Investment boosts SpheriTech’s phenomenal growthA fledgling company at The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn is hoping for steady expansion after securing six-figure backing from a private investor. SpheriTech, which was founded in June 2009, offers highly specialist consultancy and laboratory-based research and development services to customers in a range of sectors including chromatography, peptide synthesis, polymer synthesis and cell culture. Launched as a one-man operation by founder and chief executive Don Wellings, the company has already used the new investment to employ a specialist member of staff, with a third team member due to join in early 2010. But the funds will also significantly enhance the business’s efforts to secure additional finance. Don explained: “The investment has enabled me to strengthen the team at SpheriTech but also allows me to apply for government funding, such as through loans or research grants. For a company like ours to get off the ground, it’s absolutely essential to secure government finance.” The six-figure investment has come from a financial backer who wishes to remain anonymous but who Don describes as a “business angel”. The investor has taken a 20% holding in SpheriTech. Don added: “The investment has allowed improvements including the redesign of the company’s website and will play a key part in financing the development of SpheriTech’s intellectual property – for example by allowing applications for new patents to be pursued more quickly. Patent life is 20 years, so every year you take to commercialise a patent means a year’s less revenue.” SpheriTech currently holds a portfolio of intellectual property covering a diverse range of technologies including peptide synthesis, DNA synthesis, biocatalysis and cell culture. As part of its work the company offers laboratory-based contract research and development, and provides custom synthesis of peptides and contract purification of any molecule, large or small. Don Wellings’ founding of the company followed more than 30 years working in scientific roles for high-profile, blue-chip organisations. However, despite SpheriTech being a new resident of The Heath, Don has already been based at the business park for a number of years, through working for site residents such as Zeneca and Avecia. He explained: “For me The Heath was the obvious place to come because I know the people and get on with them very well. But you also get a great service here – it’s an ‘all-in’ facility. If I need anything it’s all here on site, whether that’s specialist services like glassblowing and site services or social amenities. “The business park also facilitates interaction with other companies. There are numerous small businesses at The Heath that I now do business with. It enables me to access customers and services all in one place, which is vitally important to both SpheriTech and our customers.” www.spheritech.com 04 January 2010 About The Heath:The Heath, which was established as a business park in 2000, has attracted over 175 British and international companies, ranging from bio science firms to IT specialists, from food industry consultants to website designers, and from government agencies to telemarketing specialists. Residents have been attracted by the 60-acre business park's vast range of impressive facilities and its flexibility in space management and in attitude. The Heath offers a wide range of office and laboratory space, together with a purpose-built conference centre that includes a 120-seat lecture theatre. Residents can also choose from a wide selection of additional services, including telephone and broadband connectivity, laboratory support services, scientific glassblowing and precision engineering facilities, to name but a few. Residents also have access to The Heath's fitness centre and gym. Combined with 1,700 parking spaces, its first-class transport links - and the ability for residents to select and pay for just the services they require - it's no surprise that the number of companies on The Heath is continuing to grow rapidly. MEDIA CONTACT: PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
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