Randox and PayPoint partner to boost accessibility of Day 2 lateral flow tests
Randox and PayPoint partner to boost accessibility of Day 2 lateral flow tests
The updated collaboration opens up PayPoint’s extensive retail network to offer increased convenience to travellers returning to the UK
Randox and PayPoint have today announced an expansion of their partnership, to boost access to COVID-19 testing and provide a vital service to travellers returning to the UK, in line with the Government’s new arrival requirements for Day 2 testing, announced on Wednesday 5th January.
The expanded partnership between PayPoint and Randox will mean even easier access to low-cost COVID-19 testing, by enabling people to order a Randox test online for click and collect at a local store within the Collect+ network, initially available in over 5,000 locations, and soon in over 10,000 locations nationwide.
The service launches on 7th January 2022 to coincide with changes to travel policy which, from 4am on 9th January, allows fully vaccinated arrivals from non-red list countries to take a lateral flow (antigen) test, with a PCR test only required if a positive lateral flow result is returned.
In addition, from mid-January, PayPoint will give consumers the ability to walk into a local store and pick up a test immediately in over 2,500 locations, with no need to order online. This service will be offered in partnership with major convenience retailers including Scotmid Co-operative and Spar in the North West and Scotland.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director at Randox said: “By drawing on our 40 years’ diagnostics experience, unparalleled testing capacity, and well-established logistics network, which now includes an extensive number of new locations from PayPoint, Randox is able to respond quickly to changing travel requirements and simplify the process of ordering Day 2 lateral flow tests.
“The availability of value for money tests that can be collected at the customer’s convenience thanks to our partnership with PayPoint means people in the UK don’t need to wait for home delivery or a walk-in clinic appointment when ordering a COVID-19 test.”
Nick Wiles, Chief Executive at PayPoint said: “Our expanded partnership with Randox will deliver yet another vital service to help keep people safe in communities across the UK. Consumer convenience and accessibility are at the very heart of what we do and this is another example of our agility, responsiveness and the great relationships we have with our retailer partners in the ever-changing landscape across the UK.”
Day 2 lateral flow tests must be ordered before travel to England and can be ordered from 4am on 7th January. Thanks to the updated collaboration between PayPoint and Randox, people can now conveniently collect these tests from local stores for just £18.95, rather than waiting at home for deliveries to arrive.
Using the free Randox CertiFly App results are processed within 3 hours and a report delivered in-app and via email, allowing arrivals into England to complete their Day 2 test conveniently in the comfort of their own home, and for individuals who test positive, potentially reducing the amount of time they need to isolate.
Visit covid.randox.com to purchase COVID-19 tests from Randox Health.
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Further expansion at Randox labs with immediate start vacancies available
Further expansion at Randox COVID labs with recruitment drive for new staff
Randox Laboratories is hiring more new staff in support of its COVID-19 testing operations at the Randox Science Park in Antrim.
The healthcare diagnostics company has significantly increased its workforce since the beginning of the pandemic and continues to recruit to enhance its laboratory capacity within the UK’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme, and for those requiring PCR testing before travel.
Vacancies are available across science, accessioning, manufacturing and customer support.
Dr Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories, commented;
“With our headquarters in the Randox Science Park in County Antrim, we are fortunate to benefit from Northern Ireland’s incredible talent pool across a variety of disciplines, and so many have already responded to our call for support in fighting the coronavirus.
“Our staff have risen to the challenge this pandemic has created, been incredibly resourceful and flexible, and pulled together as a team to make an impact in the fight against COVID-19. They are our best asset and we are very proud of their efforts.”
Last month Randox reached a significant testing milestone, with 21 million tests completed since its testing began.
Thanks to significant private investment, Randox’s testing capacity, which in March 2020 was just 150 tests per day, has now increased to 180,000 daily PCR tests, the same number as at the height of the pandemic.
Dr FitzGerald continued;
“The completion of over 21 million gold-standard PCR tests is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff.
“We continue to play a vital role in the national network of testing, which is of critical importance and remains a key part of the response to COVID-19 – not only to identify outbreaks, isolate cases and prevent further spread, but also to assist with a return to social and economic normality.”
Anyone interested in joining Randox’s COVID-19 Testing Programme should apply at https://randox.getgotjobs.co.uk/
Job roles available include:
- Laboratory Analysts
- Sample Processing Operatives
- Laboratory Support
- Customer Support Advisors
- Manufacturing Technicians
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Randox welcomes CMA moves to safeguard consumer interests around PCR testing
3rd December 2021
Randox Statement: Randox welcomes CMA moves to safeguard consumer interests around PCR testing
Responding to today’s announcement by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), a spokesman for Randox said:
“We welcome the role played by the CMA, with our full co-operation, in ensuring that consumers continue to get a fair deal during the Covid emergency.
