Young biologist takes on giants to win share of £39m NHS contract

A 23-year-old biologist-turned entrepreneur has secured a deal to become a major supplier to the NHS, which will see him claim a large share of a £39m contract.

Nathan Winch started his fledgling company, WinchPharma Group, in 2010 while still studying molecular biology at the University of Huddersfield. Using funds from savings and securing investment from colleagues who believed in his ideas, he developed the Athenian range of clinical hygiene products. Three years of R&D, testing and commercial development has now culminated in the NHS listing Athenian as one of only a handful of hand sanitiser products available to hospitals via the NHS supply chain.

The NHS appointment, which is thought to net the company in excess of £1.5m, covers the supply of Athenian liquid, gel and foam hand sanitiser products.

Since 2010, WinchPharma has gone on to sign contracts with a number of distributors and gyms, care homes and private hospitals in the UK, India and the Arabian Peninsula.

Mr Winch said: “The NHS purchasing policy is to buy the highest quality products at the best possible price. We therefore worked hard when developing Athenian, to create a brand that not only works better and lasts longer than that of many competitors, but also delivers those benefits at an incredibly low price point directly into the clinical setting.  Our success is proof that smaller firms should pitch for large contracts – and can win.”

WinchPharma began supplying Athenian products to NHS hospitals last month.