Contract research organisation Broughton has achieved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) accreditation at its Oak Tree House facility in Lancashire, following an inspection by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The milestone builds on the company’s existing GMP accreditation at its Coleby House site in North Yorkshire and expands its capacity to support clients with high-standard regulatory testing.
The Oak Tree House facility in Earby now holds GMP accreditation alongside ISO 17025 accreditation and controlled drugs licences up to and including Schedule I. The site is also accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and operates under a Schedule 1 Controlled Drugs Licence from the UK Home Office. This enables specialised testing for highly regulated markets such as medicinal cannabis and CBD products.
Broughton’s laboratories are regularly inspected by the MHRA, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and UKAS to ensure compliance with stringent quality and operational standards. The MHRA inspection conducted in January confirmed that the company’s laboratory systems, operations, and quality controls meet GMP requirements.
A core feature of Broughton’s approach is its use of dedicated, client-focused teams aligned to specific portfolios. These teams develop expertise in client requirements, product-specific testing challenges, and preferred ways of working. This structure improves efficiency and consistency while strengthening collaboration. It reduces onboarding time, enables faster data-driven decision making, ensures greater consistency in results, and supports stronger client relationships. By maintaining continuity within teams, Broughton builds deeper technical familiarity and product knowledge than would be possible through ad hoc project allocation.
The new accreditation supports expanded GMP capabilities at Oak Tree House, including high-resolution chromatographic mass spectrometry. This enables more comprehensive testing of complex products and supports future growth.
“Achievements like achieving GMP accreditation are only possible when there is collective ownership of quality and a commitment to doing things the right way across the business,” said Chris Allen, CEO of Broughton. “Following the certification, we can now offer expanded GMP capability, including high-resolution chromatographic mass spectrometry, alongside increased capacity to support future growth.
“By combining small, client-focused teams with strong cross-functional collaboration, embedded quality oversight and robust workflow controls, we deliver a level of GMP service that goes far beyond data generation. We provide genuine confidence and reassurance that processes are delivered to the highest standards and our findings can be trusted by connecting clients with experts who understand their priorities, pressures and regulatory landscape.”
Broughton provides analytical testing, consultancy, and compliance services through its in-house laboratory facilities, which are GMP compliant and ISO/IEC 17025 accredited. The dual-site GMP accreditation enhances the company’s ability to support pharmaceutical, nicotine, and cannabinoid product testing from early development through to market release.
Chris Allen, who has more than 25 years of experience in analytical and regulatory science, has led the company’s expansion from a small laboratory to a team of over 100 staff.
Industry observers note that GMP accreditation remains a key benchmark for contract research organisations, demonstrating the ability to produce consistent and reliable results. The combination of GMP, ISO 17025, and Schedule 1 licensing offers clients a clear pathway to compliance in regulated markets.
The accreditation also reinforces the UK’s position as a hub for high-quality life sciences testing, as demand continues to grow for rigorous analytical data to support product safety and regulatory compliance.