When we launched Open & Candid back in 2020, one of the first stories we covered was the remarkable number of covid contracts awarded to members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Over time more contracts were published and more Plymouth Brethren member companies had been awarded contracts. We calculate that contracts have been awarded to 64 companies and now total well over £2.6 Billion!

​Our research has gone much deeper, looking at the companies, the people and how there are many connections, that link these
companies and directors. 

The first part investigates the contracts awarded directly by the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) to Unispace Global/Sante Global LLP. Part 2 will look at Medco Solutions & Sterilab Services and hopefully show the web of links between the brethren companies. The original Covid Contract story is at the end of this updated version.

The Plymouth Brethren Christian Church is led by one man, that leader is Bruce D Hales, known as the 'elect vessel' or 'the man of god', Hales has led the church since 2002, taking over from his father John Hales who led the then Exclusive Brethren from 1987. Bruce Hales like his father is a businessperson, the brethren members have built a network of businesses that are based in Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA, Canada and in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden & Argentina. Estimates suggest there are 50,000 brethren members worldwide, with 16,000 in the UK. Our research in the UK shows that between the Companies registered on Companies House, Church Halls (Meeting Rooms), Schools and the various other Brethren Charities, that there are well over a 1,000 listed brethren entities in the UK alone, covering the businesses, charities & schools. Our research has also found evidence of the incredible wealth built by the members of the church.

As we investigated each of the companies winning contracts, it became apparent that there would appear to be a hierarchy within the UK, and by the size of the businesses, if not within the church itself. 

100 Covid Winners

The 100 companies, owned by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (Exclusive Brethren), that won either UK Government, Regional Government covid contracts, part of framework agreements or were included on local & national government recommended lists. A total value of contracts worth circa £2.6 billion.

​Unispace Global
Sterilab Services
Inivos
Origin Packaging
Clandeboye Agencies
Tower Supplies
Techniclean Supply
Accora
Agile Medical
​Creative Activity Group
Kingsbury Press*
Centrado Trading
Toffeln
Blueleaf
Bryson Products
Corecare Global
Carlton Packaging
Oakdene Services (1925)
Ascot Signs
Lion Safety
Nexon Healthcare
Protec Healthcare
AUK Supplies
Denmore Press
AST Global Sourcing
Harmony Fire
Allgroup LLP
Bridge Valley Group
Selmach
ProGarm
​Lapwing
​Cottonmount Trading
Slater Safety
​Bentley Nursing Supplies

Sante Global
GDC Healthcare
Lindum Packaging
Halco Europe
Occura Healthcare
​CMT Group
Specialist Door Soultions
Oska Care
Selkent Medical
Yewdale Corporation
Eastpoint
Streamline Corporate
Innova Care Concepts
Springfield Supplies & Projects
Orcagel
Denka UK
SMI Int Group
Total Protection (UK)
Southgate Packaging*
Acopia Group
Lovair
TGS (UK)
Castle EU
Eclipse Furniture
Heathbrook Workwear
Innotech
McKinleys Group
​Plus Packaging
Duraflor
Otterdene
Brookhouse
Blake Envelopes
​Olsons Group
​Denmore Protection

Medco Solutions
AES Industrial Supplies
Bronze Architecture
Fairfield Care Products
Arrow County Supplies
Aero Healthcare
Giftfinder
Baca Workwear & Safety
Klipspringer
Hornbeck Team
Archer Marketing
Castle Industrial Supplies
CID Products
Clad Safety
CPP Trading Group
Hallmark Workwear & Safety
Medaco
Onyx - Safepro Industrial Supplies
Oxford Safety Supplies
Protective Wear Supplies (PWS)
Springfield Business Papers
Tudor Environmental
Ureka Global
Rhino Sensory
Stonegate Tooling
VIC Group
Venta Global
V12 Footwear
Stronghold Global
Wearertech
STS
Flamepro Global
​Sentura Group

Unispace & Sante Group

At the start of the pandemic in March 2020 Unispace Global was a global interior design business, incorporated in the UK back in July 2011 by brother in laws Cyril Parsons & Garth Woodcock, under the name of Jemc Ltd, each holding a 50% share in the company, a month later in August 2011 they changed the name to Unispace Global Ltd. In June 2013, the partner of Garth Woodcock's niece, Anthony Hazell became a director. Cyril Parsons had resigned as a director at the start of 2013 and his 50% shareholding was switched to Anthony Hazell. One year later in June 2014, two more directors were added to the business, Dale Woodcock, the younger brother of Garth and Sebastian Parsons, a son of Cyril Parsons. Companies House show an allotment of shares at the end of 2013 and lists in September 2014 the shareholding, the largest shareholder was now the Australian registered company Unispace Global PTY Ltd, holding a 51% share, Garth Woodcock & Anthony Hazell owned 19.5% each, Dale Woodcock & Sebastian Parsons holding the remaining 10%, each with 5%. The Australian company Unispace Global PTY Ltd was owned by brothers Gareth & Charles Hales, both sons of 'the man of god' Bruce Hales.

The UK business at the end of 2013 showed net assets of £268k, by the end of 2014 that had grown to 584k, by the end of 2015 the business was growing at a substantial pace with an almost 300% increase of turnover from £12 million to £35 million, the net assets were now at £3.7 million. In September 2016, a confirmation statement shows that Gareth Hales was now named as a person with significant control. In December 2016 Garth Woodcock resigned as a director of Unispace Global Ltd and at the same time Anthony Hazell became the person with significant control, Garth Woodcock shares of 19.5% of the business had transferred to Anthony Hazell, giving Hazell a 39% share of the company. The accounts for 2016 show the business had continued to grow with turnover now at £47 million, net assets at £8.8 million and profits at almost £5 million. Over the next 3 years there was little change in the Unispace ownership as the company in the UK continued to grow. The business from what we understand was an interior office design, collaborating with major well-known clients such as Boston Scientific, Coke Cola, Ernst Young, PWC, Microsoft and Pfizer. They were expanding with offices in most, if not all the countries where there were Plymouth Brethren members. Accounts for 2017 showed continuing growth with turnover at £59 million, net assets at £13.7 million and profits at almost £10 million. In 2018 there were rumours the worldwide Unispace business could be sold, it was also the year the company turnover experienced the first drop, coming in at £56 million, net assets grew to £16 million and profits dropped to just under £4 million. 2019 saw a return to growth, turnover up to £87 million, net assets grew to £26 million & the profits returned just under £10 million. 2019 also saw Dale Woodcock resign as a director of the company, though it is unclear if he sold his shareholding. 

The start of the pandemic in 2020 brought the most extraordinary trading conditions for all companies. It would be understandable for an office interior design business to face challenging times. The directors of Unispace however were about to buck the trend, make more profits in 12 months than the Unispace Global Ltd company had made since its incorporation and would the end year overseeing the sale of the worldwide business.

​In March 2020 the UK locked down due to the outbreak of Coronavirus, the UK government were in a state of panic, the NHS was suffering a shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The government sought help from any company that could help and implemented an emergency procurement process to award contracts without competition. The controls in place will be questioned over many years, especially around the introduction of a VIP lane, the fraud prevention measures and that so many friends & Conservative party donors were awarded contracts.

One of the companies to benefit from the VIP lane was Unispace Global, the office interior design company that suddenly became a PPE provider on a massive scale. Unispace were awarded almost £680 million in PPE contracts by the DHSC. The source of the referral to the VIP lane for Unispace was reported as a generic "GCF Covid-19 Enquiries, mailbox, Cabinet Office", we have been unable to find much further detail. If this was a forwarded email, then who forwarded it? We believe the "GCF" is the Acronym for the Government Commercial Function. What we could ascertain is that Unispace Global had no previous history of winning government contracts. In total Unispace were awarded 7 contracts:

1) Nitrile Gloves   £47,846,500  Unispace Global Ltd
2) Gloves   £103,684,000  Unispace Global Health
3) Gloves   £161,000,000    Unispace Global Ltd
4) Gloves   £9,660,000    Unispace Global Ltd
5) Gloves   £3,789,590    Unispace Global Ltd
6) Face Masks   £113,950,000    Unispace Global Health
7) Coveralls   £239,600,000    Unispace Global Ltd

When the contracts were published some were in the name of Unispace Global Ltd & some in the name of Unispace Global Health. There were a number of companies at the start of the pandemic with Unispace in the name. These were all Plymouth Brethren member owned companies apart from Unispace Ltd. The companies:

Unispace Global Ltd incorporated July 2011, Shareholders Garth Woodcock, Cyril Parsons

Unispace Health Trading Co incorporated on 11th May 2020, Shareholders Garth Hales, Charles Hales, Anthony Hazell, Sebastian Parsons. The Hales brother owning just over 99%, Hazell & Parsons each with just less than 0.5%. This company shows as dormant though there was a change of director in 2021 with Ralph Green being appointed & Anthony Hazell resigning. The was also a change of company name to Unispace Health & then to Sante Management Ltd.

