Almac Group To Invest £54m And Create 348 New Jobs

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster has announced that the Almac Group is investing over £54 million and creating 348 high quality jobs over the next five years.

The Almac Group operates in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors providing services including drug discovery, diagnostics, research and development, manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients, formulation development and clinical trials.

It employs over 2,100 staff at its headquarters in Craigavon, with an additional 1,380 staff located in facilities throughout the rest of the UK, US and Asia. The investment, supported by Invest Northern Ireland, relates to two of the Group’s operating business units, Pharma Services and Clinical Services.

Announcing the investment, Arlene Foster said: "Almac is one of Northern Ireland’s most successful indigenous companies and a globally respected brand. This significant investment will enable the company to expand the range of services it can offer, allowing it to respond to key trends within the pharmaceutical industry and enhance its market-leading position."

Almac Pharma Services provides contract development and manufacturing services to the world’s leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. As well as recruiting 141 new staff over the next five years, the company will invest in new technologies and equipment to take advantage of the growing demand for outsourced development services.

Almac Clinical Services provides clinical packaging, labelling, logistics and clinical supply chain management services to the pharmaceutical industry. It is investing in cold chain storage and distribution facilities and enhanced information systems to capitalise on the demand from clients for closer partnering opportunities. The unit is creating 181 new jobs over the next five years.

The investments will also create a further 26 new jobs within the Group.

Invest NI has offered Almac Group £5.5million of support towards its investment.

(CD/IT)