Covid-19 test firm in city jobs boost
Investment by life sciences business is welcomed
Hundreds of new jobs are heading to Stirling after city based company announced a £78million investment in its Scottish operation.
US life sciences firm LumiraDx - who make rapid Covid-19 tests and are based at Manor Farm Business Park - will invest some of the cash in their local operation.
The extra investment will see an initial 510 posts created over the next three years, with the potential to increase to 750.
The posts will be located at sites across Stirling, Inverness and a new facility to be built at Eurocentral near Glasgow.
The jobs will help scale up manufacturing, as well as the development of other tests for other conditions.
LumiraDx chief executive Ron Zwanziger hailed a £15 million grant from business group Scottish Enterprise to help with the expansion.
Mr Zwanziger said: “Implementing reliable Covid-19 diagnostic testing programs, that provide rapid results with minimum false negatives is critical to safely reopening the economy.
“We are pleased to contribute to Scotland’s health and economic growth, now and beyond the pandemic.
“We are also delighted to be increasing our footprint in
Scotland and expanding the country’s life sciences industry. Next-generation point of care testing technology can help to transform healthcare systems.
“It’s an exciting undertaking, and we know to do this quickly and to do it well we need the right infrastructure in place and access to incredible talent to drive this development. Scotland has both.
“We are proud to be investing in the country, and its communities and grateful to Scottish Enterprise for their support through this grant.”
The potential jobs boost was hailed by local politicians for the impact on the local jobs market.
Stirling Council chief executive, Carol Beattie, said:
“Stirling’s reputation as a prime location for attracting new investment is growing every day, and today’s news is another welcome announcement from one of the many valued businesses in the life sciences sector in our City.
“LumiraDx’s plans herald a boost for local jobs, and have the potential to foster increased international trade links for Stirling, further showcasing the region as a global destination for advanced tech companies.”
Ms Beattie also hailed the Lumira Dx alongside other positive developments for local jobs, including a recent 20 year commitment from Prudential to move its operations to the new Kildean Business Park.
Local companies have also taken on a growing role in assisting the Covid-19 testing effort, with Stirling firm Symbiosis signing a supply agreement with AstraZeneca for clinical trials of their vaccine.
Meanwhile, Alva-based company Omega Diagnostics will also take on “approximately 200” roles after securing a UK Government contract to produce lateral flow tests.
Ms Beattie added: “All these investments are fantastic boosts for Stirling, its economy and the people who live here.
“National and international companies see Stirling as a place to either start up or grow their business in a range of sectors, and there is an abundance of talent blossoming here to facilitate that growth.
“These recent investments also bode incredibly well for apprenticeships and graduates looking to take their first steps in their career, but also for the future economy of Stirling postCovid, which will benefit greatly from these landmark changes and the rich opportunities they present.”
LumiraDx’s plans herald a boost for local jobs, and have the potential to foster increased international trade Carol Beattie