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Medical technology sector defies UK economic slump

The UK medical technology industry has bucked the economic trend with record sales and employment figures.

Government statistics released on Saturday by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) showed a £1bn increase in turnover year-on-year, while the industry became the largest employer in the life sciences sector with 71,000 UK employees.

Figures also showed the geographical diversity in medical technology sector, with employers spread across the UK.

Employers are situated as far North as the Highlands of Scotland, and as far South as Plymouth, with industrial areas of the country such as Hull and North Wales also housing large employers.

The number of companies within the medical technology industry also rose to 3,129 in the last 12 months, according to BIS statistics.

Peter Ellingworth, chief executive of the Association of British Healthcare Industries commented: “British medical technology is first and foremost a human industry; one where world class scientists have ideas to solve medical needs, engineers make these concepts a reality and people create the final products which we take to the world.

“This creates opportunities for fresh thinking and constant innovation from the drawing board to factory floor, ensuring what the industry produces continues to be valued by customers.

“The sector is equally supportive of the Government Strategy for UK Life Sciences, where the announced measures help to create an environment within which the medical device industry can thrive”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .