Sandwich, in Kent, is the European Headquarters for Research & Development and the Pfizer Global Manufacturing site for the UK.
The offices sit within a 340-acre site. There are approximately 3,600 staff based here, 2,700 of whom are currently employed in Research & Development. The remaining people work in Pfizer Global Manufacturing (PGM), producing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) for human and animal medicines. The largest division of Pfizer, PGM staff also manufacture and supply our portfolio of health care products.
Four of our most successful medicines were discovered in Sandwich, but staff also play an important role in the development of products discovered at other Pfizer locations.
Some £240 million has been spent on new Research & Development facilities at the Sandwich site over the last five years. The recent development has won an ‘excellent’ rating under the BREEAM scheme (Building Research Establishment Environment Assessment Method), the most widely used means of reviewing and improving the environmental performance of office buildings. The surrounding area has also won an award for the quality of its landscape design.
The appearance of new buildings is part of the working environment and is important to Pfizer, as we believe that pleasant surroundings help motivate our employees. We hope the facilities at Sandwich enhance employee interaction in order to engender teamwork and innovation, so that the site remains at the forefront of pharmaceutical research and development.
Local Information:
Many international businesses now recognise this southeast area of Kent as a premium location for high-technology based industries demanding close links to London, mainland Europe and their overseas markets. Furthermore, investor confidence has seen many of the region’s brown-field sites become vibrant communities offering attractive housing options.
With the larger urban communities of Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury offering a comprehensive portfolio of accessible town-living opportunities, the numerous rural and market town locations complement the county’s traditional hallmark as the ‘Garden of England’.
Sandwich itself is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in England. Before the River Stour silted up a few hundred years ago, the Cinque Port of Sandwich was one of the main ports in the UK. Today, small boats have replaced the sailing ships but many of the ancient buildings still remain.
www.sandwichtowncouncil.gov.uk www.kent.gov.uk