MD2584 MedCity Business Plan 2020-21

1. In July 2014 the Mayor approved the allocation and expenditure of up to £1.125m of grant funding from the LEP Growing Places Fund (GPF) as a contribution to the costs of the establishment of MedCity, over a three-year funding period.
3. Following the expiry of the original funding agreement with MedCity, the Mayor (under cover of MD2071) approved the further award of funding to MedCity Limited and its 2017/18 business plan, expenditure of up to £500,000 of grant funding being made available in the 2017/18 financial year. A new funding agreement was entered into in this regard which also made provision for the award of up to a further £875,000, subject to the GLA’s approval of business plans for the same.
5. The grant funding to MedCity Limited has been allocated as outlined in the table below.

1. MedCity Limited has submitted its 2020/21 business plan for GLA approval, which is a condition of the release of 2020/21 grant funding of up to £200,000 as a contribution to its costs of delivering that business plan for this coming financial year.

MedCity’s ambition is for the London and the wider south east (referred to by MedCity as the Greater South East) to be the place of choice for world-leading health and life sciences research and development (R&D), manufacture and commercialisation. The delivery of this ambition centres on amplifying the strengths of the region. Taking into account market context and external factors such as Brexit, and feedback from a strategic review with key stakeholders (see Appendix 1), MedCity’s vision has evolved but is complementary to the previously outlined vision of delivering regional health improvements and economic growth and being at the centre of a growing, global life sciences sector for the benefit of the country.

The MedCity Business Plan (see Appendix 1) states that the organisation’s purpose is to enable economic growth in life sciences and to support the development of an ecosystem in which all parts of the sector can thrive. MedCity’s refreshed vision – in line with the previously outlined vision – is to make London and the Greater South East (GSE) the place of choice for world-leading health and life sciences R&D, manufacture and commercialisation. To achieve this vision, MedCity aims to advance cutting-edge health and life science innovation in London and the Greater South East of England and beyond, supporting industry growth and investment and improving health and wellbeing.

The GLA is not a member of MedCity Limited, but has entered into agreements with each of the members to afford it the right to become a member in future. The Agreements state that members of the company are not permitted to change the articles or to invite other organisations to become a member without the consent of the GLA, and cannot take a decision on any matter that requires GLA agreement or consent, without first gaining the GLA’s agreement or consent.

A grant agreement is in place to govern the GLA’s funds. Each year’s grant award is subject to the GLA’s approval of MedCity’s annual Business Plan and to the GLA issuing a grant award letter.

GLA grant funding is utilised to enable MedCity to meet its staffing costs including the MedCity Executive Chair, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer costs – to undertake activities aimed at growing and promoting the life sciences sector in London and the GSE. These activities are outlined under the following strategic priorities (see Appendix 1):

• catalyse, convene and connect partners to identify opportunities, accelerate and operationalise regional and national initiatives that drive sector growth;
• be a specialist resource , providing support and linkage between health and life sciences research and industry looking to collaborate or invest in the region and beyond; and
• highlight, nationally and internationally, the strengths and offer of the region for the improvement of health outcomes and prosperity of the region.

Overall, MedCity seeks to:

• drive and support life sciences inward investment;
• support SME growth and export, as well as seek the development of relationships with new industries looking to invest in the sector; and
• work with other cluster organisations in the UK to promote life sciences in London and the GSE as a gateway to driving UK-wide sector development.

MedCity has secured the following funding for 2020/21 (see Appendix 1):

• £200,000 GLA grant funding (subject to Mayoral approval of the 2020/21 MedCity Business Plan);
• £600,000 (£1.8 million over three years), part of a joint award to MedCity and the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) totalling £4.5million over three years (2020-23) from Research England, aimed at increasing the wealth and health of the nation through a unified, place-based approach for life sciences;
• £100,000 as delivery partner for the Research England Connecting Capabilities Fund Advanced Therapies Programme, led by King’s College London;
• £65,000 from European Regional Development Fund extension for the MedCity-led Collaborate to Innovate programme; and
• MedCity also projects £170,000 of commercial/sponsorship income.

In addition, MedCity plans to explore the following options to raise additional income:

• assess a Higher Education Institution (HEI) membership model, inviting HEIs from the GSE to be supported by MedCity in international outreach and programme partnerships;
• revise the previously submitted bid for funding to the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), and undertake further discussions with other LEPs within the region for longer-term funding support to enable closer partnership and collaboration;
• further refine commercial/sponsorship models with business development created for distinct service and programme offers, target markets and a marketing strategy. This may include, for example: proposals to key partners and accelerators for delivery of services to SMEs and cohorts; the development of a MedCity Hub linked to space provision and MedCity support for scaling up SMEs looking for short term space; Real Estate consultancy; and international cluster development;
• undertake financed partnership with an NHS Trust for development of life sciences facilities as part of the Strength in Places fund (subject to SiPF bid); and
• explore further opportunities to work as a strategic delivery partner in academic projects and programmes where industry engagement is integral.

MedCity objectives that support GLA priorities in 2020/21 include:

• assess, with partners, demand for SME-specific offer for business support, evidence generation, market access;
• create a sustainable business unit offering services and programmes to clients (including accelerators, incubators) creating SME growth, entrepreneurship and life science communities;
• with stakeholders, establish a national and international strategy for regional profiling and prospecting, to support inward investment activities;
• develop an inventory of assets for the region, to support international promotion;
• explore demand for creating short-term affordable workspace for SMEs as part of MedCity Hub and linked to other MedCity services; and
• promote London’s strengths in Advanced Therapies research and the London Advanced Therapies offer internationally, resulting in an increase in clients and collaborations.

