National property consultancy Carter Jonas has appointed Matt Lee as Head of Science and Technology, strengthening further the firm’s expertise in these areas to support clients across the UK.
Lee will draw on his comprehensive understanding of these sectors to drive the firm’s national capabilities in life sciences and the wider science, technology, and innovation industries, including digital and advanced materials.
Lee’s previous experience includes roles in the private and public sectors, including several pioneering commercial partnerships between business and public bodies. He joins from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, where, as an Innovation Team Growth Manager, he led inward investment and business engagement to attract highly innovative global companies to Manchester and establish meaningful healthcare collaborations.
Before this, he held several roles at Bruntwood Group, driving its commercial business in Liverpool before being appointed Head of Commercial for the Manchester portfolio of Bruntwood SciTech. As part of his remit, Lee oversaw the significant expansion of this portfolio through an ambitious occupier growth strategy, helping to establish one of the UK’s leading innovation clusters.
Scott Harkness, Head of Commercial, Carter Jonas, said: “Life science businesses alone are a huge economic driver for the UK, employing over a quarter of a million people and generating a turnover of £88.9bn. In this new role, Matt will utilise our experience in this sector and with technology and innovation enterprises to leverage opportunities and drive growth for our business and clients, developing flexible real estate strategies to support the evolution of these industries and their ecosystems.
“Carter Jonas has some of the most comprehensive property experience within these fields. As well as experts operating in the arc of Oxford, Cambridge and London, our multi-disciplinary teams throughout the UK are advising on a range of science and technology mandates, including planning, development, and investment matters.
“Matt’s extensive sector experience, deep-rooted knowledge of alternative locations, and unique understanding of the priorities of both the private and public sectors will be invaluable as we continue to expand our science and technology practice at a national level.”
Matt Lee, Head of Science and Technology, Carter Jonas, said: “Interest in the science and technology markets, and the property industry’s role in supporting these sectors, is greater than ever, which is why I am so excited to be joining Carter Jonas.
“Carter Jonas has a long and successful track record of working in these areas. Collaborating with colleagues, I aim to harness this knowledge and my experience to create a UK-wide platform helping unlock opportunities for existing and new clients. Alongside the established locations, our clients are exploring the potential of emerging innovation hubs across the country. Strengthening our market coverage enables us to better support this momentum by providing real sector experience with genuine knowledge of local markets.”
