About the Business
Since its incorporation in 1963, Pennine Healthcare has achieved steady year-on-year growth becoming a recognised leader within the UK’s medical device manufacturing sector. From their purpose-built 100,000 sq. ft. facility in Derby, Pennine employs around 180 people and distributes products to more than 50 countries worldwide, serving healthcare providers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.
Today, Pennine Healthcare is proud to be one of the UK’s leading employee-owned businesses, a model that ensures staff are directly invested in the success and sustainability of the company. This ownership structure helps foster a strong culture of commitment, innovation, and collaboration across the workforce.
Pennine specialises in the manufacture and distribution of a wide range of single-use sterile and non-sterile Ward & Theatre Consumables and Custom Procedure Packs, supplying essential products to hospitals and healthcare professionals. Over the years, The business has also expanded to include Commercial Partnerships for Medical Device Packaging, Procedure Kit Packaging, and UK Contract Manufacturing. These partnerships allow Pennine to share their technical capabilities and high standards with other medical device businesses, adding value across the wider healthcare supply chain.
By combining decades of experience with a forward-looking approach to innovation and sustainability, Pennine Healthcare continues to strengthen its position as a trusted partner to the healthcare sector, both in the UK and internationally.
Challenges Faced
Like many manufacturers, Pennine Healthcare has had to navigate a series of challenges in recent years, which have tested the resilience and adaptability of the business.
The first was Brexit, which disrupted established supply chains and created uncertainty around access to materials and trading relationships with European partners. Ensuring continuity of supply for customers, particularly within the healthcare sector, became a critical priority.
Soon after, the company faced the unprecedented demands of Covid-19 and as a supplier to the NHS, Pennine had to rapidly respond to changing needs. They needed to scale up production of essential items and adapt to new working conditions while keeping their staff safe. The pandemic highlighted the importance of agility and reinforced the value of being a UK-based manufacturer.
In parallel, the business was also preparing for the introduction of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), a new and more rigorous compliance framework for medical devices. Pennine was proud to be one of the first UK companies to achieve MDR accreditation, demonstrating their commitment to quality, safety, and regulatory excellence.
The combined impact of wider economic pressures, including inflation, rising energy costs, and the increased demands of keeping MDR compliance, have put additional pressure on the business. Competing internationally also adds to this challenge, as price competitiveness is vital and cost increases cannot always be passed on to customers. This has made efficiency and cost control across every part of the business more critical than ever.
The solution and Impact
In 2023, Richard Cohen (Head of Operations) and Dan Wilson (Head of Marketing & Communications) joined EMMN to strengthen Pennine’s local connections. Since then, the business has found real value in being part of a community of like-minded manufacturers.
For Richard, the regular meetings have been an opportunity to meet peers from across the region, discuss common business challenges, and share best practice. While many members work in different manufacturing sectors, the issues they face are often strikingly similar, from recruitment and training to efficiency and sustainability.
The network has also helped Pennine Healthcare stay up to date with the latest business support and funding opportunities. Introductions to partners and stakeholders made through EMMN have been particularly beneficial, opening doors that might otherwise have been difficult to access.
Hosting two EMMN meetings, most recently in June 2025, has allowed Pennine Healthcare to showcase their Derby site to fellow members, highlighting best practice and raising the profile of both their business and the wider manufacturing sector in the East Midlands.
One of the most significant outcomes of EMMN membership came through an introduction to HMPPS North Midlands at a network meeting. This connection led to Pennine Healthcare piloting the recruitment of several ROTL (Release on Temporary License) workers within their cleanroom operations. The structured placements give individuals nearing the end of their custodial sentences the chance to rebuild confidence, develop new skills, and prepare for reintegration into society. The pilot was so successful it was highlighted to the Department of Health and Social Care, bringing national recognition to Pennine Healthcare, and shining a light on the positive role manufacturing can play in supporting communities.
Showcasing Success
and Building Connections through East Midlands Chamber
Pennine Healthcare’s employees across the business have taken part in Accelerator-funded workshops and webinars, using these opportunities to upskill, strengthen their expertise, and support their personal development. Alongside this, the company benefits from the guidance of the Chamber’s Enterprise and Innovation Adviser teams, ensuring they remain connected to the latest opportunities and support.
This focus on people has earned external recognition too. In 2024, Pennine Healthcare was proud to be named a Chamber Business Award Winner for Commitment to People Development, a reflection of their dedication to nurturing talent and investing in their workforce.
As Sustainability Action Team Lead, Richard has also taken advantage of the Chamber’s East Midlands Forums, attending events such as the Sustainability Conference and Energy Summit. These events provided him with valuable insights to bring back into the business, strengthening Pennine Healthcare’s approach to sustainability and helping to embed environmental responsibility into their wider operations.
Together, these achievements demonstrate how Pennine Healthcare is not only building a stronger business, but also contributing to a more sustainable, skilled, and resilient manufacturing community across the East Midlands.
“The East Midlands Manufacturing network brings manufacturers together to explore options and challenges and ways in which we can hopefully resolve them together. It also brings us together to help discuss potential things that are happening in the industry, maybe with things like shipping. And then as a group, collectively, we have a much larger voice to lobby into channels like Make UK”
Richard Cohen,
Head of Operations