International molecular diagnostics group Yourgene Health opens new global hub at Manchester Science Park

International molecular diagnostics group, Yourgene Health has significantly expanded its presence in Manchester after opening a new 43,000 sq ft global headquarters at Manchester Science Park - part of Bruntwood SciTech’s network of specialist science and technology campuses - in the heart of Manchester’s innovation district. 

Yourgene Health works in partnership with international leaders in the field of DNA technology to advance diagnostic science and enable the delivery of genomic medicine. Yourgene primarily develops, manufactures, and commercialises simple and accurate molecular diagnostic solutions, for reproductive health, precision medicine and infectious diseases. 

As a long-standing customer of Bruntwood SciTech - a 50:50 joint venture between Bruntwood and Legal & General - Yourgene Health has now expanded within the tech and life science specialist’s network twice in a matter of years, growing from a team of two through to the 200-strong business it is today.

The business initially established itself within the Greenheys building at Manchester Science Park in 2014 with just two desks, before quickly expanding into an 8,000 sq ft space in Citylabs 1.0. The growing life science business had further expansion requirements which saw the team grow to occupy a total of 22,000 sq ft across both Citylabs 1.0 and the Manchester Science Park campus. In consolidating its space into one headquarters, Yourgene Health now occupies the entirety of the Skelton House building at Manchester Science Park.

This latest expansion follows Yourgene Health playing a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic;  Yourgene developed its own PCR antigen testing method for SARS CoV-2 - their Clarigene test, which led to a scaling in their operations. This success has provided Yourgene Health with additional funds to invest across its Genomic Services and Genomic Technologies businesses, both of which offer strong growth potential going forward. The life science business then partnered with another company in the Bruntwood SciTech network, MyHealthChecked, to support the supply of COVID-19 at-home nasal swab kits, PCR laboratory testing services, and logistics for day-two and day-eight Coronavirus testing.

Yourgene Health now benefits from being wholly located in one of the UK's most established life sciences and tech communities - Manchester Science Park - home to 150 fast-growing start up and scale up science and tech businesses. The 160 employees based out of the new headquarters will also have access to the wider facilities and benefits available across the campus. These include indoor and outdoor meeting and events spaces, 100GB ultra-fast internet on Manchester's 'The Loop' fibre network, showers, a gym studio offering classes such as yoga, spin and boxercise, an on-site cafe, cycle storage and Amazon lockers. These facilities are also supplemented by an extensive programme of  health and wellbeing programmes and social events. 

Manchester Science Park is located in the heart of the largest clinical, academic campus in Europe on the Oxford Road Corridor within the city’s innovation district - neighbouring the University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The campus is currently undergoing a masterplan transformation to expand to 1m sq ft and offer additional world class facilities for science and tech businesses. The latest phase of this expansion opened in July 2022 with a £21m, 91,000 sq ft new hub and makerspace for Industry 4.0 tech businesses, Base.

Dr Kath Mackay, Director of Life Sciences at Bruntwood SciTech said: “Yourgene is a true success story for Manchester’s life science sector and we’re proud of the role we continue to play in the Company’s growth. Its team has worked in partnership with others within the Bruntwood SciTech network for years and it was this collaboration which led to its merger and ultimate expansion. From supporting them as a team of two through to fully occupying their own 43,000 sq ft building at the Park, the flexible offer we provide to all our customers has played out wonderfully here. 

“The evolutionary relationship we have with our customers is also evident in the fact that global diagnostics company, QIAGEN have made way for Yourgene - handing over its former space after they too expanded and moved into the Global Hub for Precision Medicine in Citylabs 2.0 last year.”

Lyn Rees, CEO of Yourgene, added: “Our previous home in Citylabs has been fantastic for the growth of Yourgene and we are excited to now be building on this success and to consolidate our offices and laboratories into one central, global headquarters from which we can continue to innovate and make a difference. The Bruntwood SciTech network has been central to our journey from conception and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with our partners within its campuses, both and across the UK.”