Innovation by the Seaside – a local hub with a global reach

So many of us regularly drive down Clifton Road past that modest industrial site on the edge of town without giving a second thought to what goes on inside the buildings there. I for one didn’t realise that it’s the site of life-saving medical innovation and manufacturing with devices developed and made right here in Blackpool to be shipped to patients all over the world – changing and saving lives. 

Johnson & Johnson is the world’s largest healthcare company, employing over 138,000 people across 64 manufacturing sites in more than 60 countries. And one of its most fascinating and long-standing facilities is right here in Blackpool. 

Established in 1958 as a dental cement manufacturer, the Blackpool site has a rich history intertwined with Sir John Charnley, the orthopaedic pioneer whose work revolutionised modern hip replacement. Today it remains at the forefront of medical innovation, producing bone cement for modern joint replacement and pioneering products like RAPIDSORB™ for fracture repair and craniofacial reconstruction. 

While I was there I was lucky enough to get up close with the materials and complete my own dummy knee replacement surgery (something I very narrowly escaped myself after an unfortunate rugby tackle a few years ago).  

What struck me most was not just the science and engineering that happens on site but the people. This is not a faceless factory – it’s a community of skilled, passionate individuals, many of them from Blackpool, working on the cutting edge of global healthcare. 

I met Magda, who joined via Project Search, a programme helping young adults with learning disabilities or autism spectrum conditions into meaningful work. I spoke to Stevie, an apprentice maintenance engineer studying for his HNC at Blackpool and Fylde College, and Connor, who came in on the company’s highly sought-after graduate scheme and is now a senior development engineer in Research and Development. Ellen, a biomedical science student, is spending a year on placement here, gaining real-world experience that will shape her career. 

Then there’s Debbie, the site’s longest-serving employee, with 32 years under her belt – starting in quality control, earning her HNC and degree while working and moving into manufacturing engineering. And Alicia and Melissa, two young women from Blackpool who’ve gone from college to international travel, representing our town in Switzerland at the company’s European head office. 

For too long, many in Blackpool have felt that high-skilled, high-paying, meaningful jobs exist somewhere else. But Johnson & Johnson MedTech proves otherwise. 

Left to right: Magda, Stevie, Debbie, Me, Connor, Melissa, Alicia and Ellen

Here, right in Blackpool, we have careers in science, technology, engineering and maths that don’t just pay the bills, but change the world. We have apprenticeships, internships, graduate schemes and placement opportunities that open doors for our young people, allowing them to stay local while having a global impact. 

The company’s Credo, written decades before corporate mission statements were fashionable, places humanitarianism at its heart. It’s a commitment to patients, employees, communities and shareholders – in that order. It’s not just words on a wall. You can see it in the way they invest in their staff, in their STEM education outreach to local schools and in their community projects – getting their hands dirty in Cherry Tree Community Gardens, and fundraising for Brian House/Trinity Hospice and Blackpool Foodbank among others. 

When we talk about raising aspirations in Blackpool, this is what it looks like. It’s not just about encouraging our young people to dream big – it’s about showing them that the big opportunities are already here. They don’t need to leave to succeed, they just need to know where to look. 

The next time you drive past the unassuming industrial site off Clifton Road remember that inside local people are working on breakthroughs that will help millions walk again, heal from injury and live longer, healthier lives. 

Blackpool is more than lights and leisure – it’s innovative, it’s teeming with talent and it’s a place we should all be proud of.