Unispace Interiors LLP incorporated in 2013, Shareholders the Woodcock family, Garth & his wife, Garth's father Oliver, his brothers Dale & Mark, and a Jerry Woodcock. This company has been dormant since 2016. In March 2020, the Woodcock family all resigned, and ownership passed to Unispace Global Ltd & Unispace Global PTY Ltd. The companies owned by the Charles & Gareth Hales.

Unispace (International) Ltd incorporated in 2011 as Jemc1 by Garth Woodcock & Cyril Parsons, in 2013 Anthony Hazell was appointed a director. Cyril Parsons left the business in 2015. Shareholders since 2015 are Garth Woodcock & Anthony Hazell with a 50% share each. The company has been dormant for a number of years.

Unispace Properties Ltd incorporated in 2017 as Strategic DB Group, founders Gareth Hales, Charles Hales, Anthony Hazell, Dale Woodcock & Sebastian Parsons, each holding an equal share. The company has been dormant since incorporation. It is strange to see there is a Strategic DB Group Ltd incorporated under the name Unispace Properties Ltd in 2011 and then changed name the opposite way in 2017 to Strategic DB Group Ltd and was dissolved following liquidation in February 2020. The directors of this company were Cyril Parsons, Garth Woodcock, Charles Hales, Gareth Hales, Oliver Whiley, Simon Whiley. Parsons & Woodcock founded the business and along with the Hales had resigned prior to the liquidation.

Unispace Scotland Ltd incorporated in 2013, a dormant company owned 50/50 by Garth Woodcock & his brother Mark Woodcock.

Unispace Health Products incorporated on 28th May 2020, now following a name change is called Sante Global LLP and the heart of the new Hales empire. The partners in the limited liability partnership when incorporated Charles Hales, Gareth Hales, 250 Management Ltd (Sebastian Parsons), Devon Advisory Ltd (Anthony Hazell) & Sante Property Ltd (Ralph Green). It appeared that towards the end of 2020 the company was restructured to move the PPE contracts from Unispace, which was in the process of being sold to the Hong Kong Investment company Pacific Alliance Group (PAG), to this the new entity Sante Global LLP. There are a number of notices on companies house including the name change, the resignation of Devon Advisory Ltd, a shortening of the accounting period and a change of address to the same address of a well-known Brethren company Traxx Tyres, Maxx House, Western Road, Bracknell. On the 5th of January, this year the companies accounts for the trading period up until 31st March 2021 were published.
The accounts show a turnover of £731 million, with a pre-tax profit of £84 million! 

Unispace Supply was incorporated on 26th August 2020, now following a name change is called Sante Global Holdings LLP, it is a dormant business with Charles & Gareth Hales, Sante Property Ltd (Ralph Green) & 250 Management Ltd (Sebastian Parsons) listed as directors & shareholders.

Unispace Health Ltd was incorporated on 17th April 2020, it has changed names twice first to Unispace Health Trading Co and now to Sante Trading Co. Ltd. This is a fascinating company as it is the starting place of links to a number of companies and it also indicates where many members of the Plymouth Brethren Church, who were formerly employed by Unispace Global moved to post the sale to PAG. Originally the company was incorporated with just Anthony Hazell as a shareholder. Almost instantly Hazell relinquished his share and was replaced by Charles Hales, Gareth Hales, Sebastian Parsons and a list of new shareholders that includes Russell Devenish, Guy Holding, Anton Dible, Vern Woolgar and extraordinarily Ross Robertson. Robertson was an employee of Unispace Global Ltd, he worked on the Boston Scientific office design project. Ross Robertson had just 3 weeks prior incorporated a new company with his brother Luke Robertson. That new company he incorporated is the huge £772 million covid contract winner Medco Solutions Ltd. We will look at this in more detail shortly. Sante Trading Co. Ltd added Ralph Green to the mix in July 2020 and has since added a number of further ex Unispace Global brethren employees to the shareholders list. The current list below still includes Ross Robertson. The company however is still 99% owned by the Hales brothers. This covers shareholders/employees in the Italian & French offices of Sante.

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​In summary the Unispace office design worldwide business was sold to PAG early in 2021. Sante was formed early in the pandemic by the Hales in conjunction with Anthony Hazell, Sebastian Parsons & Ralph Green. The £680 PPE contracts were moved to Sante prior to the sale of Unispace. The employees of Unispace have moved to other brethren companies following the sale, many have moved to Sante.

There has been a further contract awarded by the DHSC under the Sante Global LLP moniker, this is on top of the £680 million won under the Unispace name. It is an interesting contract, as it does not readily appear when searching the UK Govt contract finder website and it involves another Plymouth Brethren Member ran company, Sterilabs based in Harrogate. It is also strange that it is not for PPE, instead the contract is for Lateral Flow Tests, there are very few companies that have been awarded contracts for both PPE and for Lateral Flow Tests. Two of these companies are Unispace/Sante and Medco Solutions.

The contract awarded to Sante Global Ltd is for a total of £271,500,000 which would bring the total won by Unispace/Sante Global to a staggering £950 million. It was awarded on the 5th September 2021 and published on the 16th September 2021. It is only by opening the contract itself that you will find Sante Global LLP as part of the Supplier Group!

Sterilab Services Contract

Sterilab Services Contract inc Sante Global LLP

If we go back, one of the many questions is how and why the contracts were awarded? At Open and Candid part of our investigation looked at how could an office design company become involved in PPE on such a scale? We wanted to find out, were they suitable companies in terms of expertise? If there are any close links between the brethren member companies and the hardest question of all was there any connection to the UK government?

Thus the investigation led us back to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church members and the companies they owned. In terms of PPE supply and gloves, one company jumped out straightaway, a company called Gloves4u Ltd. The Leeds based Gloves4u was a supplier of rubber/medical gloves to the UK market. They were owned at the start of the pandemic by Garth Christie & his son Neil, Garth Christie is one of the church "elders", he was very familiar with government, he was one of the frontmen for the dealing with the appeal against the charity commission, that went through parliament back in 2013, the other frontman was Bruce Hazell, who just happens to be Anthony Hazell's uncle.

Christie took over the business in November 2016 with his son Neil Christie. The company had been incorporated in 2014 by the founders, the Anderson family & the Green family, with Mark Hynd also a shareholder. When the business was taken on by Garth & Neil Christie they took the majority shareholding, with Don & Ralph Green (yes the same Ralph Green as above) each retaining a 5% shareholding. The Green's family company is the Nexon SCM group based in Lincoln. The Christie father & son team led the business at the time of the pandemic, net assets reported in June 2019 showed a small business with assets of 26k. Gloves4u has switched hands in 2021. Can you guess who are the directors of the company now? The Hales brothers took an 85% share in the business on the 15th March 2021, with Ralph Green taking a 15% share. It would appear based on our discoveries, that Gloves4u was the conduit with the contacts in Asia to deliver the PPE contracts that were awarded to supply the Gloves. It would also suggest that the main beneficiaries of all the PPE contracts were the sons of Bruce Hales the church leader.

The successful appeal against the Charity Commission decision to not grant charitable status to the Plymouth Brethren gospel halls, was heavily supported by a large number of Conservative MP's, including Owen Paterson, Peter Bone, Robert Halfron and Michael Ellis. At the time the Plymouth Brethren Church held an event in Westminster, this was attended by a large number of Conservative MP's, in the course of our research we found that Peter Green the head of Nexon SCM, father of Ralph Green, attended the event and was clearly well known by his local MP for Lincoln, Karl McCartney​.

Medco Solutions

At the start of 2020 just prior to the pandemic, two brothers Ross Robertson and Luke Robertson founded a new business that would turnover hundreds of millions in the first 2 years. In March 2020, Ross was the Principal, Global Enterprise Accounts at Unispace Global Ltd. Luke was a director of Snaffle Solutions Ltd alongside co director Daniel Reiner, Luke previously was employed for over 7 years at Office Principles Ltd, owned by Cyril Parsons, Cyril is the co-founder of Unispace Global & father of Sebastian Parsons of Sante Global LLP & formerly Unispace Global.

On the 26th March 2020, Ross & Luke incorporated a new company called Medco Solutions Ltd. The company became one of the biggest covid contract winners in the UK, awarded £772 million for PPE & Lateral Flow Tests. The company won £84 million of contracts to supply PPE within the first 3 months of incorporation, their first contract coming within 6 weeks of starting the business. After supplying the PPE contracts Medco Solutions have gone on to be awarded £688 million over four contracts to supply the FlowFlex Lateral Flow Tests by the DHSC.

We have followed Medco Solutions closely since the first contracts were revealed. The website claims they had set up as the distributor for Wingplast a Swedish gynecology consumables business. They had appointed Edoard (Eddie) Dieck as a director on 6th April 2020, he has since resigned as a director in September 2021. Eddie is the brother in law of Luke Robertson. The Wingplast site shows he is a sales representative for the Nordic Countries. Medco shareholding in 2021 showed that Ross & Luke, their wives and a Robertson family trust owned just over 95% of the business, Dieck owning the other shares.

If you were to research Ross & Luke Robertson, looking at their profiles on Linkedin, you will find that their career history would not show Unispace, Snaffle or Office Principles. It is a question that has us perplexed! Why would someone want to change or hide their work history?

