Testing Contracts
Government Contracts Awarded to Plymouth Brethren Firms Raise Eyebrows.
Former UKHSA director joins company owned by Brethren members, amidst lucrative contract awards
Test & Trace
In August 2020, Mark Hewlett was employed on a 12-month fixed-term contract as Director of Testing for the UK Government's Test & Trace department, later to become the UKHSA (United Kingdom Health Security Agency). In February 2021, he answered questions alongside Baroness Harding in front of a government committee. His contract was extended, and he ended up becoming the highest-paid director on the UKHSA executive board, with a salary of £220,000.
Medco Solutions
Medco Solutions Ltd (UK company) was awarded contracts worth £850 million by the UK government to supply lateral flow tests. The contracts were awarded between 5th March 2021 and 23rd February 2022. Medco Solutions Pty Ltd (Australian company) is owned by Dean Hales, the son of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Medco Solutions Ltd (UK company) had already benefitted from £84 million of PPE contracts.
Sante Global
Sante Global was awarded a contract worth £271 million by the UK government to supply lateral flow tests in partnership with another Brethren-owned company, Sterilab Services. This contract was awarded on 5th September 2021. Sante Global is owned by Gareth and Charles Hales, both sons of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Sante, under their previous name Unispace, had already benefitted to the tune of £675 million in PPE contracts, awarded via the PPE VIP route following being put forward by Michael Gove.
2San Global
2San Global was not awarded any UK contracts for lateral flow tests or PPE. The company, however, is owned by Dean Hales, who is also the owner of Medco Solutions Pty Ltd.
Connections
Medco Solutions Pty Ltd, Sante Global Pty Ltd, and 2San Pty Ltd were all based at the same address when these contracts were awarded: 2a Hope Street, Ermington, Sydney. This location is home to the Hales business empire, and all three companies were owned by Dean, Charles, and Gareth Hales on the dates the contracts were awarded.
2San Global Appoints New CEO
In March 2022, Mark Hewlett left his role as Director of Testing for UKHSA. Within five weeks, he had taken on his new role as CEO of 2San Global. He started the week commencing 11th April 2022. His first week was spent in Sydney, home to Medco, Sante, and 2San.
In the following six months, 2San Global employed at least 10 more people from the UKHSA Test & Trace team, including senior employees. It is estimated the annual cost of these employees would have been in excess of £1 million. In their annual report for 2022, 2San Global stated that on average they had 15 employees; it would therefore appear that they employed Hewlett's Test & Trace team to run their business.
Though it raises eyebrows, we are not suggesting that Mark Hewlett or anyone involved has done anything wrong.
In August 2020, Mark Hewlett was employed on a 12-month fixed-term contract as Director of Testing for the UK Government's Test & Trace department, later to become the UKHSA (United Kingdom Health Security Agency). In February 2021, he answered questions alongside Baroness Harding in front of a government committee. His contract was extended, and he ended up becoming the highest-paid director on the UKHSA executive board, with a salary of £220,000.
Medco Solutions
Medco Solutions Ltd (UK company) was awarded contracts worth £850 million by the UK government to supply lateral flow tests. The contracts were awarded between 5th March 2021 and 23rd February 2022. Medco Solutions Pty Ltd (Australian company) is owned by Dean Hales, the son of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Medco Solutions Ltd (UK company) had already benefitted from £84 million of PPE contracts.
Sante Global
Sante Global was awarded a contract worth £271 million by the UK government to supply lateral flow tests in partnership with another Brethren-owned company, Sterilab Services. This contract was awarded on 5th September 2021. Sante Global is owned by Gareth and Charles Hales, both sons of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Sante, under their previous name Unispace, had already benefitted to the tune of £675 million in PPE contracts, awarded via the PPE VIP route following being put forward by Michael Gove.
2San Global
2San Global was not awarded any UK contracts for lateral flow tests or PPE. The company, however, is owned by Dean Hales, who is also the owner of Medco Solutions Pty Ltd.
Connections
Medco Solutions Pty Ltd, Sante Global Pty Ltd, and 2San Pty Ltd were all based at the same address when these contracts were awarded: 2a Hope Street, Ermington, Sydney. This location is home to the Hales business empire, and all three companies were owned by Dean, Charles, and Gareth Hales on the dates the contracts were awarded.
2San Global Appoints New CEO
In March 2022, Mark Hewlett left his role as Director of Testing for UKHSA. Within five weeks, he had taken on his new role as CEO of 2San Global. He started the week commencing 11th April 2022. His first week was spent in Sydney, home to Medco, Sante, and 2San.
In the following six months, 2San Global employed at least 10 more people from the UKHSA Test & Trace team, including senior employees. It is estimated the annual cost of these employees would have been in excess of £1 million. In their annual report for 2022, 2San Global stated that on average they had 15 employees; it would therefore appear that they employed Hewlett's Test & Trace team to run their business.
Though it raises eyebrows, we are not suggesting that Mark Hewlett or anyone involved has done anything wrong.
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