Chiesi, a global pharmaceutical group with its UK head office in Greater Manchester, is celebrating after being awarded B Corp certification.
B Corps are businesses that use profits and growth for a greater good and have a positive impact for their employees, community and the environment. The family owned business first started in a small laboratory in Parma, Italy, in 1935. The Group now operates across the globe in 28 countries, including the UK, with licensee arrangements in 59 others.
Its UK affiliate, Chiesi Limited, is a leading voice for the pharmaceutical sector in the North where it has been based for 25 years. It is the number one affiliate in the Group in terms of revenue which reached £262 million last year. The company employs more than 400 people in the UK, with 180 of them based in Greater Manchester.
The Group was externally assessed across a range of criteria, in becoming the largest global pharma group to achieve B Corp certification. Chiesi Limited made a significant contribution to this achievement; including switching to 100% renewable energy, as well as contributing to community and environmental initiatives.
Tom Delahoyde, Managing Director of Chiesi Limited, who has worked for the company for more than 20 years, said:
“At Chiesi we take pride in being part of the community and this accolade, as we celebrate our 25-year anniversary, is recognition of the relationship we have worked hard to achieve with our employees, customers, community and environment.
“Chiesi is firmly rooted in the North West and we are proud to be the only global pharmaceutical company with its head office in the region. Our business has doubled in size in the last five years and as one of the main pharmaceutical employers, we are committed to staying in the North and creating more jobs in a sustainable way.
“We have built strong relationships with our partners in the region including the universities and local authorities and believe we are in the perfect location to develop and further grow our business.”