Diagnostics firm creates 120 jobs with £2m testing site investment

BioGrad Diagnostics has announced further growth, investing more than £2m in a second site in Liverpool City Region, based in Bootle, and creating 120 jobs.

In addition, the firm, based at Liverpool Science Park, is almost halving its costs to support travel to £60 per test.

The new premises, located at St Hugh’s House on Stanley Road, is set to open on Sunday, June 20, and will offer operations including a new clinic, clinic administration, a customer service call centre, marketing and HR departments across two floors totalling more than 7,500 sq ft.

BioGrad’s Bootle site will create approximately 120 jobs for the city region and increase the firm’s ability to provide Gold Standard COVID-19 testing across the country. This follows the launch of five other clinics since December 2020, including sites in Manchester and three locations in London.

In response to international travel restrictions being eased further, BioGrad has made its testing services more accessible by almost halving the price of the essential tests needed for the public to travel abroad.

An In Clinic Pre-Travel RT-PCR test and certificate now costs £60, down from £99, with results provided within 24 hours. Reductions have also been introduced across its suite of services.

Chief executive, Dr Natalie Kenny, said: “Over the last 14 months, we have done our bit in helping keep the country moving by providing fast, accurate testing, while trying to remain affordable in order to meet the increased needs of the public and keep people safe in the fight against COVID-19.

“We are processing tens of thousands of tests per week, defining the Gold Standard in COVID-19 testing, and ensuring that we have gained and maintain an excellent reputation in the sector.

“Opening in Bootle is further evidence of our growing success and our commitment to the city region and the Northern Powerhouse agenda. We are always looking to collaborate with other organisations across the North, and we are already on the lookout for further premises in the city region.”

She said the price cuts will help normalise leisure travel: “We have never been about making a profit – it has always been about reinvesting into the business, restocking the laboratory with new equipment and funding our bursaries. We are now in a fortunate position where we can offer discounted prices to the public and get them back on holiday.”