Pfizer to retain 350 jobs at Sandwich
pharmafile | June 24, 2011 | News story | Research and Development | Pfizer, Sandwich, pharma jobs, recruitment
Pfizer has made the surprise decision to retain 350 jobs at its research and development site in Sandwich, Kent, providing a welcome reprieve for some employees.
Pfizer announced its exit from the Sandwich site in February, and said virtually all of the 2,400 jobs at the site would be lost.
The company had aimed to outsource some of its existing activity to a contract research organisation, but this has proven not to be viable, and Pfizer will instead retain a Pharmaceutical Sciences unit itself.
The company says the move will help it to develop products in its mid- and late- stage pipeline. Nevertheless, there are no long term guarantees for these jobs – Pfizer says it will review this operation within a few years, as part of its normal business planning.
Pfizer says it remaining present at the site will make it more attractive to new investors and prospective occupants on the site. It will continue to actively market it as a ‘Discovery Park’ through its brokers CBRE, and in close collaboration with UK Trade and Investment and Locate in Kent.
Pfizer’s main Pharmaceutical Sciences centre is at its Groton, Connecticut site in the US.
Pfizer also announced today a change in site head for Sandwich. Dr Ruth McKernan will leave Sandwich to take up her role as chief scientific officer at Pfizer’s Pain and Sensory Disorders Unit ‘Neusentis’ in Cambridge, UK, and Dr Annette Doherty will become site director in Sandwich.
Ruth McKernan said: “We are hopeful, that by retaining this core group at Sandwich, Pfizer will be the first of many companies to locate on the site. We remain focused on securing new owners and investment into Discovery Park.”
Annette Doherty said: “Pfizer’s retained Pharmaceutical Sciences operations at Sandwich will maintain a nucleus of industry leading talent, skills and capabilities in science and technology at the site. It will be a key part of my role as site director to support the hard work that is being done to find new uses for the site, and continue to support colleagues through the transition as we proceed with our phased exit of the site.”
Paul Carter, Chairman of the Sandwich Economic Development Task Force and Leader of Kent County Council, welcomed the decision.
“Securing 350 jobs on site by Pfizer is a step in the right direction and is positive news. We must now work with Pfizer and their marketing agent CBRE to secure further investors and businesses on-site, and encourage inward investment and occupancy in a whole array of business activity.”
Andrew McConaghie
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