Ross Robertson on Linkedin shows that he is CEO and co founder of Medco Solutions since March 2020, prior to that he worked part time as the CEO of OGP Investments since 2010. OGP we suspect stands for Oxford Gate Properties Ltd, where Ross is a director, though this company was only incorporated in September 2020 and has yet to file any accounts. Ross did have a linkedin profile showing that he worked for Unispace Global, however that profile appears to have been deleted some time last year.

Luke Robertson on Linkedin shows that he is a COO & co founder of Medco Solutions since March 2020, prior to that he was Commercial director for APL discovery in Malmo, Sweden since 2010 (his wife is Swedish). Luke has another profile on linkedin but comes under Luke R rather than Luke Robertson, there is no mention of Medco. Though it does show him as director of Snaffle and  prior to that employed in various roles at Office Principles.

Searching companies house, show that the Robertson's are directors or ex directors of the following companies:

Current Ross Robertson
Studio Forge Ltd incorporated June 2019, alongside fellow director James Woolgar (Woolgar is the maiden name of Ross & Luke's mother)
Oxford Gate Properties Limited - as above, alongside his wife Daniela Robertson (nee Schreiner, we suspect)

Current Luke Robertson
Atwood Properties Ltd incorporated September 2020, alongside his wife Georgina Robertson (nee Dieck)

Current Ross and Luke Robertson as the only directors
Medco Solutions Ltd incorporated March 2020
Medco Biotech Ltd incorporated August 2021
Welkin Global Investments Ltd incorporated October 2021.
Hegenberger Medical Ltd incorporated December 2021

Current Ross and Luke Robertson with other directors
Meraki Global Investments Ltd incorporated December 2021,  alongside "surprise, surprise" Dean Hales (nephew of Plymouth Brethren church leader Bruce Hales & the cousin of Gareth & Charles Hales), Lee Hazell (brother of Anthony Hazell), Myles Woodcock (son of Garth Woodcock) and the Lincoln based Bruce and Roy Haughton of the Formed Group.

Ex Directors
Snaffle Solutions - incorporated in 2016 by Daniel Reiner (also director of Bryson Products Ltd, another DHSC PPE contract winner), Luke was a director from January 2019 to July 2020. 
Zest Trading (UK) Limited incorporated in 2007, this is a fundraising company for the Plymouth Brethren Oneschool Global in Reading, formerly known at the Focus school Stoke Poges. There are many Plymouth Brethren Members listed as directors or ex directors, including Ross Robertson. Others include Stephen and Warren Parsons who are relatives of Cyril and Sebastian Parsons, Stuart and Barry Robertson who are directors of Oxford Safety Supplies, yet another PPE contract winner with Lancashire Police and cousins of Ross & Luke. Vern Woolgar who is a share holder in Sante Trading Co. Ltd (formerly Unispace Health), Laurie Pollard director of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Ltd and also has been involved with UBT (Universal Business Team), Charles White another with links to UBT. UBT is a central buying type group for the companies ran by the Plymouth Brethren members, it is the major fundraiser for the Brethren charity, The Grace Trust which funds the Rapid Relief Team and OneSchool Global amongst others.

You will also find via companies house that Ross Robertson is a share holder in Sante Trading Co, formerly Unispace Health. The links to Unispace/Sante Global continues for Medco Solutions. Linkedin now shows Lee Hazell (brother of Anthony Hazell) as Medco Solutions, Commercial Director. It also shows Myles Woodcock (son of Garth Woodcock) as the Sales Director.

Our research as you can see shows there are many links between the directors & ex directors of Unispace Global Ltd/Sante Global LLP and Medco Solutions.

Ross Robertson
Employee of Unispace Global Ltd at the start of the pandemic 
Shareholder in Sante Trading Co. Ltd formerly Unispace Health
Director of Meraki Global Investments with Dean Hales the cousin of Gareth & Charles Hales (owners of Sante Global LLP & formerly Unispace Global)
Director of Meraki Global Investments with Lee Hazell the brother of Anthony Hazell (director of Unispace Global & named in some of the Sante companies)
Director of Meraki Global Investments with Myles Woodcock the son of Garth Woodcock (co founder of Unispace Global)
Ex Director of Zest Trading UK limited with Vern Woolgar a Sante Trading Co. Ltd formerly Unispace shareholder
Ex Director of Zest Trading UK with Stephen & Warren Parsons who are both relatives of Cyril Parsons (co founder of Unispace Global)

Luke Robertson
Former employee for 7 years at Office Principles the company owned by Cyril Parsons (co founder of Unispace Global) 
Director of Meraki Global Investments with Dean Hales the cousin of Gareth & Charles Hales (owners of Sante Global LLP & formerly Unispace Global)
Director of Meraki Global Investments with Lee Hazell the brother of Anthony Hazell (director of Unispace Global & named in some of the Sante companies)
Director of Meraki Global Investments with Myles Woodcock the son of Garth Woodcock (co founder of Unispace Global)

Medco Solutions employees include Lee Hazell & Myles Woodcock.

As we conclude the second part of Profit or Prophet Revisited, we will recap on all the main 'players' and give you a taste of Part 3, including how these companies & directors link to many more of the companies ran by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, that also won covid contracts.

Charles Hales Unispace/Sante Global LLP, son of church leader & brother of Gareth, cousin of Dean
Gareth Hales Unispace/Sante Global LLP, son of church leader & brother of Charles, cousin of Dean
Anthony Hazell Unispace/Sante Global LLP, nephew of Garth Woodcock, brother of Lee Hazell 
Garth Woodcock Unispace, father of Myles Woodcock, brother in law of Cyril Parsons, Uncle of Anthony Hazell 
Cyril Parsons  Unispace, father of Sebastian Parsons, brother in law of Garth Woodcock 
Sebastian Parsons Unispace/Sante Global, son of Cyril Parsons, nephew of Garth Woodcock
Ralph Green Unispace/Sante Global
Ross Robertson Medco Solutions/Unispace, brother of Luke, works with Myles Woodcock & Lee Hazell, worked with Anthony Hazell & Hales brothers
Luke Robertson Medco Solutions, brother of Ross, works with Myles Woodcock & Lee Hazell, director with Dean Hales, worked for Cyril Parsons
Dean Hales Medco Solutions, links via Meraki Global as director with Ross & Luke Robertson, cousin of Charles & Gareth Hales
Lee Hazell Medco Solutions, commercial director of Medco, brother of Anthony Hazell
Myles Woodcock Medco Solutions, sales director of Medco, son of Garth Woodcock 

Contract Total for Unispace/Sante Global & Medco Solutions £1.45 billion (not including Sterilab/Sante Global contract)

The above directors have close links, many as relatives, to the following companies that won DHSC covid contracts:

Sterilab Services
Bryson Products
Ascot Signs
Carlton Packaging
Agile Medical
Inivos
Origin Packaging
Accora

 

In the 3rd part of Profit or Prophet we delve in to a further 8 companies owned by members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. These 8 companies all have close contacts to either Unispace Global/Sante Global LLP or Medco Solutions. They won a combined total of £570 million of contracts from the DHSC. Some of these companies also have further connections to more companies that won covid contracts. It can become a little overwhelming to follow, we will produce a connections list at the end of the Profit or Prophet.

Connections

Agile Medical £18,660,941

Agile Medical based in Grimsby won DHSC contract worth £233,000 for the supply of ventilator consumables, they also won a much larger contract worth £18.4 million to supply ventilators to Guys & St Thomas hospital trust. The company website states they provide a complete design, supply, deliver & maintenance solution for healthcare equipment. Prior to the pandemic this appeared to be predominantly in relation to trolleys and drawer consumable for the trolleys.

The company incorporated in 2017, lists 3 current directors and 2 ex directors, all members of the Glass family. Chris Glass and his wife Anita (nee Hathorn) and their son Conran are the current directors. Ex directors are Chris's younger brother, Daniel Glass and his wife Nicola Glass. Prior to the pandemic, the company accounts listed just 3 employees in 2019, though this grew to 8 employees during 2020. There is a substantial growth in the net assets of the business following the award of the above contracts. Chris and Anita Glass are the main shareholders with over 75% of the share, Conran, Daniel & Nicola making up the rest of the shareholding.

Our research show numerous connections to the directors and ex directors of Unispace Global/Sante Global and also through Anita's brother, Charles Hathorn links to many other covid contract winning companies.

Chris & Anita Glass

Agile Medical Ltd as above
Agile Group Holdings Ltd alongside Anita Glass
Receptek Ltd alongside Anita Glass incorporated back in 2006
Workagile Ltd as an ex director of the company incorporated in 2020, with his brother in law's Charles & Glyn Hathorn of Pineapple Furniture being the other directors of this dormant company.

Chris is the brother in law of Garth Woodcock the co founder of Unispace and he is also the uncle of Anthony Hazell of Unispace, Sante Global. He is also the uncle of Robert Layton, Layton was a director of Kingsbury Press Ltd, when they won their covid contract. His nephew Matt Glass is the group marketing director at CMT Group, a contract winner and owned by Anthony Hazell. Another nephew Christiaan Kerr is an employee of Sante Group. Anita's brother is Charles Hathorn who links to Sante Global LLP, Techniclean, Oska Care, Medco Solutions, Bryson Products, Arrow Country Supplies, Toffeln, Occura, General Design Concepts & Blueleaf.

