32 Nottingham Post Wednesday March 5, 2014 For breaking news go to nottinghampost.com NEP-E01-S2 EP01 BUSINESSPo s t Daily

Feeling at home in Nottingham: Stefano Pessina, left, with Professor David Greenaway, vice chancellor of First tenants Nottingham arrive at University, at the MediCity: From university’s civic left are: Andrew dinner. Third, Integra Communications; Jacqui Pearson, Mark Hill Ltd; Global can g i ve David Browning, director of MediCity; Nazim Kanji, Co-Formulate ; local a boost Mark Chivers, Boots UK; Brian Firth, FitQuest; THE creation of Alliance Boots true British institution without and Costa eight years ago has led to Boots losing sight of the strong bonds Philippou, products being sold around the and commitment to the Medilink East world, its executive chairman territories where its origins lie.” Midlands told business leaders in Mr Pessina pointed to the Nottingham, writes Richard partnership today of Boots’ Tr e s i d d e r . involvement with the He said the key to success Nottingham Enterprise Zone and was forming broad partnerships, MediCity which he described as allowing businesses and a“cost-effective, high-quality Five companies signed up institutions to reap the benefits. site for health and wellness Stefano Pessina, the Italian businesses”. billionaire who merged his “In this way, we are helping Alliance Unichem business with to develop future partnerships Boots and later backed it into with start-ups and small and US-pharmacy chain Walgreens, medium enterprises, allowing for ‘exciting’MediCity hub said a global business such as them to benefit from our the healthcare group could boost expertise in the global healthcare By Richard Tresidder Tenant companies occupy local economies. sector, access to innovation and [email protected] 1,500sq ft of floor space and are He told guests at a civic product development using central services to host dinner hosted by Professor David knowledge, as well as supply THE first tenants have moved client visits. Greenaway, vice-chancellor of chain expertise.” into MediCity, the former MediCity director David the University of Nottingham, Mr Pessina said its strategic “dry”factory on the Boots site Browning said: “Just two that he strongly believed in the partnership with Walgreens in Beeston. months since our launch, the The building, known locally MediCity community of innov- virtues and value of working in would lead to the creation of the as D6, has been converted into ators is starting to grow. partnership. first global pharmacy-led health a health, beauty and wellness “Our team is busy providing “An organisation that is and wellbeing enterprise. innovation hub. the technical and commercial partnership-driven can work and “Global doesn’t happen at the Firms can receive advice advice these companies need to develop for the benefit of all expense of local. Instead, it can from professionals and senior develop and grow their ideas. stakeholders,”said Mr Pessina. create new and exciting Boots staff as products begin to “Collaboration and opportunities. Alliance Boots will take shape. co-operation can unlock great continue to have a positive They will be able to pitch The progress made at ideas to Boots buyers, who will MediCity since its potential and generate impact for Nottingham and the help get suitable products into opportunities, increasing the East Midlands.” its health and beauty chain of ‘‘ launch in November is scope of choices. He added: “If we look at 2,500 stores. “Many people believe Boots, then products Five firms have signed up to extremely exciting partnership is simply placing manufactured in Nottingham can locate in the newly refurbished Mark Chivers parties together. be bought across Europe, Asia bu i l d i n g . MediCity: The former factory on the Boots site in Beeston. “For me, it goes well beyond and North America. Because of The tenant companies are in- that. It is the synergy and the this, Boots UK is in a much better volved in a range of commer- drug development services to panies in the sector. “It is also a busy time for the culture created afterwards that place now than six years ago cial activities, including hu- pharmaceutical, biotechno- Last year, Medilink helped conferencing team which has man performance measure- logy, OTC (over-the-counter) secure more than £700,000 in more than 20 events booked makes the real difference. when Alliance Boots was born. ment technology, haircare healthcare, cosmetics clients grant funding for client com- into an areas called the Meet- “It means that any success is “We have internationalised product innovation, and nutraceuticals –nu t r i e n t s p a n i e s. ing Space.” not sustainable if it’s not one Boots product brands and stores early-stage drug development, sold as medicines which be- Mark Hill Hair Cosmetics MediCity lies within the core that benefits all stakeholders, and taken them around the health-sector public relations nefit the body. have worked exclusively with of the Nottingham Enterprise generating a win-win situation globe.” and med-tech business sup- The company employs five Boots UK for more than ten Z o n e. for all parties. A selection of No7 products por t. senior scientists and is looking years, retailing haircare, elec- Mark Chivers, enterprise “This also explains why we was launched in Walgreens FitQuest is an advanced tech- to recruit again in the next few trical stylers and brushes. zone director at Alliance Boots, have always tried to develop the stores a year ago. nology system designed to m o n t h s. Having a team based in Not- said: “The progress made at measure human performance Directors Huw Jones and tingham will further build on MediCity since its launch in business in ways that benefit the “The vast majority of these and help people manage their Nazim Kanji have returned to this successful relationship, November is extremely excit- local and regional economy. No7 products are manufactured f i t n e s s. the laboratories they helped said the company. ing and demonstrates the “I believe that regional from Nottingham. A product of Leeds-based design as employees of Boots Integra Communications, many opportunities MediCity economies can reap the benefits “We are talking about taking MIE Medical Research, Healthcare International be- the public relations agency can offer for economic devel- of wider partnerships both at Boots products to the largest FitQuest has chosen Notting- fore they left to develop Co-For- based in BioCity, has opened a opment, not just for innovative institutional and business level.” pharmaceutical and cosmetic ham, and MediCity in partic- mulate with the support of second office in MediCity to start-ups and growing busi- Mr Pessina said Nottingham market in the world. ular, to draw on the regional BioCity Nottingham. give media advice to the senior nesses, but also for the wider had become “closer and closer “Opening this transatlantic sector expertise in sports sci- Medilink East Midlands is management team and to ten- Nottingham area. to my heart and almost my pipeline will see Nottingham e n c e. the life science industry mem- ant companies. “We look forward to attract- Co-Formulate occupies two bership body. It has taken a Integra will give free PR clin- ing more innovators in the second home”. continue to serve as a core laboratories and an office to virtual tenancy to support ics on site to early-stage tenant field of health, beauty and well- “Boots and Nottingham share location for Boots UK and help allow the team to expand its early-stage and growing com- firms and entrepreneurs. ness to MediCity.” a great story and Boots has keep Nottingham as our become a great example of a manufacturing base.” All the latest business news each working day at nottinghampost.com