Client Stories

Client Stories > Manufacturing > Sterling

Sterling Pharmaceutical Solutions Ltd is a long-established, Northumberland-based contract manufacturer of pharmaceutical APIs. Founded in 1969 as the Sterling Drug API facility, Sterling has an annual turnover of approximately £50 million, employing about 450 people. To support their plans for growth, Sterling added a business in Cary, North Carolina, USA, with further thoughts on global expansion on the horizon.

Private Equity Investors, with a strong presence and background within the pharmaceutical industry, purchased Sterling in 2019 with a clear vision and design for the future of the business. That vision is for Sterling to grow from a £50 million turnover company to a £250 million turnover organisation within a 5-year period, becoming a Top 10 worldwide pharmaceutical manufacturer offering world class services to customers. In order to realise and accelerate this vision, the investors and Sterling retained Freeman Clarke to review and manage all existing technology projects to ensure work continued at pace.

A part of the brief was to define a clear, multi-year technology strategy for current and future technology development to be realised rapidly, that also clearly communicated the concept of ‘World Class’ to staff and customers alike. This brief was similar to that of a previous Freeman Clarke client that had been procured by the same equity investors.

The work started with a wide-ranging strategic review and a two year programme of work to address everything from a major SAP upgrade to infrastructure, telephony, and document management, as well as a thorough review of the IT team structure, including the recruitment of a new IT Manager and the expansion and upskilling of the existing team.

Freeman Clarke, to date, have been able to resolve a number of technology issues as well as define, plan and kick off significant infrastructure and technology projects. The most notable project is a significant upgrade of the end-to-end SAP R3 ERP to SAP S/4HANA within a 1-year timeframe. Other significant projects have included: a move from an Exchange 2010 on premise solution to Microsoft Office 365; Windows 7 to Windows 10 upgrade; Implement a new cloud-based voice over IP telephony system; and a complete replacement of aging network hardware.

 ‘Through the Principal’s outstanding work, Freeman Clarke have been instrumental in implementing industry best practices around the management, support and financial management of the IT function. This has included a redefinition of the role and restructure of IT within the business and building its profile so that it is now interpreted within the business as a true business partner providing real business benefits instead of the singular perception of only being a “Cost Centre” department.’

Kevin Cook, CEO Sterling PSL

 

Sterling

Resolve a number of technology issues as well as define, plan and kick off significant infrastructure and technology projects

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