The connections for Charles Hathorn, are through his directorships of the following, Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Ltd, Traxx Tyres Ltd, Aller Brook Ltd. He is also an ex director of Linton Projects Ltd. In total these link to another 10 brethren members, whose companies who won contracts. 

Traxx Tyres Ltd sharing their company address with Sante Global LLP, Michael Barter is a director of Techniclean another company that was awarded a covid contract.

Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Ltd fellow directors or ex directors include Garry Critchley of covid contracts winner Oska Care, Laurie Pollard ex of Zest Trading UK at the same time as Ross Robertson of Medco Solutions, Luke Reiner of the Reiner family owned business Bryson Products Ltd (who will we cover in this section), Simon Whiley & Mark Hynd who we have already mentioned in relation to one of the Unispace companies and to Gloves4u respectively.

Aller Brook Ltd fellow directors include Richard (Dick) Blackledge owner of contact winning Arrow County Supplies, Charles Leflaive director of Toffeln Ltd, another covid contract winner, Jens Brusius of General Design Concepts (GDC), yet another contract winner. Graham Whitbourn also of Occura, yes another covid contract winner! Also links to John Anderson the founder of Gloves4u.

Linton Projects where Hathorn was a director at the same time as Charles Campbell of Blueleaf, another covid contract winner. 

Chris Glass has a number of brothers who own Stirling Medical & Scientific, these include John Glass who is married to one of Garth Woodcock's sisters and Michael Glass who is the father in law of Robert Layton of Kingsbury Press at the time they won their contract. 

In total Chris & Anita Glass link via family & directors to 12 further brethren member companies that won covid contracts.

Sterilab Services £280,718,766

Sterilab Services was a Harrogate based company owned by the Frizelle family. They have recently relocated to near by Wetherby,  They have been awarded over £280 million in Testing related covid contracts by the DHSC. The biggest contact for over £271 million was for the supply of Lateral Flow Tests (LFT's). As we reported earlier this contract is interesting for the fact that it can only be supplier searched by entering Sterilab. However the contract shows that this contract was a supplier group with Sante Global LLP. 

Sterilab's background starts in South Africa. The Plymouth Brethren church was present in South Africa until 1999. Then following the murder of a church member, the leader of the Church at the time John Hales, called for them to leave and settle in safer countries. The Frizelle's that owned Sterilab relocated to Harrogate in the UK. A number of other Brethren families moved to the UK, including the Beattie's of Dolphin Solutions and Mark Hynd of Bexwell Estates (formerly called Edulab and also International Scientific Group). Mark Hynd worked for Sterilab in South Africa for a number of years with Ken Frizelle. 

Ken Frizelle is listed as an ex director of Sandringham Heath Construction Ltd from 2008 to 2016, the secretary is Chris Stedman and Frizelle was replaced as a director by Colin Barnes. Stedman & Barnes both have been or still are a director of the Brethren Central G H Trust. This is central brethren trust to support the maintenance of the Gospel Halls and to assist in the building of new halls (churches). Other directors of the Central G H Trust includes names we have seen before Oliver Whiley & Laurie Pollard. Whiley being a former director of Strategic DB Group formerly Unispace Properties, alongside the Hales brothers Charles & Gareth. Pollard being a director of PBCC with Charles Hathorn and a director Zest Trading with Ross Robertson of Medco Solutions, he is also the uncle of James Woolgar, who is a director of Studio Forge Ltd alongside Ross Robertson of Medco. Ken Frizelle is also a former director of Brownberrie School (Yorkshire) Ltd alongside Roger Edwards. Edwards is a former director of UBT (EU) at the same time as Charles Hathorn and also Garth Christie formerly of Gloves4u.

Wade Melvin (Operations) & Scott Haughton (Client Relations), show on linkedin as employees of the Sante Group. They both also how show with profiles in the Meet the Team section of the Sterilab website, both showing as responsible for Sterilab's Client Relations. 

Ascot Signs £2,790,000

Ascot Signs Ltd are based in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. They were awarded contracts worth £2,790,000 to supply visors. This was via 2 contracts one with the DHSC for £2,290,000 and another for a hospital trust worth £500,000.

Ascot Signs is owned by the White family and by Roger Parsons. Roger is the brother of Cyril Parsons the co founder of Unispace and he is the uncle of Sebastian Parsons of Sante Global Ltd.  Garth White another director of Ascot Signs is also a director of Causeway Vision Ltd. Causeway Vision helps fund the brethren Oneschool Global at Knockloughrim & shares the same address as the school. Other directors or ex directors of Causeway Vision include Andrew Walker of Clandeboye Agencies and Dermott McMullan of Oakdene (1925) Services, both companies that were awarded PPE contracts. Another ex director of Causeway Vision is Ronnie Crawford who previously worked for UBT (EU).

Oakdene (1925) Services has a number of ex employees who now work for other brethren member owned companies. Daniel White is now employed by Charles Hathorn's business Pineapple Furniture, he previously worked for Streamline Corporate yet another contract winner. Laurie McMullan is now an employee of Workagile Ltd, another one of Charles Hathorn's companies and one where Chris Glass of Agile Medical is a former director. Laurie has also worked for Ascot Signs.

Bryson Products £3,940,000

Bryson Products Ltd are located in Coulsden, Surrey. The company owned by the Reiner family, was awarded a contract for PPE by the DHSC totalling £3,940,000 to supply facemasks. Directors are father & son, Mark & Daniel Reiner. Daniel is also a director of Snaffle Solutions Ltd, a company where Luke Robertson of Medco Solutions was formerly a director alongside Daniel. Mark Reiner is a trustee of Benhill Gospel Hall Trust alongside Neil Hardwick a director of UBT (EU) Ltd. Mark's sister Lois is the Auntie of Anthony Hazell ex Unispace/Sante Global. Mark's brother Bernard is a director of the Bible & Gospel Trust, Aller Brook Ltd, Luke Reiner another relative is a director of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Ltd. There would also appear to be family connections to Brymec Ltd, Brymec are located in the adjacent unit to Bryson Products in Coulsden. Glen Reiner has worked for both companies. 

A number of employees also link to other brethren companies. Lewis Reeves is formerly of another contract winner in Selkent Fastenings. Jacob Young is formerly of UBT (EU), Hugo Cooper previously worked for Kingsway Group Global where Tim Drake of Accora is a director. Former employees include Anthony Dunn who now works for another contract winner Specialist Door Solutions. 

Carlton Packaging £3,004,300

The Milton Keynes based Carlton Packaging is owned by the Magee family. They were awarded two contracts by the DHSC. The Magee brothers who are directors of the company are Paul, Marcus & Alan. They are cousins of Unispace co founders Garth Woodcock & Cyril Parsons, they are also cousins of Roger Parsons of Ascot Signs. Their cousin Estelle is the sister in law of Chris Glass of Agile Medical.

Paul Magee is also a director of BCF Pension Trustees Ltd, other directors include Ryan Parsons of Yewdale Corporation that also won a contract, former directors of BCF can be linked to other contracts awarded. Marcus Magee is a director of Bluewater Global alongside Neil Christie formerly of Gloves4u. 

Employee Peter Morren previously worked for Saneux (EU) Ltd, Saneux director Iain Cooper is also a director of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. 

Accora £18,977,260

The Drake family business, situated in Cambridge supplies bed & chairs, they were awarded 2 contracts, the biggest contract for over £18 million was from the DHSC for testing facilities. The directors of the company are Anthony Drake & his sons Tim, Sam, Laurie & Nick.

Tim is a director of a number of companies including Kingsway Global based in Swanley at the same address as Bruce Hazell's (uncle of Anthony) Trimline. Directors of Kingsway include the Hall brothers who are cousins with Ray Hall, Trustee of the Albacore Gospel Hall along with Garth Woodcock, Bruce Hazell and John Glass, all with links to contracts awarded. Tim is also a director of Moroak Management alongside Michael Barter who is a director of another contract winner Techniclean.

Anthony Drake is also a director of Mowbray Contracts Ltd alongside Jeremy Fentiman, who is the cousin of Mark & Warrick Fentiman who are both directors of another contract winner Inivos. Jeremy Fentiman is also the brother in law of Glen Stacey of Enfield Safety Supplies and also an ex director of both the Rapid Relief Team & Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. 

Sam Drake is an ex director of Onebus Ltd, other directors of Onebus include Shaun Bushnell of contract winner Selkent Fastenings and Donovan Payne a director of Ox Ltd alongside Lee Hazell, the commercial director at Medco Solutions. Payne is also the brother in law of Andy Turner of contract winner Toffeln and the Rapid Relief Team.

Nick Drake is the regional lead for the East of England for the Rapid Relief Team.

Origin Packaging £121,072,000

The North Ferriby registered Origin Packaging was awarded 2 contracts from the DHSC for a total value of £121,072,000 to supply saline filled tubes & funnels. The directors of the company are Tim Pocock, his son Joseph Pocock and Keith Wade. 

