Connections Unispace/Sante/Medco

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.

Agile Medical £18,660,941

Agile Medical based in Grimsby won a 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 consumables.

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, Pollard is also the Uncle of James Woolgar, director of Studio Forge with Ross Robertson of Medco, 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 contract 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 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. Another director of Onemediuk is Bruce Hazell, the uncle of Anthony & Lee Hazell. Ben Turner is a third director of OnemediUK, Ben is also at contract winning Toffeln and he is now the father in law of Michelle Donelan MP. There is some irony that the brethren members don't physically 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 Lydia, 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. 

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 19 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 19 companies and show links to more of the remaining brethren contract winning companies:

Arrow County Supplies
Blueleaf
Clandeboye Agencies
CMT Group
Creative Activity Group
GDC Healthcare
Kingsbury Press
Lindum Packaging
Oakdene (1925) Services
Occura 
Orcagel
Oska Care
Selkent
Southgate Global
Specialist Doors Solutions
Streamline Corporate
Techniclean
Toffeln
Yewdale Corporation