A DARESBURY company, which has redefined testing for the cosmetics industry, is celebrating its tenth year with a hattrick of growth including a new office move, new staff and funding.

XCellR8 provides entirely animal-free safety and efficacy tests to the cosmetics, personal care and chemical industries and is the only laboratory internationally to have achieved regulatory recognition for animal-free adaptations of regulatory tests that have not only eliminated the use of animals, but animal-derived components too.

The company was founded in 2008 by Dr Carol Treasure and Bushra Sim and has a clear mission to accelerate the world’s transition to animal-free testing. The tenth year sees XCellR8 deliver a 37 per cent year on year revenue growth following 40 percent growth in 2017.

The move to a new state-of-the-art laboratory on the National Science and Innovation Campus; Sci-Tech Daresbury, will triple the company’s lab capacity expanding the research and development facilities whilst also growing the capacity for work with clients throughout the UK and internationally.

A £150k injection of funding from FW Capital has helped finance the move and will bring in new world class lab equipment and additional work stations.

Three new members of staff have joined the company, Carole Warburton has arrived to boost the quality assurance team, Carole joined the company following a 15-year career as a development scientist and quality assurance officer within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

Chris Taylor, study scientist, recently graduated with a PhD in biology and genetics, and Jainah Halliday, laboratory technician, recent graduate with a masters in biochemistry from Leeds, have joined the lab team to increase the capacity for completing studies.

Dr Carol Treasure said: “The past ten years has seen myself and Bushra build the company that we dreamed of when we first became colleagues in 1996. From an early stage we agreed that animal testing poses not only ethical issues but fundamental scientific ones.

"The world leading science we have developed within the business matched with our ethics and beliefs has meant that we have been able to grow a company based on our core values but firmly rooted in innovation and advancements in science.

"As we celebrate our tenth year we can also celebrate that animal free testing now represents the default rather than the alternative – and we are pleased to have made a positive contribution towards this change. We couldn’t be prouder of our team and look forward to the next ten years of growth and development as we strive to become the world leader in animal-free testing.”

Already trusted by leading cosmetic and chemical companies around the world, XCellR8 has just completed its 1000th piece of testing for cosmetics giant Lush.