Becoming an Entrepreneur

Have you always envisaged being an entrepreneur and owning your own business? If so what made you decide to be an entrepreneur?  

I always expected to run a company from the top as throughout my career I often thought that I could do as good or better a job than my 'superiors'.  In many respects I look back now and consider the various roles that I have performed as being training for my current job.

How did you become an entrepreneur?

While in my previous job as Marketing Manager in a chemical manufacturing company, I realised that there was a need to provide small-scale R&D services to the pharmaceutical industry.  My employer wasn't particularly willing to satisfy this need.  This and other facts suggested that the market was not adequately being met by existing suppliers.  Luckily(!) for me, I was made redundant and was able to concentrate on putting a business plan together which took over a year to complete.  My number 2, Dr Steve Bone also lost his job so together we made it happen.

Tell us about your business and product.

We provide small-scale chemistry services such as custom synthesis (mg to kg scale), process development, supply new Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients to Good Manufacturing Practice standards for use in Phase I and Phase II clinical trials, analytical method development and related services.  We sell to 6 of the world's largest 7 pharmaceutical companies as well as a large number of smaller pharma and biotech companies.  In addition we have a portfolio of proprietary fine chemicals for research.