New customers at The Heath underpin Park’s popularity

Press Release

Runcorn: October 18th, 2022: The Heath Business and Technical Park in Runcorn has attracted a host of new customers recently to underpin the site’s popularity as a location for both established and start-up businesses.

The Heath, renowned for the highly specialised support services it offers to cutting-edge science operations, also has a diverse range of non-scientific businesses within the Park that is currently home to over 120 businesses supporting over 2,000 jobs.

Actylis Ltd, has moved its UK laboratory operations to The Heath.  The company, a leading manufacturer and supplier of critical raw materials and performance ingredients serving the Life Sciences, Specialty Chemicals, Cosmetics and Agriscience industries, has recently refurbished and upgraded its UK manufacturing facility at Manor Park, Runcorn and at the same time took the opportunity to relocate their R&D and QC laboratory operations.

Richard Young, Actylis Runcorn Site Director, says: “We were initially attracted to The Heath because of the proximity to our manufacturing site and ease of access for our existing staff, but the technical and facilities support at The Heath has proven to be invaluable. Our staff also use the dining and leisure facilities on a regular basis.”

Actylis Ltd intend to take a second laboratory at The Heath in 2023 increasing the number of chemists who work on the site to seven. The global company has in excess of 800 employees across Europe, the UK, Asia and the USA with 20 staff working across their operations in Runcorn.

The Heath’s technical support team has also created a specialist laboratory for new start-up business Perfect Flavours, a flavour company passionate about delivering impeccable taste to UK Food & Beverage manufacturers.                                                

Claire Murphy, Head of Perfect Flavours, says: “We launched in September and although we are a new kid on the block, our team has over 80 years of collective experience in flavours and ingredients having worked for some of the largest International Flavour Houses in the World, enhancing people’s lives with authentic taste experiences.”

Perfect Flavours works with customers in the food, beverage, consumer goods and pharma industries to develop and create great tasting products for beverages, confectionery and bakery.

Claire says she chose The Heath to locate her new enterprise because it is “local, close to home, with a great reputation and importantly allows me access 24/7 which is vital for my requirements”.

She adds: “The whole support team at The Heath are warm and welcoming which gave me a good feel for the experience my customers will get when they visit the site. The Heath’s technical team has also done a great job on our laboratory refurbishment, creating a professional space that I am proud to bring customers to.”                                                                     

Meanwhile Simon Knowles, the former boss of Syntor Fine Chemicals, has launched a new venture at The Heath after selling the business in 2020. Simon’s new company is called Millstone Durbax Ltd (MDL), a management consultancy firm offering support and expertise to the fine chemicals industry along with the development and supply of products into targeted sectors. MDL will be looking to develop and supply additives for the CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants & Elastomers) industry alongside ingredients for the Animal Nutrition sector.

“Our additives for the CASE industry are designed for paint, ink, adhesive and wood treatment manufacture, where they can actively improve the performance of such formulations. For Animal Nutrition, we are looking into molecules that go into animal feed to help support health and wellbeing,” says Simon.

He adds: “We’ve taken space at The Heath because it is a prestigious site with a great support network, particularly for a start-up business. We needed a lab and office space in the North-West of England and The Heath were able to accommodate all our requests, modify the facility around our requirements and provide us with logistics and health & safety support. Another big attraction is its location, with easy access to the cities of Liverpool and Manchester.”

Away from the science scene, The Heath will now also be home to DressMea, a small business run by local seamstress Alexandra Buckley, which opens from November 1.

Alexandra originally started working from home in 2019 before opening a shop in Frodsham the following year.  One of her key focuses is on Prom outfits. She says:  “When I was a freelance seamstress, I noticed how many people struggled with the price of dressing for the prom. I’m also very aware of, and hate, this disposable society we live in. I sell once worn or ex-stock prom and evening wear, which keeps costs down and encourages reusing dresses. I also offer bespoke dressmaking and alterations.”

She adds: “I was attracted to The Heath as it seems to have plenty of people through its doors. Hopefully this will give me lots of new customers. The accessibility from the M56 and the free parking is also a bonus.” 

Lesley Banks, Sales and Marketing Manager at The Heath Business and Technical Park, says: “These new businesses all demonstrate the broad range of support and excellent facilities that we can offer to customers on a really friendly and very professionally run business and technical park. Our support mechanism is ideal for both start-up businesses, and established businesses that need space to grow.”

About The Heath

The Heath Business and Technical Park is a phenomenal regeneration success story. Formed in 2000, its owner and operator, SOG Ltd, has transformed a once single occupancy corporate facility into a thriving independent business park. The Heath now provides office and laboratory accommodation for around 120 individual organisations, ranging from business services and IT specialists to those at the cutting edge of science, research and advanced manufacturing.  The Heath supports around 2,000 jobs. For further information, telephone 01928 515988 or visit www.theheath.com

Issued on behalf of The Heath Business and Technical Park,

Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 4QX – Part of the SOG Group

Media contacts:

The Heath: Paul Smith Associates (PSA) 07771 623 007

E-mail: paul@paulsmithassociates.co.uk