Tim is also a director of Onemediuk Ltd, the brethren medical insurance company. Directors of Onemediuk include Doug Cowie a director of contract winning Orcagel and formerly of another contract winner Oska Care both with Unispace co founder, Garth Woodcock, Bruce Hazell uncle of Anthony & Lee Hazell. Ben Turner of contract winner Toffeln and now father in law of Michelle Donelan MP. There is some irony that the brethren members don't attend university and that Donelan is the UK government Minister for Universities!  Tim Pocock is also a former director of Edutrade Humber Ltd. Edutrade is a fund raiser for the Oneschool Global Ridgeway Campus in Scunthorpe, Edutrade current directors include Bernard Sellars of yet another contract winner Lindum Packaging & Graham Hazell cousin of Bruce & Jim Hazell. Former directors include Ralph Green of Sante Global LLP and his father Peter Green. 

​Keith Wade's brother is Vern Wade, who is the brother in law of Ralph Green of Sante Global LLP. The Wade family business is Bluesky Solutions another packaging company. There are a number of links between Origin, Lindum & Bluesky packaging companies. Keith Wade also has a cousin who Lydia Wade who is married to Max Turner of Stronghold Global. Stronghold Global is the company where the husband of Michelle Donelan MP, Tom Turner is head of Commercial, Tom being the son of Ben Turner of Toffeln. 

Inivos £126,575,000

Inivos is owned by the Fentiman family, the company was originally registered as Specialist Health Solutions Ltd, in Kings Lynn but is now registered in London under the Inivos name. The company was awarded 3 contracts to supply the DHSC with masks & gowns. The Directors at the time of the award were Gordon & Elizabeth Fentiman and their sons Mark, Warrick & Daniel. In 2021 Gordon, Elizabeth & Daniel terminated their directorships. Accounts show at the end of 2020 that the P&L account had increased from £1.9 million to £28.2 million!

Mark and Warrick Fentiman according to companies house are directors of a number of other companies, many of which have been incorporated following the contract wins. Their current director listings include one at Edu-Lab Ltd, Mark Hynd is an ex director of Edu-Lab resigning in 2021. Hynd as we have covered previously, has a number of links to Brethren companies including the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Ltd, National Assistance Fund (the brethren member welfare support company), Gloves4u that is now owned by Charles and Gareth Hales and Events EUK ltd alongside Jim Hazell, father of Anthony and Lee Hazell. 

Mark & Warrick have a number of cousins that link to other brethren member companies including Jeremy Fentiman who is a co director with Anthony Drake of Accora Ltd and with Kenny McMullan of another contract winner Creative Activity Group Ltd. Another cousin is James Dormer, James is a director of Thomas Somerset Ltd alongside Andy Turner of Toffeln & the Rapid Relief Team. Jonathan Dormer another cousin is a director of Unisan Ltd based in South Wales. The Unisan business in the USA is led by Ron Markham, who also happens to be a director of the Sante Group in the US and was formerly with Unispace. 

Daniel Fentiman is an ex director of Nexus Team and this again includes a number of other brethren business owners & employees, Daniel Goodenough of GDC Healthcare, Stephen Turner of Southgate Global, Dan Lyon of Coshield Global and David Temple of Eastpoint Global. Nexus Team is the company that supports Campus & Co at the OneSchool Global campus in Swaffham.
​
Inivos work closely with Unispace and on the webinar section of their website you can find a webinar that is brought to you jointly by Unispace & Inivos

Employee of Inivos that link to other contract winning companies include Luella McIntyre previously employed by Southgate Global, Rolf Jackson who worked for Edu-Lab, International Scientific Group (Mark Hynd's company now called Bexwell Estates) and Southgate Global, Dean Remmington who was previously employed at Anthony Hazell's CMT Group, Amy Marsh who has worked for Edu-Lab & International Scientific Group.

£570 million running total £2.02 billion

These eight companies all have connections to Unispace/Sante Global or Medco Solutions. They add a further £570 million in covid contracts to the total awarded to companies owned by members of the Plymouth Brethren. We have now investigated 10 of the 54 companies, these 10 companies have been awarded an amazing total of £2.02 billion in covid related government contracts.

It is a complex web of links and within the research of these companies, we have made mention of a further 20 brethren member owned companies that also won covid contracts with a minimum value of £183 million. In part 4 of Profit or Prophet we will investigate these 20 companies and show links to more of the remaining brethren contract winning companies:

Interlinked

Arrow County Supplies £120,142

​Arrow County Supplies is a cleaning products supplier based in Shrewsbury. The company is owned by the Blackledge family and the business was awarded a number of contracts during the pandemic. Two of these contracts were with PROSPER for £120,142 and a second one was awarded to 17 suppliers (7 of which were owned by members of the Plymouth Brethren) by Bristol City Council for a total of £375,542. Another contract with Liverpool council was awarded worth £106,000,000 to seven suppliers including Arrow County Supplies and another brethren member business Streamline Corporate.

Director Richard (Dick) Blackledge is also a former director of JMA Trading, JCA Trading & PAA Trading. These are all companies set up by the Andrews family. JMA Trading shows Jonathan Mark Andrews as a current director, he is also a director of Blueleaf. Dick Blackledge is also a current director of the Universal Business Team, other directors include Andrew Critchley formerly a director of Oska Care, Timothy Barter father of Michael Barter a director of Techniclean. Dick Blackledge is also a former director of UBT (EU) and was a director at the same time as Charles Hathorn & Garth Christie. He is also a director of Aller Brook Ltd alongside Charles Hathorn, Charlie Leflaive of Toffeln and Bernard Reiner brother of Mark Reiner of Bryson Products. 

Sam Blackledge of Arrow County Supplies is listed as a director of the "Catering for Crisis" business Rapid Relief Team (RRT), other directors of RRT include brothers of contract winners Andy Turner brother of Ben Turner of Toffeln and Murray Robertson brother of Luke & Ross Robertson of Medco Solutions. Sam formerly worked for Traxx Tyres, this has links to various winners of covid contracts. Traxx Tyres also shares registered company address with Sante Global LLP.

Blueleaf £4,017,663* (DHSC payments suggest £30,000,000+)

Blueleaf provide advice and products for Care Homes. Based in West Sussex with offices in Chatham, Derby & Canada. It is one of the contract winners, that is worthy of much further investigation. At Open & Candid we have previously highlighted that Blueleaf were awarded a contract to supply face masks to the DHSC worth £4,000,000, the oddity about this contract is that when cross referenced with payments over £25,000 published by the DHSC each month, that the payments appear to add up to well over £30,000,000. The accounts published by the parent company of Blueleaf show a large increase in turnover, which would suggest again that the contract was worth much more than stated on the government UK contracts website. 

Blueleaf is owned by the Campbell & Andrews families. There are four current directors Jonathan & Scott Andrews, Charles & Nathan Campbell.  They have involvement with a number of other limited companies, many of these companies, including Blueleaf, fall under the parent company Global Consortium Ltd.

Global Consortium Ltd

​​​Apparatus Software formerly Project Emerald Ltd, originally a Dublin based business supplying ecommerce software, which it would appear was taken over at the end of 2019, on the Apparatus website it lists clients including Bryson Products, Carlton Packaging, Castle Industrial Supplies, Techniclean, Wise Workwear and Stronghold Global, all of which won covid contracts.

Stadir Limited listed above as provision of management consultancy services. Companies House list the same directors as Blueleaf, father & son's, Jonathan & Scott Andrews, Charles & Nathan Campbell. There are however a much longer list of shareholders all with a small shareholding in Stadir. Examining Global Consortium Ltd accounts would suggest that all these small shareholders benefitted from the increase in turnover driven by the covid contracts. 

Stadir Ltd - Shareholders

Global Consortium Ltd - Other transactions - Stadir Limited

Reviewing the shareholders above shows many are listed as employees of Blueleaf, have further Ltd companies and connections to other Brethren member companies that were awarded Covid contracts

Silas Campbell & Clayton Andrews - are part of the Campbell & Andrews families and both are employees of Blueleaf. They are also volunteers for the Rapid Relief Team (RRT)
Roderick Ware - is a director of Linton Projects Ltd

Clandeboye Agencies

The Antrim based Snack business owned by the Walker family were one of the biggest brethren winners and link closely to other Northern Ireland & Scotland brethren ran companies. Director Andrew Walker is an ex director of Causeway Vision Ltd. ​Causeway Vision also includes Garth White as a current director & Dermott McMullan & Dale Paterson as ex directors.

Causeway Vision helps fund the Plymouth Brethren School, OneSchool Global at Knockloughrim.

Clandeboye Agencies were awarded two contracts to supply gowns to the DHSC

CMT Equipment

CMT Equipment is a Belverdere based, industrial & PPE supplies business. The two current directors are Anthony Hazell of Unispace and Gregory Hales another son of Plymouth Brethren Church leader Bruce Hales. 

CMT Equipment won six PPE supply contracts. One to supply Belfast Business Services with face masks worth £2 million, a second to supply Norfolk County council with PPE worth 854k, a third one to also supply Norfolk County Council with PPE worth 58k. The other three contracts were to supply Redcar & Cleveland Council, Doncaster Council & Leeds City Council, all three contracts were awarded to a number of suppliers and the individual value of the contracts were not supplied. Therefore we have not included in the value given above. 

