Grant brings new jobs at Derby supplement firm

Eight new jobs have been created at a Derby nutritional supplement manufacturer after the firm landed a grant from the University of Derby’s Invest to Grow programme.

Nutrivitality has invested the grant in the purchase of new equipment capable of isolating and preparing vitamins to increase the nutrient absorption into the body by eight times more than traditional vitamin tablets.

The company says it is currently looking to create three more jobs. The project had forecasted five jobs over a two-year period, however due to the impact of the grant, Nutrivitality is expected to have doubled the forecast within the first year.

The grant was funded by University of Derby’s Invest to Grow programme, which encourages innovation from local companies.

Nutrivitality, which launched in December 2016, has developed a highly-specialised liquid vitamin preparation which increases the bioavailability of the nutrients it contains, enabling absorption of over 80%. Other vitamin products on the market typically deliver only 10% absorption or less.

Director David Campbell said: “The grant has allowed us to significantly increase the speed of manufacturing. With this investment, what would have taken us a week is now possible in a morning. This means we can be much more cost effective, and keep up with the orders coming in.

“Most people we talk to don’t realise that the vitamins in the supplements they take get destroyed in the stomach, or are passed out so don’t actually get into the body. We want to educate people that there is now a solution.

“The funding has also allowed us to speed up our product development, and we plan to launch many more products over the coming six months.

“The feedback we’ve been receiving from individuals taking the products has been fantastic, and it’s clear that the technology has the ability to make significant positive impacts on people’s lives which is really rewarding.

“We will continue to innovate, and are now starting to work with partners in Europe and beyond.”

Mark Wheddon, head of strategic programmes at the university, added: “We are proud to support this project through the Invest to Grow Fund. Nutrivitality is an innovative company and this funding has supported its growth in the region. We hope to continue to support the business with further opportunities in the future.”

Close