A Liverpool -based coronavirus testing firm has invested a seven-figure sum in a move that will see its operations expand with the opening of three new clinics and 150 new jobs.
BioGrad Diagnostics said the majority of the 150 jobs created - 120 - will be based in Liverpool at the firm's headquarters, and include a mix of clinical, admin and scientist roles.
Additionally, it will now also open a trio of new clinics in London - at Regent’s Park, Heathrow Airport and ExCel London.
The move comes after the company, based at Liverpool Science Park, opened new state-of-the-art testing clinics in Shrewsbury and Manchester at the end of 2020.
BioGrad also has a clinic in Birmingham, and partners with several hundred pharmacies throughout the UK.
Chief executive Dr Natalie Kenny said: "This is an incredibly exciting time for BioGrad, as we continue to invest heavily in our infrastructure and our people.
"Our growth far outstrips our original intentions for offering Covid testing in the first place, which was and remains to be about offering our expertise and facilities to help the country overcome the pandemic - to keep people safe, to allow people to travel and to keep schools and businesses open.
"It has never been about making a profit, and that's why from day one we offered our testing facilities to schools at cost price, and covered the nursing costs ourselves.
"When many of our key workers are in low to medium paid jobs, it would be immoral of us to do it any other way.
"BioGrad is a highly credible and trusted company, Government-approved, and can guarantee all results within 24-hours, which stands us apart from our competitors.
"Our entry into London is a game-changer for the company, and we are already looking at other sites around the UK to further cement our growth.
"Our mission remains the same - that everyone in the UK should have access to gold standard healthcare and education."
