The goal is to establish Cherwell Laboratories as the trusted name in environmental monitoring.
Lawrence Whittard - Founder
Cherwell Laboratories is a specialist supplier of ‘cleanroom microbiology solutions’, but it wasn’t always so. Cherwell was founded by Lawrence Whittard in 1971 as a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
Lawrence was an entrepreneur and had an eye for an opportunity. Cherwell evolved and became a distributor for a range of laboratory equipment. A focus on microbiology, and particularly within the pharma sector, set the foundations for the business.
In 2005, Lawrence passed the baton to Andy Whittard who became the second generation to lead the firm after a long apprenticeship working in all areas of it. Andy attributes the firm’s ongoing success to maintaining a focus on supplying high quality products, supported with excellent customer service.
2021 celebrated the 50th year that Cherwell Laboratories had been in business. Over the years the company has seen significant growth and evolved into a manufacturing and distribution company offering a fully integrated range of products for environmental monitoring and process validation.
Cherwell focuses on supplying high quality products and services for environmental monitoring and process validation for healthcare, pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
From the head office site in Bicester, Cherwell manufactures Redipor® Prepared Media, a range of microbiological media products which has been developed to meet the specific needs of Cherwell’s customers. Cherwell also supplies SAS® microbial air samplers as well as a range of EM accessories.
In September 2021, we managed to get together as a team to celebrate our 50 years in business. It had been a while since we’d socialised as a company, due to COVID restrictions and it was certainly worth the wait.
We’ve put together a short video of our celebrations.
1971 – Company name is set up by Lawrence Whittard, veterinary surgeon by profession, and starts trading performing laboratory analytical work as a result of consultancy work Lawrence had been undertaking for the Central Pathology Laboratory in Welwyn Garden City.
1971 – Company name is set up by Lawrence Whittard, veterinary surgeon by profession, and starts trading performing laboratory analytical work as a result of consultancy work Lawrence had been undertaking for the Central Pathology Laboratory in Welwyn Garden City.
Early in this decade, PBI launch the SAS air sampler and Cherwell introduce this to Evans Medical in Runcorn. They purchase units and ask Cherwell if they can provide the pre filled Contact plates, ideally irradiated.
Early in this decade, PBI launch the SAS air sampler and Cherwell introduce this to Evans Medical in Runcorn. They purchase units and ask Cherwell if they can provide the pre filled Contact plates, ideally irradiated.
Cherwell was expanding and built its first production clean room for the manufacture of prepared media. Demand for equipment for clients to make their own plates was starting to decrease as a shift towards buying in prepoured plates accelerated.
Cherwell was expanding and built its first production clean room for the manufacture of prepared media. Demand for equipment for clients to make their own plates was starting to decrease as a shift towards buying in prepoured plates accelerated.
Cherwell’s growth continues and in 2004 the business relocated to a single new site in Bicester, expanding is capabilities with a new 500m2 clean room manufacturing suite. Cherwell also becomes the UK distributor for the Datatrace datalogging products.
Cherwell’s growth continues and in 2004 the business relocated to a single new site in Bicester, expanding is capabilities with a new 500m2 clean room manufacturing suite. Cherwell also becomes the UK distributor for the Datatrace datalogging products.
Continued demand for the Redipor range sees Cherwell extend its premises and acquire a neighbouring unit, allowing its clean room facility to be doubled in size.
Continued demand for the Redipor range sees Cherwell extend its premises and acquire a neighbouring unit, allowing its clean room facility to be doubled in size.
In September 2020 sadly Lawrence passed away at the age of 83. His legacy is a successful, prosperous business that is well set for the years ahead, which places the importance of the customer at its heart.
In September 2020 sadly Lawrence passed away at the age of 83. His legacy is a successful, prosperous business that is well set for the years ahead, which places the importance of the customer at its heart.
Cherwell joins the AnalytiChem Group, a collection of eight dynamic businesses located across North America, Europe and Australia.
Two other companies in the group also manufacture prepared media, presenting opportunities for collaboration and learning.
Cherwell joins the AnalytiChem Group, a collection of eight dynamic businesses located across North America, Europe and Australia.
Two other companies in the group also manufacture prepared media, presenting opportunities for collaboration and learning.
10 days on full pay to cover absence due to ill health, once you’ve completed your probation.
We like a brew as much as anybody does, so you’ll find free tea and coffee at all times at Cherwell.”
Free eye tests for everybody at Cherwell, in partnership with Specsavers, and for some roles we mandate regular eye tests.
“I have worked for Cherwell for 23 years, initially in Production but then changed career and moved into an office role, something I had never done but the company helped me reinvent my career. It is a good, family run business where everyone is friendly & co-operative in helping me provide answers for our customers, bringing my wealth of knowledge to customers old and new.”
Debby
Delivering what you need, doing what we said we would
Developing our products, processes - and ourselves - to meet what our customers need
Supportive, helpful & committed to our customer and each other
We were looking for ways to involve our customers in our 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021 and we thought what would be more fun than holding an agar art competition.
A massive thank you to everyone who took part in our first ever agar art competition, the standard of the entries was fantastic.
There were a couple of themes amongst the entrants – animals and the NHS! We particularly enjoyed Sophie D’s elephant, who looked a little mischievous, and Jenny P’s rabbit.
The microscope from Jayasingh J was also very impressive and intricate.
It was also great to see several entries celebrating the fantastic work of the NHS and at a time when it has faced perhaps its biggest challenge.
As always with these things, a winner has to be picked and because of the intricate use of several organisms which provided a colourful display of flowers, we would like to congratulate Megan W for her wonderful creation. Many congratulations to Megan and many thanks to all who entered.
We planted a tree with the National Trust on behalf of everyone who entered.
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OX26 4XB
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