Fera Science Ltd (“Fera”), a leading provider of expert science services supporting food, agriculture and the environment, this week celebrates its 10-year anniversary as a successful public-private sector Joint Venture business.
With its origins in Government almost 100 years ago, Fera was spun out from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in 2015, to create a new JV business that combined public-sector scientific rigour with private-sector innovation and commercial acumen. Fera has since exemplified how such shared expertise can tangibly advance science and innovation for public good whilst delivering commercial advantage to industry, thereby creating a successful, high-growth business and a sustainable future. In partnership with existing shareholder DEFRA, Bridgepoint - one of the world’s leading private asset growth investors - became Fera’s majority shareholder in December 2023, heralding a new phase for Fera’s growth as a global authority in science for life.
At a landmark event at the Houses of Parliament yesterday evening (Wednesday 29 October) the anniversary was celebrated by bringing together peers from across government, NGOs, industry and academia to recognise a decade of impactful collaboration, scientific achievement and commercial success. The venue provided a fitting backdrop for this milestone, symbolising the importance to Fera’s success of effective partnership between public and private sectors.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Andrew Swift, CEO of Fera, said:
“The decade since April 2015 has been a fantastic journey, which has created a thriving and foresight expert science services business – delivering ‘science for life’ on an international stage - and with high ambition for further growth.
“We are grateful to our shareholders, Board (and its Committees) and all of the stakeholders, customers and partners who have supported Fera along the way and, we hope, will continue to do so in to the future.”
Evidencing the influence of Fera on UK agri-food-science, the event was attended by Dame Angela Eagle MP, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, with addresses from Henry Dimbleby, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Bramble Partners and co-founder of Leon Restaurants; Dr. Wolfhart Hauser, Chair of Fera; and Emily Miles, Director General for Food, Biosecurity, Trade and EU-UK Reset, DEFRA.
Since Bridgepoint’s investment, Fera has achieved strong double-digit revenue growth and now employs over 550 people at its biotech campus near York, including over 250 graduate and 50 doctorate multidisciplinary scientists. The business continues to demonstrate strong organic and M&A-led growth enhancing its capacity to serve public and private clients, across multiple geographies.
Fera is now looking ahead to the next phase of its growth journey, focusing on enhancing science-led services to the life sciences sector worldwide.
As it looks to its next decade, Fera continues to embody its purpose of “science for life” - driving innovation where science, sustainability and business intersect.