UK medicines regulator opens new digital hub in Leeds
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is opening a new digital hub in Leeds city centre, marking a significant step in its long-term strategy to strengthen innovation and expand its presence across the UK. The move will create around 30 permanent, highly skilled roles in software development, data science and digital delivery, with potential for future expansion.
Located at Wellington Place, the hub is part of the MHRA’s broader commitment to enhance regulatory agility and improve digital capabilities, with the ultimate aim of delivering better outcomes for patients, the public and industry.
Leeds was chosen for its strong base in digital health and life sciences, with over 44,000 working-age tech professionals and 11,000 students studying tech-related subjects. The city also hosts the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England’s digital operations and has seen rising investment from leading technology firms.
The new roles will be housed within the MHRA’s Digital and Technology Group (DTG), which is responsible for building digital infrastructure and securely managing data to support the agency’s regulatory functions, including clinical trial applications, safety monitoring and inspections.
“We want regulation of health technologies to move at the pace of innovation,” said Lawrence Tallon, chief executive of the MHRA. “By establishing an MHRA hub in Leeds, we’re strengthening our ability to collaborate with partners across the North of England – bringing regulatory expertise closer to the people, organisations and innovations we serve.
“This hub will play a vital role in shaping the future of regulation, including how we harness technology to meet the needs of patients, support the health system, and drive life sciences innovation across the UK.”
The development supports the government’s Places for Growth and Plan for Change strategies, which aim to spread public sector roles more evenly across the UK and support local economies.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “There is a global tech revolution in healthcare unfolding, and Yorkshire will help our country lead it. This isn’t just about creating new jobs – it’s also about bolstering a city that’s already leading the way in digital health.
“Driving forward digital transformations like these through our Plan for Change will mean scientists get data for research quicker, inspectors can develop tech to spot problems quicker, and patients get better results.”
Richard Stubbs, chief executive of Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said: “The new MHRA digital hub is fantastic news for Leeds and for Yorkshire as a whole. Our region has world-class digital and medical technology capabilities, which will be accelerated even further by bringing government infrastructure closer to the innovator community.”
Councillor Fiona Venner, executive member for equality, health and wellbeing at Leeds City Council, said: “The hub will support the creation of jobs and provide career opportunities for local graduates and professionals, while contributing to the local economy. It adds to the momentum we’re already seeing in Leeds, with major organisations choosing to locate roles here.”
The MHRA’s Leeds hub forms part of its wider national expansion plans. In May 2025, the agency held its first board meeting outside England, in Scotland, as part of a drive to strengthen engagement across all four nations of the UK.
The MHRA will continue to operate from its headquarters at 10 South Colonnade in Canary Wharf and carry out scientific work at its South Mimms Science Campus. The DTG has been shortlisted for a Health Service Journal (HSJ) Digital Award for its work in delivering digital services and improving regulatory operations across the agency.
