The North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Medicines Manufacturing Centre (MMC) site is being built to manufacture large volumes of sterile injectable medicines for critically unwell patients in NHS hospitals. These are medicines used every day in cancer treatment, intensive care, and urgent clinical settings. In simple terms, it allows the NHS to make its own critical medicines in a highly controlled, regulated environment, rather than relying entirely on external suppliers. The patients receiving these medicines could be friends, family or people in our own communities - a reminder of just how much this work truly matters.
We were lucky enough to speak with Kyle Winn about the vision behind the North East and North Cumbria Medicines Manufacturing Centre - what the facility is being built to achieve, the challenges it aims to address, and why investing in apprenticeships will be key to building the skilled workforce of the future.
What problem in healthcare and medicine supply are you aiming to solve?
Across the NHS, shortages of sterile medicines have become more frequent and more disruptive. When these medicines are unavailable, treatment can be delayed, altered, or cancelled, which directly affects patient outcomes. This is particularly critical for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy, where the reliability of supply is essential. The Medicines Manufacturing Centre exists to strengthen supply resilience within the NHS by adding secure, high-quality manufacturing capacity. By improving supply reliability, we reduce disruption for clinical teams. This releases vital time to care, allowing staff to focus on patients rather than managing shortages.
Why is this facility important locally and nationally?
Locally, it brings highly skilled, future-proof jobs into the North East and establishes the region as a centre for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. Nationally, it supports the NHS to be more self-sufficient and less exposed to global supply chain fragility, which is increasingly important for patient safety and service continuity.
How will the medicines produced here make a difference to people’s lives?
Locally, the MMC brings highly skilled, long-term jobs into the North East and helps establish the region as a centre for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. It creates opportunities for people to build meaningful careers in science and manufacturing close to home. Nationally, the facility adds resilience and flexibility to the medicines supply, supporting patient safety and continuity of care by strengthening the overall system that the NHS relies on.
How does this unit contribute to the future of healthcare or medicine manufacturing?
The MMC is not just about producing medicines today. It is about building long-term capability within the NHS. That includes modern aseptic technologies, strong quality systems, and a skilled workforce that can grow and adapt as healthcare needs change.
National Apprenticeship Week focus and future apprenticeship opportunities
Why have you chosen to invest in apprenticeships from the very start?
Because a facility like this is only as strong as the people working in it. Skilled aseptic manufacturing staff are in short supply nationally, and relying on recruitment alone is not sustainable. I started my own career over 20 years ago as a Student Pharmacy Technician, which was a form of apprenticeship, and that experience shaped how I learned and developed in practice. I strongly believe in applied, on-the-job learning, supported by structured training and supervision. Apprenticeships allow us to develop people properly from day one, embedding the right behaviours, standards, and understanding of patient impact from the start.
What benefits will hiring apprentices bring to the site?
Apprentices help us build a stable and committed workforce for the long term. They are trained within our systems from the outset, learning the standards, behaviours, and attention to detail that are essential in a highly regulated environment. Because they grow with the organisation, they develop a strong sense of ownership and responsibility. Apprentices also bring curiosity and fresh perspectives, which are valuable when you are building a new facility and establishing how it will operate for years to come.
How do apprenticeships fit into your long-term plans?
I believe that apprenticeships are a key part of workforce sustainability. As the site grows, we need a consistent pipeline of trained people who understand Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), patient safety, and why precision and attention to detail are critical in sterile manufacturing. By developing people through apprenticeships, we can plan for the future in a controlled, structured way, rather than constantly reacting to shortages of skilled staff.
What types of apprenticeship roles will be available?
We expect opportunities potentially across production, quality support, warehouse and logistics, engineering and technical roles. These will support the end-to-end manufacture of sterile medicines, from materials handling through to aseptic production and quality oversight.
Where might interested candidates look for these roles?
Roles will be advertised through NHS recruitment channels, LinkedIn, local education and apprenticeship providers, and regional skills networks. We have also been actively engaging at careers events to speak directly with people about the opportunities available. We are keen to attract candidates from the local area, as well as those looking to move into pharmaceutical manufacturing and develop a long-term career in this field.
What skills/interests/personalities are you looking for?
You do not need a background in pharmaceuticals to start. What matters most is attention to detail, a strong sense of responsibility, and a willingness to learn. This is work where small details really matter, because everything we do ultimately affects patient safety. We look for people who take pride in doing things properly, who are comfortable working to high standards, and who understand the importance of consistency and care in their work.
Growth, support & future careers
How will apprentices be supported and trained here?
Apprentices will receive structured training, close supervision, and ongoing support throughout their programme. They will be trained in GMP, aseptic behaviour, and quality systems alongside practical on-the-job learning. Development will be paced and monitored so that people are not rushed into critical activities before they are ready, ensuring confidence, competence, and patient safety are maintained at every stage.
What could an apprentice’s career look like after completing their programme?
There are clear progression routes, but progression is based on readiness, opportunity, and formal recruitment processes. Apprenticeships are about developing people to be ready for future roles, rather than guaranteeing a specific position. Apprentices can apply for permanent roles as they become available, and over time may progress into senior technician, supervisory, specialist, or leadership positions through continued development. The skills gained are highly transferable within healthcare manufacturing and support long-term career growth.
Why is this an exciting time to join/exciting opportunity to start or change to a career in science manufacturing?
Facilities like MMC represent the future of NHS manufacturing. Joining now means being part of something from the beginning, helping shape how it operates and grows. It is a chance to build a meaningful career doing work that directly supports patient care, while gaining skills that are in demand nationally.