Growing a business is exciting – but it’s not always easy. If you’re an early-stage and growing life sciences and tech business, you may need specialist expertise in areas such as:
- commercial strategy;
- investor relationships;
- scientific set up;
- partnerships with pharma;
- finance, operations or marketing.
Many of these skills aren’t required full-time and budgets don’t always allow for permanent hires. Finding the right expertise at the right time can also be a challenge in Cambridge. Opportunities often circulate within well-connected networks, leaving some businesses without access to the support they need. At the same time, skilled professionals want to contribute their expertise in meaningful ways, but haven’t had a clear way to connect with companies.
About the Multi-Specialist Business Hub
The Multi-Specialist Business Hub (MSB Hub), a not-for-profit initiative, is designed to bridge this gap and make expert support more accessible. Still in its early stages, the initiative is learning and evolving through pilot projects.
The Hub is not a recruitment service, it doesn’t place permanent staff or manage employment. Instead, the Hub engagement team works directly with companies to understand their needs and match them with the right fractional specialists or consultants from the Hub’s database, based on the type of support required and the duration of each project. This ensures businesses get the support they need, while professionals can contribute their skills on projects that suit their availability.
By facilitating these matches, the Hub helps companies grow confidently and allows professionals to apply their expertise to meaningful projects.
The aim is not to replace Cambridge’s strong, organic networks, but to expand the ways companies can access support they need to grow.
Who the Hub supports
Businesses seeking guidance: Access experts without hiring full-time staff. By connecting with the right specialists at the right time, you can tackle challenges and scale confidently.
Fractional specialists: Contribute your expertise to meaningful projects, expand your impact and build visibility through a collaborative platform. The Hub provides opportunities to broaden your professional networks, gain exposure to diverse projects and develop long-term relationships with businesses — all without relying solely on existing networks or personal introductions.
Consultants: Clinicians, academic experts, and other advisors support businesses in making critical business, scientific, or clinical decisions, with opportunities for paid work when appropriate.
How the Hub works
The process is simple and flexible. Companies submit a request outlining the expertise or support needed, and the Hub’s engagement team supports to really understand the need and then identifies and connects you with the right professionals.
Fractional specialists and consultants complete an onboarding form to be added to the database, allowing your skills to be matched with projects.
Based in Cambridge, the Hub is open, and businesses and experts from anywhere are eligible to access its support and opportunities.
Expertise available through the Hub
The Hub can connect businesses with specialists in areas such as:
The Hub can connect businesses with specialists in areas such as:
- Commercial strategy
- Finance and accounting
- Operations and project management
- Marketing and communications
- HR and people management
- Scientific research and development
- Clinical or healthcare guidance
- Regulatory
If your project requires an area of expertise that’s not currently on the list, we encourage you to contact the Hub, we may be able to find the right specialist to meet your needs.
Feasibility study
The Hub’s value has already been demonstrated through a City Council-funded feasibility study. Six Cambridge companies were matched with fractional experts based on their strategic needs, with engagements lasting up to two days.
Companies described the experience as highly beneficial, receiving bespoke solutions and support for strategic planning, financial structuring and network expansion. Several advisors expressed interest in staying involved beyond the study, highlighting the potential for ongoing impact across Cambridge’s growing life sciences and tech ecosystem.
Get involved
Whether you’re a company or a specialist, find out how the MSB Hub can help you by emailing office@multispecialisthub.co.uk.