Sygnature Discovery Presented with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise

One of the UK’s largest independent providers of integrated drug discovery solutions has been presented with one of the UK’s most prestigious business awards – the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2017.

Company Founder and CEO, Dr Simon Hirst, received the award in recognition of Sygnature’s international trade success. Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir John Peace, presented the award at a special ceremony held at Sygnature’s new facility, at the £30m Discovery Building in Nottingham. The ceremony was attended by staff, clients and close contacts of the company as well as The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Michael Edwards and other dignitaries. The ceremony offered an opportunity for guests to view the new Discovery Building, its super high-tech laboratories and its Corona sculpture.

Dr Hirst is a Medicinal Chemist with almost 30 years of industry experience, winning the Chemistry World ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2016. He founded Sygnature Discovery in 2004 and now employs over 170 dedicated scientists researching potential new medicines to treat a range of debilitating diseases. This expertise is exported to clients around the world.

Dr Hirst commented, “To receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, International Trade is a tremendous honour and the recognition for our success overseas is very gratifying for the whole team at Sygnature Discovery. As a company we have always viewed drug discovery as an internationally important sector to work in and as such, international trade has always been a significant part of our strategy.”

Dr Simon Hirst and Sygnature’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Jonathan Williams were also recently invited to a Buckingham Palace reception attended by Her Majesty The Queen.

Dr Hirst added, “It was a huge privilege and truly humbling experience to be invited to Buckingham Palace to meet members of the Royal Household. Being recognised with a Queen’s Award is something the whole team at Sygnature Discovery can be very proud of as it marks the significant achievements we have made over the last 13 years.”