Creative Activity

Creative Activity are a provider of childcare & educational equipment based in Derry, Northern Ireland, with offices in Kirkcaldy & Dublin. Owned by the McMullan family. 

Linked in shows that Jason McMullan is the sales director at the GC Group (Greencross), as well as being a director of Creative Activity, the GC Group are the distributors of Orcagel products in Northern Ireland. The Kirkcaldy business is at the same premises as a number of brethren member companies owned by the Paterson's.
​
Creative Activity were awarded three contracts to supply masks & gowns to Belfast Business Services.

Eastpoint Global

​Eastpoint Global based in Great Yarmouth, are a specialist distributor of educational aids. The business is owned by the Temple family and lists David & Maurice Temple as directors. David Temple is an ex director of Nexus Team and the Breckland Park School Ltd alongside Stephen Turner of Southgate Global.

​Eastpoint Global were awarded a contract to supply Norfolk County Council with PPE.

GDC Healthcare £1,716,650

GDC Healthcare or Global Design Concepts are a Dublin based interior design company. The UK business comes under Global Design Concepts UK and is headed up by the Gray family based in Dublin. They also show Lester Martin as a director of the UK business. Martin is a relation of Plymouth Brethren Church leader Bruce Hales. The Gray's did previously had a company in Stockport, Cheshire called J.P. Glass Ltd which was dissolved in 2017. This business was based out of the same premises as another brethren PPE contract winning company Lovair Property.

Daniel Goodenough current director of Nexus Team shows on his linkedin profile that he is Project Director for GDC Interiors & also as Director of GDC Healthcare. Goodenough is also a trustee of Althorpe Gospel Hall Trust, this is the Plymouth Brethren church in Rackheath, Norwich.

GDC won a contract to supply surgical gowns to University College London NHS Foundation Trust

Kingsbury Press £12,870,000

​Kingsbury Press are a printing firm based in Doncaster. Kingsbury Press Ltd is a micro business owned by the Layton family and showing 16k worth of assets.

Kingsbury Press Holdings Ltd shows four directors Edward, Robert, Gerard Layton and Clive Wickland.  On Linkedin Clive Wickland was previously business development management for the Strukta Group, a brethren business with connections to the Barter Family and through Myles Moggach to Zapp UK Trading to both SMI Int & Acopia. Strutka director Adrian Diffey is also a director of OneSchool Global UK. 

Kingsbury Press were awarded one contract to supply visors to the DHSC.

Lindum Packaging

​Lindum Packaging based in Stallingborough, North Lincolnshire. Owned by the Sellars family they are a transit packaging business with a number of well known clients including Iceland, Thorntons & Halewood International. Lindum Packaging director Bernard Sellars is also a director of Edutrade Humber along with Tim Pocock, Graham Hazell (cousin of Anthony Hazell) & Ralph Green (Gloves4U & Nexom SCM group). 

Gavin Sellars director is also a trustee of the local Plymouth Brethren Church. Haven Gospel Hall Trust based in Grimsby.

Lindum Packaging won a contract with the combined Greater Manchester Authority to supply 3 million facemasks. 

Oakdene Services (1925)

Oakdene are another Antrim based business, they are a commercial printing and branded merchandise supplier. Ran by the McMullan's, Dermott & Jamie​​. Dermott is an ex director of Causeway Vision.

Oakdene Services 1925  won three PPE contracts to supply Hand Sanitiser to Belfast Business Solutions.

Ocura Healthcare Furniture

Ocura Healthcare Furniture is a healthcare seating & furniture supplier based in Kent & Aberdeenshire. They list just one director Nathan Whitbourn, he is also an ex director of Jesmond Construction where we find Doug Cowie of Orcagel as a director. Nathan Whitbourn is also listed as director of a number of businesses including Beaver Healthcare along with other members of the Whitbourn family and Christopher Doughty. Graham Whitbourn a Beaver Healthcare director is also still listed as a current director of Jesmond Construction. Graham is also a former director of Plymouth Brethren Church ran businesses Allerbrook & Scribefort. 

Ocura Healthcare Furniture won four contracts during the pandemic, two for supplying beds & mattresses to NHS Scotland, a further one for medical screens for the UK vaccination programme to NHS England. There is also a contract with NHS England for couches for the vaccination programme which we have not included in total value above, the contract is shared with other businesses and the contract does not provide a detailed breakdown of individual awards.

Orcagel 

Orcagel again links to Unispace through director Garth Woodcock, the health & hygiene chemical products business has eight directors from the Cowie, Fowler & Woodcock families alongside Eric Hethrington. They are based in Peterhead, with a London based showroom sharing the same address as Oska Care, Orcagel also has an Irish based distributor called GC group in Derry.

Companies House lists two brethren member businesses at the Derry address, Search Workshop Supplies owned by the Glass family including Gerald Glass an ex director of Causeway Vision. We see later how Causeway Vision links a number of Northern Ireland based PPE contract winning brethren businesses. The other business is Creative Activity a provider of childcare and education equipment, ran by the McMullan family, their website lists Orcagel sanitiser as a product. Creative Activity also won £17.2 million of contracts! They would also appear to be the business behind the GC Group/Greencross Group who don't have anything registered on companies house.

Orcagel in turn won just the one contract to supply Leeds City Council with PPE. 

Doug Cowie director of Orcagel is also a director of Jesmond Construction along with Graham Whitbourn and ex director Nathan Whitbourn of Ocura Healthcare Furniture. Cowie is also a director of OnemediUK along with Tim Pocock or Origin Packaging.

Oska Care

Oska Care links to Unispace through Garth Woodcock, they are a UK wide business owned by the Woodcock family, the head office is listed as in London with offices in Portsmouth, Derby & Aberdeen. Their website states they are Pressure Care Experts specialising in the supply of beds, mattresses, cushions and chairs.

Oska Care won two contracts with NHS Scotland for the supply of beds & mattresses. The family business listed Garth, Mark, Benjamin & Daniel Woodcock alongside Alistair Wickland as directors. There were a number of director changes in late 2020 as the Critchley family relinquished their directorships, including ex director Garry Critchley, Critchley is a current director of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church Limited. Other ex directors include Doug Cowie. ​

Selkent Fastenings

Selkent Fastenings is a London based Fastenings & Fixing supplier. The Bushnell family business lists four current directors Julian, Karl, Shaun & Vaughan Bushnell. Julian Bushnell is also director of Cheviot Construction Ltd, he was appointed a director of Cheviot at the same time as Lee Hazell ex director. 

Selkent share the same business premises as Ox Tools (owned by Anthony Hazell's father) & Trimline (owned by Anthony Hazell's uncle). 

Selkent Fastenings won one contract to supply Hampshire County Council with PPE. 

Southgate Global

Southgate Global are a packaging business based in Kings Lynn. The Turner family business lists seven directors including Stephen & Craig Turner, Craig is also a current director & Stephen an ex director of Nexus Team Ltd. Stephen was also a director of the now dissolved Breckland Park School Ltd along with David Temple of Eastpoint.
 
Southgate won two PPE contracts to supply both the DHSC & Derbyshire Council with disposable aprons.

Specialist Doors Solutions

​Specialist Door Solutions based in Farnham are a manufacturer of specialist doorsets. Companies house shows two directors Russell James & Darren Blake.

Russell James is an ex director along with Nicholas Siderfin of Hall & Tawse Joinery. Siderfin is a director of Kent Dev LLP alongside the Blackledge family, Michael & Timothy Barter & Oliver Whiley. Kent Dev LLP link to many Brethren Member businesses.

Specialist Door Solutions of Farnham won two contracts, one with Liverpool Universities NHS Trust and one with Guys & St Thomas Hospital.

Streamline Corporate

Streamline Corporate are a branded merchandise company based in Edinburgh, with additional offices in London & Exeter. Current directors are Andrew, Graeme & Roger Paterson. Graeme was formerly a director of Midway Design & Build alongside Dale Paterson & Roger Lewis. Andrew was formerly a director of the now dissolved Hughes Travel Limited.

Hughes Travel was previously the business behind all the travel requirements for Plymouth Brethren members. Other directors of Hughes Travel included the founders of Unispace (Garth Woodcock & Cyril Parsons).

Streamline Corporate won two contracts. One to supply North Lanarkshire council with PPE and the second with Edinburgh City Council, which was shared with a number of other suppliers. Edinburgh City council do not highlight the individual award amounts, so we have not included the value of this award.

Techniclean

The Andover based chemical & hygiene products supplier has four current directors Nicholas, Lauren & Kieran Matley, plus Michael Barter of Moroak Management. Ex directors include Timothy Browning and ex Zest Trading director Charles Ker.

Techniclean were awarded one contract to supply Belfast Business Services with facemasks. 

Toffeln

​Toffeln is a Bristol based footwear company owned by the Leflaive family. Director Gerard Leflaive is also an ex director of Novus Trading alongside Kevin Smallridge, Roland Coldrick, Alex Nunn and John Baker.

