deliver long-term, science-driven growth

Dr Sandher took away ideas linked to smarter collaboration and practical, joined-up solutions. The event was the first of its kind to take place and served to plug regional sector leaders into national conversations around devolution and the Government’s new UK Life Sciences Sector Plan.

The roundtable is part of a long-term effort by Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park and partners to advocate for life sciences as a strategic priority for the region - complementing wider devolution discussions and the Government’s new UK Life Sciences Sector Plan.

As well as being a NED at East Midlands Chamber - the UK’s largest regional chamber of commerce - George sits on the Leicestershire Innovation Advisory Group alongside Gosia and other enterprise zones leaders.