At a strategic level, MedCity is undertaking activities that will increase the health and wealth outcomes from life sciences research and commercialisation across London and the GSE. For example, 125 additional direct life sciences FDI jobs resulting from the MedCity project since the start of the project, with a total estimated cumulative gross GVA of £21.8m – cumulatively above target.

MedCity has made good progress to date in generating additional income from diversified sources. As of January 2020, MedCity forecasted approximately £200,000 commercial/sponsorship income in 2019/20.

MedCity’s draft 2020/21 financial plan (see Appendix 1) outlines that a continued significant proportion of public funding – whether GLA, Research England, LEPs or universities – will be required, in addition to ongoing diversification of income sources. This income mix reflects the need for continued public funding to address deep-seated market failures, alongside a diverse range of other funding streams to support long term financial sustainability.

Section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010 provides that, in the exercise of their functions, public authorities must have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010;
• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and
• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

Relevant protected characteristics are age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

The GLA will ensure that when MedCity is planning and delivering its programme of activities, that it adheres to the requirements of the Equality Act to demonstrate that that it is making decisions in a fair, transparent and accountable way, considering the needs and the rights of different protected groups. This will be achieved through assessing the impact that changes to programmes of work could have on people with different protected characteristics, where appropriate. The GLA recognises when providing grant funding to MedCity, that assessing the impact on equality of proposed changes to policies, procedures and practices is not just something that the law requires, it is a positive opportunity to ensure that better decisions are made based on robust evidence.

MedCity aims to advance equality of opportunity in the delivery of the MedCity programme of activity. MedCity will ensure equality of opportunity for all protected groups through the organisation’s staff recruitment and selection processes, and when organising events, in particular through ensuring MedCity events are accessible for people with disabilities.

The GLA has compiled a comprehensive collation of a wide range of evidence by policy area for the protected characteristics identified in the Equality Act, the GLA’s ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Evidence Base’. The Evidence Base identifies that young women are less likely to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) at A-level. MedCity will therefore continue to consider opportunities to promote female entrepreneurship at MedCity-facilitated/hosted events to address the current under-representation of women in the STEM sector.

The MedCity 2020/21 Business Plan (see Appendix 1) notes that MedCity actively promotes equality and diversity at its events and monitors participation accordingly through impact reporting. The organisation will also aim to support potential GLA activity currently being scoped to increase inclusivity in London’s life sciences workforce, in particular with regard to gender pay gaps in the sector. The GLA will continue to discuss equality and diversity in its interactions with MedCity, and explore how MedCity could support improving the representation of BAME people in life sciences organisations. It will also consider ways to improve the representation of women and black, Asian and minority ethnic people at senior levels in life sciences organisations.

MedCity is in the process of applying for Good Work Standard (GWS) accreditation, and has achieved London Living Wage accreditation. The GLA will explore ways in which MedCity could promote the GWS to the life sciences sector.

Key risks and issues

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

​​​​​​​The table below illustrates how MedCity has supported the aims outlined in the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy to work with the life sciences sector to support further growth, and to help address the major healthcare challenges facing society.

Consultations and impact assessments, including data protection

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The GLA commissioned Regeneris Consulting Ltd to evaluate the MedCity programme in December 2016. The evaluation report concluded that the programme was performing well against KPIs and that it had also delivered added value to the life sciences sector across the Greater South East region and nationally.

​​​​​​​The MedCity team has undertaken an action plan to ensure GDPR compliance. There is currently no data sharing between the GLA and MedCity.

Conflicts of interest

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​There are no notable conflicts of interest to declare for officers involved in the drafting or clearance of the MD have any notable conflicts of interest.

The proposed GLA Grant of up to £200,000 for 2020-21 has been included in the GLA budget and held within the GLA’s Regeneration and Economic Development Unit.

In-line with previous arrangements, payments will be made on a quarterly basis subject to satisfactory monitoring of performance against the deliverables approved as part of the 2020-21 business plan. This requirement as well as the standard break clauses will be incorporated into the funding agreement to ensure that performance and risk is managed effectively during the duration of the grant agreement.

The foregoing sections of this report indicate that the decisions requested of the Mayor concern the GLA’s exercise of its general powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the promotion of economic development and wealth creation in Greater London and in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:

- pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people;

- consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and

- consult with appropriate bodies.

In taking the decisions requested, the Mayor must have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty; namely the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Equality Act 2010, and to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic (race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment) and persons who do not share it (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010). To this end, the Mayor should have particular regard to section 3 (above) of this report.

If the Mayor is minded to make the decisions in respect of which approval is sought officers must ensure that the proposed release of funding is administered and managed in accordance with the funding agreement between the GLA and MedCity Limited.

Section 4 of this report refers to the potential for data sharing between the GLA and MedCity Limited. Officers must ensure that an appropriate data sharing agreement is put in place between the parties before any such data sharing occurs. Officers should seek advice from the GLA legal and privacy teams as required in relation to any such agreement.

The MedCity 2019/20 Business Plan sets out an Action Plan and deliverables, which cover the following key areas of MedCity’s activities (see Appendix 1 for further detail):

• curate and leverage opportunities to amplify areas of regional excellence and attract funding and investment in London and the GSE Connect excellence to support collaborations within the sector;
• connecting health and life sciences industry to the region’s ecosystem and beyond. Knowledge exchange and programmes and services to grow businesses and attract investment for MedCity and the region;
• creating platforms to bring together and showcase the strengths of the region and beyond, driving/supporting inward investment; and
• objectives relating to team development and national collaboration.

The GLA monitors MedCity progress against a number of KPIs and project milestones, which are agreed with the GLA Governance team each year. A quarterly monitoring form is submitted to GLA Governance. The lead GLA officer attends regular project update meetings with the MedCity team. The GLA – represented by the Head of Economic Development and lead officer – also attends MedCity Management Board meetings as an observer.