In a now familiar pattern Novus Trading Ltd is the limited company that trades as Campus & Co in Bristol. Supporting the Plymouth Brethren Oneschool Global campus in Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

Toffeln were awarded four contracts, two with the DHSC to supply visors, one to supply Guys & St Thomas Hospital with gowns and one to supply Alderhey Childrens Hospital with isolation gowns.

Yewdale Corporation

​Yewdale Corporation owned by the Parsons family, based in Wickford, Essex, are a commercial shading & screening company. Directors include Ryan & Garth Parsons. Garth Parsons is a former director of Larchcroft Trading alongside Christopher Napthine.

​Yewdale Corporation won one contract to supply Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS with PPE.

The Final Chain

Archer Marketing £639,725*

Archer Marketing are specialists in branded merchandise based in Aberdeen. They don't appear to be a limited company as no record can be found on companies house. Linkedin shows the business is run by the Doughty family with Phil, Joel, Alan, Elliott & Kelsey all listed as employees. There are a number of links to other Brethren businesses including Ocura Healthcare Furniture director Christopher Doughty whose linkedin profile includes an endorsement for management from Joel Doughty. Archer Marketing also operate from the same business premises as a company called Orka Safety. Orka is a family business ran by the Rabey family including director Paul Rabey who is also a director of Jesmond Construction. 

The Doughty Family have also launched a business called Branded Sanitisers which shows the Archer Marketing employees listed on linkedin.

Archer Marketing won one contract to supply Edinburgh City Council along with a number of other suppliers. The contract doesn't give a breakdown of the value of the awarded contracts to each individual business. Unispace links to Oska Care, Orcagel, Ocura Healthcare Furniture & Archer Marketing which all operate in the North East of Scotland. Unispace also have an office situated in Aberdeen.

Denka U.K. £395,190

Denka U.K. is a Chesterfield based supplier of equipment and supplies to the Dentistry Sector. The business has two directors Andrew Cuckson & Patrick South.

Patrick South is also a director of Intergrand UK, Intergrand is the limited company that operates under the Campus & Co banner for the Nottingham campus of OneSchool Global. Another director of Intergrand UK is Philip Walker who is director of Wigston Paper & Board the Walker family business and also a director of the Bible & Gospel Trust a Plymouth Brethren church business alongside William Hathorn of Pineapple Contracts unlimited.

Andrew Cuckson is an ex director of Target Trading 2007 ltd, other ex directors from the time Cuckson was director include Russell Long & Hugh McCreadie both of Edutrade Humber Ltd.

Denka U.K. won contracts three contracts of which two were for facemasks to Warwickshire Police & Derbyshire County Council. They also won a contract to supply Edinburgh City Council along with a number of other suppliers, the value of this contract was not disclosed for individual businesses and therefore is not included in the value of awarded contracts.

Bronze Architecture £147,168

Bronze Architecture based in Rackheath, Norwich. Owned by the Penson family, with two directors Gordon & Warwick Penson. This is the only business where the Penson's are directors. The last accounts filed by the business showed net assets of -£179k.
An article found shows that Bronze Architecture worked on projects with Colorminium another Brethren business.

Warwick Penson is also a trustee of Althorpe Gospel Hall, a Plymouth Brethren church alongside Daniel Goodenough of GDC & Nexus Team.

Bronze Architecture won a contract to supply Norfolk County Council with Aprons.

Acopia Group £249,400

​Acopia Group is a diverse company based in Bognor Regis, offering packaging, procurement and branded merchandising. Russell, Timothy & Wayne Lynes are the directors of the Lynes family business. Russell Lynes is a director of the Rapid Relief Team, he is also a former director of ATC Enterprises & Zapp UK Trading. All three businesses link to other Brethren members.

The Rapid Relief Team was set up according to ex brethren members as a business to demonstrate that the Plymouth Brethren church is a charitable organisation. The RRT as it is known, support emergency services whenever there is a major incident such as flooding or a rail crash etc. They attend and provide catering free of charge to the emergency services. Current directors of the RRT include Sam Blackledge of Arrow County Supplies, David Brown of JTH Holdings & Styalsuite in Scotland, Roderick Buckley of Forgeway Holdings, Benjamin Napthine of Streetspace,  Murray Robertson representing the Irish based brethren and director of Aristospray, Andrew Turner of V12 footwear.
Previous directors include Iain Cooper a current director of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC), Glen Stacey a former director of the PBCC and current director of Nuvik Global, Tim Wakeford of the Direct Tool Company, James Walker of Wigston Paper & Board & Jonathan Whiley of Havwoods Global. 

Zapp UK Trading was set up as a Campus & Co in Guildford. Directors & Ex directors of Zapp UK Trading include Blake Prisgrove of SMI Int, Myles Moggach of Strukta and Matthew Rich from the influential Rich family whose companies include Polarseal Tapes & Conversions.

Acopia Group won a contract to supply PPE to Durham & Darlington NHS trust.

SMI Int £300,000

SMI Int Group is the Prisgrove family business based in Haslemere, Surrey. Supplying workwear and safety products to industry is the core of a business, which includes former Zapp UK Trading director Blake Prisgrove as Managing Director. The family has also set up Suresan as a limited company back in early March 2020, the website states the business was founded in 1981.

SMI Int were awarded three contracts, one for the Scottish Police Authority for £300,000 and the other two with Bristol City Council & Wiltshire Council where on both occasions they were one of a number of suppliers awarded the contract, we haven't included in the figure above as neither contract breaks down the award to the individual business.

Giftfinder £100,150

Croydon based Giftfinder is a family business of the Purdom's, supplying bespoke branded merchandise. Companies House lists former ATC Enterprises director Samuel Purdom as a current director of the company. Samuel is also a former director of the now dissolved Oakhill Products along with a number of other brethren members including Neil Hardwick, who is a former director of Coshield Global and currently a director of UBT (EU).

UBT (EU) also known as the Universal Business Team. UBT is a global business set up to support brethren member businesses similar in many ways to a business support & buying group. Based in the UK in Warwick and offering support in areas such as training, logistics, marketing, accountancy, fleet, HR and a full range of business services. UBT profits are channelled back into the OneSchool Global portfolio of schools. UBT provide services in Australia, New Zealand and North America as well as Europe. It is a fundamental aspect in supporting Plymouth Brethren member ran businesses.

Another current director of Giftfinder is Michael Purdom, he is also a former director of now dissolved CA Distribution along with James Farrant. Farrant is part of the family business Axis House, an office refit company based in Ringwood. Axis also list Richard Farrant as director, in turn he is also director of Vista 4 alongside Jonathan Aris of Tower Supplies another big winner with the PPE contracts.

Giftfinder as a company won three contracts, one to supply Hampshire County Council with PPE, another to supply Warwickshire Police with face masks and a third one with Bristol City Council where they were among a number of suppliers awarded the contract, the Bristol City Council contract does not include individual awards and therefore we have again not included in the above figure.

Oxford Safety Supplies £976,000*

Oxford Safety supplies of Didcot in Oxfordshire are a safety supply company owned by the Robertson family. The directors include Barry & Stuart Robertson, both are also directors of Zest Trading UK Ltd. Zest includes a number of Robertson's that are current or ex directors including Ross Robertson of Medco Solutions. 

Zest Trading UK Ltd is the limited company that trades as the Campus & Co shop at the Stoke Poges campus of brethren school OneSchool Global. 

Zest Trading UK also lists Stephen Parsons as a current director. He is also a current director of SB Workspace Ltd. Co Founders of SB Workspace were Cyril Parsons (still a director) and Garth Woodcock (ex director). The pair also co founded Unispace Global ltd in the UK. Another link from Zest Trading UK is ex director Charles Ker, who is also an ex director of PPE contract winning Techniclean Supply.

​Oxford Safety supplies won a contract alongside another Brethren business CID Products. The contract was for supply of PPE to Lancashire Police, it was for £976,000 in total but does not indicate the split between Oxford Safety supplies and CID Products.

AES Industrial Supplies £197,754

AES Industrial supplies are based at the same business premises as Oxford Safety Supplies in Didcot. They list Lloyd & Bronwen Robertson as directors. Lloyd is also a director of Masterweld Equipment (UK) Ltd.

AES Industrial supplies won a PPE contract to supply Hampshire County Council. 

Tower Supplies £40,500,000

Tower Supplies are based in Poole, Dorset where they specialise in safety & PPE supplies. Owned by the Aris family Daniel & Jonathan Aris. Though Tower Supplies does not appear to be a limited company the Aris's are named as directors of a number of businesses including Vista 4, where Jonathan is listed as a current director. Vista 4 also lists Richard Farrant as a director, along with ex director Mark Barter.

Tower Supplies won two contracts both with the DHSC to supply disposable coveralls. 

Springfield Supplies & Projects £428,000

Springfield Supplies & Projects is a furniture supplier in Bristol ran by the Baker family. John Baker is a former director of Novus Trading, he is also listed as a director of Springfield Supplies & Projects.

Springfield were awarded two contracts to supply masks, one to Derbyshire County Council and the second one to supply the DHSC.

