LifeScan Scotland Ltd
LifeScan Scotland is expanding its Inverness-based R&D team to develop an innovative product offering of blood-glucose monitoring devices for diabetics.
From its research base nestled amongst the mountains of the Highlands, medical device specialist LifeScan Scotland has grown to become one of the world leaders in blood-glucose monitoring devices for diabetes sufferers.
A member of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, LifeScan aims to tackle a predicted diabetes epidemic through innovative monitoring systems that allow sufferers to test their blood-glucose levels accurately and easily.
With commercial headquarters in the US, Inverness has remained the hub of all LifeScan’s innovation. Now expanding, it is hoping to attract the best scientific minds into the company. As Vice President of Research and Development, Tito Bacarese-Hamilton, discovered when he joined the company five years ago, there is more to the Highlands than beautiful scenery.
TalentScotland spoke to him about LifeScan’s plans for the future.
How was the company founded?
The early pioneers came to the Highlands in 1996 with some basic ideas of a specialised form of chemistry called electro-chemistry, which is very good at making this type of test available to people easily.
We are dedicated to making diagnostics, and healthcare in general, much more available to the person in the street. So whether it’s a five year old in Manhattan or a 95 year-old in Manchester, we aim to make devices that are simple enough for anyone to use.
In 15 years the company has grown from eight people to around 1,100 employees. We also have the market-leading product in the USA and are second worldwide in what is a massive industry.
Why did LifeScan choose to base development and manufacture in Scotland?
Originally it was because the Scottish government had the vision to provide grants and funding for the research. But it was also a combination of the entrepreneurs who first came here and the ability of Johnson & Johnson to see the scope and the scale of the project in this location.
It is my belief that if they hadn’t acquired this plant, we would still be reaching out to thousands of patients as opposed to millions and be talking about a business in the millions as opposed to the billions, which is what we’ve got today.
What are the company’s plans for growth?
It is recognised in our organisation that the team we have in Inverness can deliver the best research and development. That’s why we have been given this opportunity to grow and expand the team here.
We don’t work on our own – there are career and growth opportunities globally under the Johnson & Johnson umbrella. But here we are looking for high-performing scientists and engineers from universities and industry sectors who want to develop careers in medical devices and diagnostics.
How would you describe the company culture?
We’re very forward-thinking and have a lot of diversity – both diversity of thought and diversity of culture.
We have representatives from 27 different countries - we have Chileans, Mexicans, Germans, people like myself who hail from Gibraltar– and this contributes to an exceptional company in an exceptional location.
We are always looking for exceptional people to join us.
What is it like to live and work in Inverness?
Many people are taken by the beauty of the hills and the lochs and the scenery, but what we want to say is that there is also a very important company here with masses of opportunity for the right candidates and their families.
Having said that, Inverness does offer a fantastic quality of life - I have three grown-up children who never stop asking when they can come and visit!