ClearTrace sees demand soar during pandemic

Lancaster University-based ClearTrace has seen a dramatic rise in demand for its medical cleaning services and products during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company was formed to provide specialist services such as ambulance cleaning as well as offering its own chemical product range. It secured a £50,000 loan from Rosebud in 2019, which set the company in a great position to expand during the pandemic.

ClearTrace has grown its client base from around 10 to 40-50 customers across the UK, including the NHS as well as advising the Isle of Man government. The company has also outgrown its previous base and moved into Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus in late 2020.

The funding and university links have also allowed ClearTrace to develop new products to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, such as hand sanitiser gels. It has also partnered with several manufacturers to develop antigen testing kits which it has been able to test quickly and effectively against emerging Covid variants at its university base.

The team helped to develop a lateral flow Covid-19 test and has now supplied tens of thousands of tests to organisations including Leeds United Football Club as well as offering products such as alcohol-free hand sanitiser under its brand ClearTrace Life Science Research.

Adam Murfitt, managing director, said: "We decided to scale the business in order to not lose our competitive edge. To do that, we needed a cash injection and after speaking with several banks, Rosebud was highlighted to me.

"We received a £50,000 loan which allowed me to put everything in place for the next three years of growth. We developed new products, visited trade shows and built the brand."

Adam now intends to split the company into two distinct branches and grow both of these. ClearTrace will continue to specialise in infection prevention and control (IPC) treatment. ClearTrace Life Science Research will supply lateral flow testing and other products while also helping new health and social care startup firms to grow.

The Rosebud Fund is provided by Lancashire County Developments Ltd (LCDL), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lancashire County Council. The fund aims to support the growth of Lancashire businesses and the local economy, offering loans between £10,000 and £300,000 as well as high-quality business support.

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