Member Article

Ahead-of-schedule expansion for ambitious Sunderland pharma company

A fast-growing Sunderland based specialist pharmaceuticals company is creating high quality jobs after moving into larger premises and building a new state of the art manufacturing operation, two years ahead of its original business plan.

Rokshaw was set up by brothers Richard and Jonathan Hodgson in 2012 as a supplier of specially-formulated (‘specials’) medicines to the NHS and pharmacies.

But the company has grown more quickly than anticipated, allowing Rokshaw to build a specially-designed laboratory at its new larger premises in Rivergreen Industrial Estate.

Following a stringent approval process from the Home Office and Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, it has been licensed to begin manufacturing and 12 new jobs have already been created with further recruitment planned.

Commercial director Richard Hodgson said: “Our long-term goal was to have our own lab to make bespoke products, which gives us control over quality and service levels and the scope for significant growth.

“We are very grateful to our loyal customers, hardworking staff and the funding support we have received that have made this possible. The new facility enables us to manufacture medicines to patients’ unique prescription requirements. We can now make a vast range of products in a variety of dosage forms.

“There are quite a few different levels of good jobs we can create including pharmacists, productions managers, manufacturing technicians, customer services, marketing and quality assurance roles.”

The company has been supported from its inception by Sunderland City Council. The Hodgson brothers are Sunderland born and bred and see the city as the ideal base for their business. Rokshaw also received support from the North East Growth Plus Fund and Let’s Grow toward the cost of the new laboratory and its 10 year-lease on its new Rivergreen site.

Richard said: “Sunderland has a proud heritage in developing scientists of the future and we have already taken on our first graduate interns from the University and have also begun an apprenticeship scheme with Sunderland College.”

Rokshaw will continue to work with Sunderland City Council’s business support team, which can provide assistance and advice for growing companies.

Dr Dave Smith, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, said: “Rokshaw is an innovative company, which is creating good quality jobs for the city.

“Sunderland is an excellent base for ambitious manufacturers with plans to grow and we have been proud to play a part in helping Rokshaw to achieve its aims ahead of schedule. We have the resources to help the right type of business grow, from start-up to expansion, and we are keen to hear from entrepreneurs with ideas or fledging manufacturing or software/technology firms that require support to help them reach their potential.”