MANAGEMENT and staff at Britain鈥檚 Laboratory of the Government Chemist have decided to team up with the Royal Society of Chemistry and the investment firm 3i to buy out the lab. The Department of Trade and Industry announced this week that the consortium, led by the Government Chemist Richard Worswick, is the 鈥減referred bidder鈥�.
The lab, an executive agency of the DTI since 1989, sets chemical standards as part of the National Measurement System and carries out chemical analyses for government departments, law enforcement bodies and private companies.
Ian Taylor, junior minister responsible for science and technology, said the sell-off was 鈥渋mportant for LGC鈥檚 ability to continue to win business鈥�. This is despite LGC鈥檚 impressive track record. A spokesman says the lab has been in the black every year since becoming an agency and has been very successful in winning contracts against tough competition.
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