A £23 million investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing is set to boost Wales’s life sciences sector, creating 44 new jobs and expanding production capacity for essential medicines.
The funding will support the expansion of European pharmaceutical company Norgine at its facility in Hengoed, strengthening the supply of key medicines to patients across the UK. The announcement was made during a visit to the site on Thursday by Jo Stevens.
The investment will increase both warehouse and manufacturing space at the Hengoed facility to meet rising demand for pharmaceuticals. The project has been supported by the UK Government’s Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, a major funding initiative designed to strengthen the country’s life sciences industry. The programme is worth up to £520 million and forms a key pillar of the UK’s Life Sciences Sector Plan.
Growing life sciences sector in Wales
Wales has become an increasingly important hub for life sciences, with the sector generating more than £3.5 billion in turnover and employing over 13,000 people across more than 280 companies during 2023–24.
The Hengoed facility sits within a growing life sciences cluster in South Wales that has been recognised for its strategic importance in the UK’s broader industrial strategy.
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: “We have a thriving life sciences sector in Wales, and this investment from Norgine is a vote of confidence in our Welsh workforce. I am delighted that UK Government funding is supporting the business to continue to grow and create new well-paid jobs.
Norgine is a brilliant example of an international business that is flourishing in Wales. With our new international programme we are going to build on successes like this to attract even more investment that will create opportunities all around Wales”.
Janneke van der Kamp, Chief Executive Officer from Norgine said: “Today’s announcement is an important milestone for Norgine and for our team in Hengoed.
We have a proud 60‑year manufacturing heritage in Wales, and this investment will strengthen our ability to reliably supply essential medicines while creating high‑quality jobs for the future.
We are deeply committed to Wales, not only through our manufacturing footprint but also through developing local talent in partnership with Cardiff University and regional colleges.
We are grateful for the support from the UK Government’s Office for Life Sciences, which reinforces the vital role Wales plays in the UK’s life sciences sector”.
Stevens described the investment as a strong endorsement of the Welsh workforce.
She said the expansion demonstrates confidence in the region’s life sciences industry and highlights how government support can help businesses grow while creating well-paid jobs.
“Norgine is a brilliant example of an international company thriving in Wales,” she said. “Our goal now is to build on successes like this and attract even more investment that creates opportunities across the country.”
New international trade push for Wales
The announcement comes alongside a new initiative to promote Wales internationally. The Wales Office confirmed it will launch a programme aimed at boosting global trade and attracting further foreign investment.
The initiative was unveiled during the annual St David’s Day reception held at Wolf Studios.
Wales has already been performing strongly in attracting overseas investment, securing nearly five percent of all inward investment projects in the UK and creating more than 2,000 jobs in the 2024–25 financial year.
Officials hope the new programme will build on this momentum and further raise Wales’s profile as a destination for international business and innovation. Photo by norgine.co.uk.