GSK has announced plans to close its main research and development hub in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, as part of a wider £400 million investment that includes opening a new site in Cambridge. The move will impact around 1,800 staff currently based at the Stevenage R&D site.
New Cambridge centre and phased relocation
The new 300,000 sq ft centre in Cambridge will house more than 1,000 scientists, with a phased move for staff expected by 2029. Some employees based at Stevenage will also relocate to GSK's nearby Ware site, which is set to be upgraded.
GSK is spending £400 million over the next three years on these changes and plans to make savings across other areas, such as support services, to fund the investment. While some roles will be affected, GSK did not confirm exact numbers.
Leadership comments on the investment
Luke Miels, chief executive at GSK, said: “This investment will accelerate our R&D and help us deliver new, competitive products. It integrates GSK further into one of the world’s leading centres of knowledge and demonstrates the attractiveness of the UK’s life sciences ecosystem.”
The new R&D centre is being developed by Prologis and is located within the wider Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of the largest of its kind in Europe.
Tony Wood, chief scientific officer at GSK, added: “Cambridge has built one of the world’s best life sciences ecosystems, with leading universities, hospitals and biotech companies. The campus provides exceptional opportunities for collaboration. With our existing connections and experience, we see this move as a catalyst for faster, bolder medicines discovery by accelerating the science that matters most for GSK’s next wave of medicines.”
