Almac secures permission for major expansion
Integrated pharma research, development and manufacturing services group Almac has secured planning permission for major expansion plans that could potentially see the company create more than 500 jobs during the next five years.
Integrated pharma research, development and manufacturing services group Almac has secured planning permission for major expansion plans that could potentially see the company create more than 500 jobs during the next five years.
The company has experienced a substantial rate of growth at its Craigavon headquarters. Anticipating future growth requirements, Almac has acquired an adjacent 5.4 acre site and will shortly embark on the first phase of development there.
The initial phase of the new development will see Almac construct a large three-storey office unit to accommodate more than 220 existing staff and expected recruits. For the second phase of expansion the company has obtained outline planning permission for a new research facility as well as a new distribution unit to expand existing capacity.
The plans are expected to lead to additional posts across the group, consisting of a mix of administrative and support staff as well as a significant proportion of graduate positions. In 2008 staff numbers in the UK rose by 15% to 1,426 and in the US by 10% to 762. The company also announced the creation of 128 new graduate and research positions in the first two months of this year.
"This is an exciting time for Almac," said group chairman Sir Allen McClay. "Since our foundation in 2001 we have grown at record levels, and we expect this trend to continue over the coming years. With our rapid rate of growth it was important to put proper plans in place and provide the necessary room for Almac to expand."
As well as the continued construction of their new US$112m (Euro 77m) North American headquarters, over the past eighteen months Almac has invested around £10m (â"šÂ¬11m) at the Craigavon site in a new laboratory block and a specialist cold storage facility for clinical trial materials.
When completed the new facilities are expected to represent another capital investment on a similar scale.
