Sygnature Discovery Presented with a Queen’s Award

Integrated drug discovery solutions provider Sygnature Discovery has been presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2017, for International Trade. Company Founder and CEO, Dr Simon Hirst, received the award from Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Sir John Peace, during a ceremony held at Sygnature’s new facility, the £30m Discovery Building in Nottingham. Attended by staff, clients and close contacts of the company as well as The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Michael Edwards and other dignitaries, the occasion offered an opportunity for guests to view the new Discovery Building, its high-tech laboratories and its Corona sculpture.

Dr Hirst is a Medicinal Chemist with almost 30 years of industry experience, winning the Chemistry World ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2016. He founded Sygnature Discovery in 2004 and now employs over 170 dedicated scientists researching potential new medicines to treat a range of debilitating diseases. This expertise is exported to clients around the world. “To receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise, International Trade is a tremendous honour and the recognition for our success overseas is very gratifying for the whole team at Sygnature Discovery. As a company we have always viewed drug discovery as an internationally important sector to work in and as such, international trade has always been a significant part of our strategy.”

Along with Chief Operating Officer, Dr Jonathan Williams, Dr Hirst was also invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace invited attended by Her Majesty The Queen. “It was a huge privilege and truly humbling experience to be invited to Buckingham Palace to meet members of the Royal Household. Being recognised with a Queen’s Award is something the whole team at Sygnature Discovery can be very proud of as it marks the significant achievements we have made over the last 13 years.”