A CHEMICALS research specialist has recruited five recent graduates and placement students from universities in the region to support its expansion plans.

High Force Research based at Bowburn, near Durham City , has appointed graduates Joe O’ Sullivan, Emma Whelan and Dr Neil Sim as permanent members of staff as part of its commitment to developing new talent.

The firm has provided a range of services allied to new product development in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and fine chemicals industries for more than 25 years

Mr O’Sullivan, 23, has joined as a synthetic organic chemist following his graduation from Newcastle University; Northumbria graduate Emma, 22, has been appointed as a quality control analyst and Dr Sim, 25, will be working as a research chemist having achieved his PhD from Durham University.

High Force Research has also offered 12 month placements to Matthew Hammond, 21, and Tom Horsfield, 20, who are undergraduates at Durham University and Newcastle University respectively. Both will work full-time on development projects with mentoring from experienced chemists during their time at the company.

Mr Hammond, who will graduate this summer, has had his placement funded by one of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Industrial Placement Grants, which offer small chemical companies funding to host one-year placements for undergraduates of strong academic merit. The aim of the programme is to support companies and help them recruit the best talent.

These additions to the 25-strong team reflect the ongoing expansion of High Force Research, which has increased its staff numbers by eight in the last year and is in process of extending its premises.

Bob Redfern, managing director, said: “We’ve been delighted with the quality of young people that we have worked with. We have always been keen to recruit graduates and to invest in their training and development, and Joe, Emma and Neil have already impressed us with the aptitude and enthusiasm for their roles.

“Having had a really positive experience with a placement student last year it was an easy decision to take on two more this year. It’s important to provide students with an opportunity to work and learn in a real laboratory, and of course it gives us the chance to see what they can do and whether they may be a good fit for the company after they graduate.

“Our graduate chemists and placement students will play an important role in our continued expansion, which has seen us make a significant investment in additional laboratory facilities, equipment and recruitment of new members of staff.”