Government minister and public sector officials show support to RSC Change Maker with visit to Northern innovation hub

UK science received a strong endorsement today as government minister Hilary Benn MP met the entrepreneur behind one of our ‘Change Makers’ at a cutting-edge innovation hub in Leeds.

The Northern Ireland Secretary discussed science innovation, funding, and policy support with Victoria Garcia, co-founder of BindEthics and head of Quick Labs, while touring the facility.

During the visit, Mr Benn – the Labour MP for Leeds South – also heard about the company’s flexible lab spaces and future plans, as well as the challenges emerging science businesses face.

Representatives from Innovate UK Business Growth, Leeds City Council and the Royal Society of Chemistry also joined the visit, which shone a spotlight on the nationwide shortage of lab space and what can be done to remedy the problem.

Labour MP Mr Benn said of the visit: "It was a pleasure to see what Quick Labs is all about – providing much-needed laboratory space for entrepreneurs and start-ups who have got ideas they want to test out. We have a proud history of innovation in our country, but we need to nurture the next generation of scientists and researchers and their great ideas."

Dubbed the ‘Ryanair of lab space’, Quick Labs was established after Ms Garcia was frustrated during her quest to find a suitable home for her other chemistry-based venture, BindEthics.

The Royal Society of Chemistry has previously pointed to the dearth of scientific facilities open to SMEs, freelance researchers and other stakeholders across the UK, which led to the launch of the More ChemLabs initiative in October 2024.

That was coincidentally the same month as when Ms Garcia opened her first Quick Labs, having spent months transforming a previously empty office space into a fully equipped site capable of potentially hosting as many as 10 SMEs.

She has previously stated her desire to see a Quick Labs in every UK city and after today’s visit from Mr Benn, she reiterated that more must be done to improve lab access if the UK is to remain a global science leader.

Ms Garcia said: “The lack of affordable lab facilities for researchers and early-stage businesses is holding back the growth of innovative companies. Hilary Benn’s visit reinforced the importance of creating solutions, especially in thriving regional cities.”

As well as establishing Quick Labs, Ms Garcia is also the Chief Executive of BindEthics, which is a permanent tenant of the facility.

BindEthics earned a place in our Change Makers programme for its work researching and developing innovative bio-adhesives as alternatives to conventional petrochemical-derived glue products.

Andrew Waterworth, Manager of Impact Investment Initiatives, attended today’s event on behalf of the Royal Society of Chemistry. He works closely with entrepreneurs across the UK chemical sciences sector, including Ms Garcia, and has helped BindEthics in the years since its formation.

Reflecting on the growth of Quick Labs, he seconded Ms Garcia’s call for greater investment in new lab spaces across the UK and was encouraged to see a senior member of the Government taking an active interest in deep-tech science.

Mr Waterworth said: “Victoria is a true entrepreneur and is exactly the sort of person the UK needs to realise its economic and environmental ambitions, so it’s great that Hilary Benn has been here to recognise the potential of what she’s doing and hear about the reality of life for deep-tech chemistry ventures.

“Quick Labs is an innovative solution to the lab space shortage that we see across the country and we need more facilities like this. We at the Royal Society of Chemistry made our position on this clear with the launch of our More ChemLabs initiative and while Victoria’s work is a prime example of what is possible, we would like to see more support for similar ventures in the future.

“While much of the focus today has been on Quick Labs, I would also like to add that we are proud to include BindEthics in our Change Makers programme. The work Victoria and the team are doing on more sustainable alternatives to the adhesives we use today is just one example of the importance of supporting SMEs because without them, we as a country risk undermining our long-term goals.”