Last week, I visited the York headquarters of Abingdon Health: A Northern Powerhouse, global manufacturer of lateral flow device tests. I met with Chris Hand (Chairman), Chris Yates (CEO) and Melanie Ross (CFO) to discuss the role Abingdon Health played during the outbreak of the pandemic. In response to the Government’s request to develop a COVID-19 antibody rapid lateral flow test that screens for an immune response following COVID-19 infection or vaccination, Abingdon Health have transformed their business over the last 18 months.
It was fascinating to see such innovation and growth happening right here in Sand Hutton, now expanding across Yorkshire. As well as growing from 50 people to almost 200 people, Abingdon Health have also built an additional 9 laboratories across their York and Doncaster sites and invested in cutting edge lateral flow test automation technology. Growing companies such as this is vital to our economy, not least for providing job opportunities across Yorkshire and the UK.
Along with the Chief Operations Officer, Olly Gardner, and Operations Director, Dave Goldsworthy, I toured the Sand Hutton state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to gain an understanding of new automated assembly equipment - vital for producing high-quality lateral flow products at large volumes. As well as seeing the manufacture of Abingdon Health’s ‘AbC’ COVID-19 antibody lateral flow test, I also saw several of the other lateral flow tests being manufactured at the Abingdon Health York site, including a COVID-19 antigen test that and also an equine, animal health lateral flow test.
