Photograph above: Former Dragon's Den's Richard
Farleigh presents fledgling company RS Pharmaceuticals with export
achievement award.
R5 Pharmaceuticals started in 2006 and despite the recession has
a predicted 2009 annual turnover of close to £3 million.
The company, which develops and manufactures prototype medicines
for clinical trials, currently exports its goods to Japan, Korea,
USA, Australia, Portugal, Finland and Germany.
The business employs 38 individuals who range from graduates to
PHD chemists and pharmacists.
The competition category was sponsored by UK Trade &
Investment East Midlands. The award was presented at the East
Midlands' Innovation Day ceremony, held this month at the Athena
Conference Centre, Leicester and hosted by Medilink.
Based at Biocity Nottingham, Pennyfoot Street, R5
Pharmaceuticals' focus is the Health and Bioscience sector.
UKTI helped the company in its early days through the Passport
to Export programme, introducing it to networking events and giving
them a small grant to exhibit abroad through the Tradeshow Access
Programme.
R5 Pharmaceuticals founder and Chief Executive Paul Titley
said: "Although we have grown as a company we still make use
of the services of UKTI. "The export side of the business
results in up to 50% of our business.
"Start-up businesses that do not make use of what UKTI has to
offer are missing out on a huge opportunity. It is ridiculous to
think that your home market is your only market and if you want to
export, you should talk to people who are already there."
Peter Hogarth International Trade Director for the East Midlands
said: "Congratulations to R5 Pharmaceuticals on their
achievements. The company is testimony to the fact that exporting
goods and services can enable small firms to flourish.
"Experience shows that if a company has a product or service
that is unique or innovative and sells well in the UK, then they
can sell it overseas - it's often just a case of identifying the
right market and the right contacts, which is where UK Trade &
Investment can help."
Companies interested in finding out more about international
trade opportunities can contact UKTI East Midlands team on 0845 052
4001.