Covid-19 testing group BioGrad to open three walk-in clinics in London

COVID-19 testing firm BioGrad Diagnostics is opening three new clinics in London for walk-in and booked appointments.

The Liverpool-based private group said the £2million programme would create 150 new jobs in its first 12 months.

It will open clinics at locations near Regent’s Park, Heathrow and ExCel London.

The  Government-approved tests for ‘Fit to travel’ and ‘Test to release’ cost £99, with results guaranteed within 24 hours.

The company already has clinics in Liverpool Science Park, Manchester Airport and Birmingham NEC, and jas tie-ups with several hundred pharmacies throughout the UK to provide 24-hour PCR tests at its headquarters in Liverpool.

CEO Dr Natalie Kenny said: “It has never been about making a profit, and that’s why from day one we offered our testing facilities to schools at cost price, and covered the nursing costs ourselves. When many of our key workers are in low to medium paid jobs, it would be immoral of us to do it any other way.

“Our entry into London is a game-changer for the company, and we are already looking at other sites around the UK to further cement our growth. Our mission remains the same - that everyone in the UK should have access to gold standard healthcare and education."

BioGrad’s diagnostics arm was created during the first UK lockdown in 2020, and has so far supplied more than 250,000 Covid tests nationally.

Its latest investment will create 120 new jobs in Liverpool, including a mix of clinical admin and scientist roles, plus a further 30 roles across BioGrad’s other sites.

Profits from the Diagnostics are being invested back into the business and a bursary scheme which supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds with their course fees.