Ureka Global £376,000*

​Ureka Global are an adhesive manufacturer based in Bristol, owned by the Nunn Family. Alex Nunn listed as a director of Ureka is also a former director of Novus Trading.

Ureka were part of a number of suppliers that won a contract to supply Bristol City Council with PPE. The contract does not provide a breakdown of the individual amounts awarded to each supplier.

Medaco £376,000*

​Medaco another Bristol based business owned by the Smallridge family.  A specialist healthcare equipment provider they follow a similar pattern for the Bristol based brethren businesses, in that Kevin Smallridge is listed as a director and he is also a former director of Novus Trading

Medaco again were one of a number of suppliers awarded a PPE contract by Bristol City Council. The contract does not provide a breakdown of the individual amounts awarded to each supplier.

Safpro Industrial Supplies £1,250,000*

​Safpro Industrial Supplies is part of the Gloucester based Onyx Workgear Ltd. The company provide workwear and lists three directors Gerard & Richard Simmonds and Roy Jones,  Director Richard Simmonds is an ex director of Upton Construction Ltd alongside fellow ex director Robert Freeman of Moroak Management and a current director Nicholas Farr. Farr is yet another listed as an ex director of Novus Trading. 

Gerard Simmonds was a director of dissolved company Vendimia Ltd alongside Glenn Haughton of Halco Europe Ltd.

Safpro Industrial Supplies won one contract with a number of other suppliers to supply PPE to the Yorkshire HA buying group. This contract does not provide details of the individual amounts awarded to each company.

Halco Europe £1,600,560

The Hereford based hook & loop business is owned by the Haughton family. Glenn Haughton a current director is also an ex director of Vendimia Ltd alongside Gerard Simmonds of Safpro Industrial Supplies.

Halco have a number of offices worldwide in France, Germany, Italy, USA & Australia. Their Australian office shares the same address as UBT Australia, Rapid Relief Team, OneSchool Global and a number of other Brethren businesses including Vision Accelerator PTY Ltd. Vision Accelerator is part of UBT and invests in brethren member businesses, it is listed on the Open Corporates website as controlling two businesses in the UK. Moroak Management & Nuvik Global.

Moroak Management is based in Yeovil and includes the following directors Mark, Timothy & Blake Barter, Timothy Browning, Timothy Drake, Daniel Lyon, Robert Freeman, Clive Pavey. Daniel Lyon was connected to the Nexus team and the Norfolk brethren, Mark Barter is connected to Techniclean and via Vista4 to Tower Supplies and Timothy Drake to Accora. All contract winning companies. Plus the link above between Robert Freeman & Richard Simmonds of Safpro.

Nuvik Global is a cleaning & hygiene products company which in the UK is based in Peterhead. The directors listed are members of the Rabey family, Australian Ronald Arkcoll, Glen Stacey the ex director of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church & the Rapid Relief Team. Richard Blackledge of Arrow County Supplies is listed as an ex director. Ron Arkcoll is also a director of Rapid Relief Team in Australia, appearing on Sky News down under a couple of times, also involved in a dispute with one of his local councillors.

​Halco Europe won two contracts to supply NHS Wales with visors and gowns.

Lion Safety £2,012,097

Lion Safety are a PPE supplier based in Grangemouth and owned by Lewis family. Currently with three directors Roger, Ralph & Laurie Lewis and with one ex director Kevin Michel. Ralph Lewis was very active on his linkedin account throughout the pandemic, regularly highlighting potential business for both themselves and other brethren member businesses.

He also became a director of Coshield Global in May 2020 at the same time as Edward Wheatcroft, they replaced former directors Daniel Lyon (Nexus Team, Moroak Management), Bruce Dallow & Neil Hardwick (UBT EU). Coshield Global operate from the same address in Warwick as UBT (EU) & OneSchool Global UK.

Roger Lewis is a former director of Midway Design & Build Ltd along with Dale Paterson (Causeway Vision), Graeme Paterson (Streamline Corporate) and Richard Paterson(Astrak - who share the Kirkcaldy business address with Creative Activity).

Lion Safety were awarded a total of seven contracts, six to supply Police Scotland & one to supply NHS Scotland. Supplies included masks, sanitiser and coveralls.  

CID Products £976,000*

​CID Products based in Leeds are a safety supply company. Owned by the Soulsby family, they also have offices in Falkirk, Middlesborough, Manchester & London. Directors of CID include Alfred Soulsby through his family business Equitable Fortitude Ltd. Alfred is also a director of ACAD Trading. 

ACAD Trading Ltd trade under Zenith and would appear to support the York Campus of OneSchool Global in a similar way Campus & Co work with other OneSchool Global schools. Ex directors of ACAD include Robert Oliver (Innova Care Concepts) & Roger Edwards (UBT (EU) Ltd).

CID Group share premises with other brethren companies. In Falkirk with the James family business Amos Beech Ltd and IOTSpace Ltd. In London with the Barnes family and their companies Fluid Transfer Systems Ltd & Trailparts Ltd. The London address is also the former home of the now dissolved AFS businesses owned by the Arkcoll family including Ron Arkcoll of the Rapid Relief Team (RRT) in Australia.

CID Products won a contract along with Oxford Safety Supplies to supply PPE to the Lancashire Police Authority. The contract does not show how much the individual companies were awarded.

Innova Care Concepts £534,210

Innova Care Concepts are based in Wetherby. They supply beds, mattresses and other care equipment, companies house shows three directors Bob Oliver, Joe & Tom Hulbert. Bob Oliver is a former director of ACAD trading with Alfred Soulsby of CID Products.

​Innova won two contracts to supply beds & screens to NHS Scotland.

Total Protection UK £287,800

Wellingborough based ​Total Protection UK is a dissolved business, the business merged with Baca Workwear & Safety of Northampton, a Health & Safety Equipment supplier in 2017. The business is owned by the Calder family with current directors Ben & Marcus showing on companies house for Baca Workwear & Safety. Baca Holdings Ltd also shows Matthew Calder as a director. Matthew is formerly a director of Pinnacle (EU) Ltd. A current director of Pinnacle (EU) is Lee Denny of Fairfield Care Products. Pinnacle EU appears to be a fund raiser for OneSchoolGlobal, though their website only goes back to 2015 under the Focus School banner. Focus School is the previous name of OneSchool Global UK.

Total Protection UK won a contract to supply masks to Guys & St Thomas Hospital Trust.

Baca Workwear & Safety £100,000

Northampton based Baca Workwear & Safety is the Calder family business that owns Total Protection UK.

Baca Workwear & Safety were awarded a PPE contract by North Lincolnshire Council.

Fairfield Care Products £132,926

​Fairfield Care Products of Bedford is the Denny family company that supplies Healthcare equipment. They also have an office in Colchester. Lee Denny is also a director of Pinnacle (EU) whose ex directors include Matthew Calder of Baca Holdings.

The Colchester office is home to a number of companies ran by another brethren family, the Napthine's. Christopher Napthine is a director of most of these companies and is also director of Larchcroft Trading where Garth Parsons of Yewdale Corporation is a former director.

Fairfield Care Products won one contract to supply Northamptonshire County Council with PPE.

Lovair £205,500

​Lovair are a commercial bathroom & washroom company based in Stockport and now under the name The Splash Lab, the business is owned by Fraser & Justin Lovell. They operate from the same premises as dissolved J.P. Glass (UK) operated, J.P Glass was owned by the Gray family, who now run GDC.

Former director Murray Boyt is also a director of Delta UK Holdings along with Stephen Boyt, who is in turn a director of Quantco Enterprises along with Nicholas Siderfin. 

Their website shows an office in Queensland, Australia with a contact of Michael Kirkpatrick. The address is home to Aura Washrooms. Kirkpatick is formerly of Archway Commercial Interiors. The Kirkpatick family business where Stephen Kirkpatrick is a director, he is also a director of the UK based brethren health insurance business OneMediUK. Another example of the link between Australian Brethren businesses and the UK ones.

Lovair won a contract to supply Hand Sanitiser to NHS Wales. 

Castle Industrial Supplies £330,730*

Castle Industrial Supplies of Carnforth are a packaging company owned by the James family. Director Kenneth James is an ex director of the now dissolved Silverdale Projects Ltd.

Another director of Silverdale Projects was Jonathan Whiley, Whiley is an ex director of the Rapid Relief Team alongside Sam Blackledge of Arrow County Supplies, Whiley is also director of the family businesses alongside Oliver Whiley of Kent Dev LLP. There are a number of brethren businesses owned by the Whiley's and the James' families trading from the same business park in Carnforth. Silverdale Projects Ltd was also based at the same premises. One business is Havwoods, another with substantial links to Australia.

​Castle Industrial Supplies won a shared contract with another non brethren business, for supply of PPE to Warrington Borough Council. The contract does not stipulate the amount awarded to each individual business.

Protective Wear Supplies (PWS) £1,625,542*

​The company based in Plymouth, is a safety wear & PPE company ran by the Burtenshaw's. There are only distance links to any other Brethren members.

Protective Wear Supplies (PWS) won two contracts with other suppliers also awarded on both contracts. One for Bristol City Council and one for Yorkshire HA. Neither contract provides specific individial award amounts.

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