“Randox has been happy to engage fully with the CMA from the outset to ensure in the interests of its customers while the company delivers millions of Covid-19 PCR tests to facilitate vital international travel against the changing requirements of governments.
“As the industry leader, Randox has been in the ideal position to both review the services required to support the international traveller and provide a consumer-industry standard of Terms and Conditions. These have, of necessity, evolved over time.
“In working with the CMA, Randox’s aim has been to ensure absolute fairness whilst building and providing critical services in a highly volatile and demanding environment.”
Additional Information
Randox has today welcomed engagement with the CMA to optimise Covid-19 PCR testing support for international travel whilst ensuring the sustainability of critical national services.
As the industry leader Randox has been in the ideal position to both review the services required to support the international traveller, and provide a consumer-industry standard of Terms and Conditions, which have evolved over time. In working with the CMA Randox’s aim has been to ensure absolute fairness whilst building and providing critical services in a highly volatile and demanding environment.
“Both industry and the travelling public have faced significant pressures in enabling international travel,” said a spokesperson. “From an industry perspective Government required immediate and large scale investment to establish validated end-to-end testing services, supported by nationwide logistics, with fully secure reporting to both individuals and Government. Yet there were no contracts, no expected duration for services and the requirement was based on a single product – Covid-19 PCR testing. It was also evident that Government would remove the requirement for such testing as soon as practicable and would not provide any further support.”
The spokesperson went on; “At the same time as requiring significant investment and a rapid response from industry, Government retained the right to alter demand on an almost daily basis and did so frequently by moving countries between the green, amber and red lists with no notice. Government subsequently removed the country lists entirely and effectively closed the requirements for international travel PCRs by moving to lateral flow devices in October – only months after establishing services.” The decision by the Prime Minister to reintroduce PCR testing at very short notice this week, without prior notice to industry, further illustrates the challenges faced.
It had also been clear that the public were faced with highly variable pricing by a number of suppliers – some advertising low prices, but which were only available in very limited circumstances – something Grant Shapps asked the CMA to review. “From the very start Randox committed to highly competitive and transparent pricing which was available across the nation,” said the spokesperson. “Our home testing kits are available at an all inclusive price of £43 with a click and collect service at £34.99 – we know that these represent excellent value for money.”
Randox’s engagement with the CMA has provided the ability to review consumer-industry terms and conditions in the light of very hard won experience. “We do hope that other providers will consider our terms and conditions,” said the spokesperson, “and we know that the CMA will provide further guidance where required.”
The spokesperson went on; “We at Randox are very proud of what we have achieved in very demanding and volatile circumstances. We have built and sustained a reliable and cost effective service to enable international travel – meeting critical business needs and ensuring friends and families can continue to meet. We are committed to providing this service for as long as Government requires.”
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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Randox Health launches COVID-19 Travel Centre in Enniskillen
25th November 2021: Randox Health launches COVID-19 Travel Centre in Enniskillen
A COVID-19 Testing Service launches this week in a new Randox Health Travel Centre in Enniskillen, offering COVID tests from just £30.
The testing service from Randox, a laboratory partner in the UK’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme, offers rapid lateral flow (LFD) tests – with results in just 60 minutes – for those who are eligible to take an LFD for their Day 2 testing requirements.
The service in Enniskillen will also provide gold-standard PCR testing for those who need it for pre-departure screening, on-arrival testing on Day 2 and Day 8, or simply for peace of mind, with Express PCR tests returning results in as little as 3 hours.
Sophie Boyd, Project Manager for the Randox COVID-19 Testing Service, explained;
“In addition to our Travel Centres at Belfast International Airport, Belfast City Airport, Holywood and Crumlin, we are pleased to expand our testing service to Enniskillen, to serve the Fermanagh area with our accurate and cost-effective COVID-19 tests.
“Whilst travel guidance during the pandemic continues to evolve, testing will remain a key part of the response to COVID-19 – not only to identify outbreaks, isolate cases and prevent further spread, but also to assist with a return to social and economic normality.”
From 4am on 31st October 2021, changes to travel guidance for those arriving in Northern Ireland from countries not on the red list came into effect.
For vaccinated passengers, lateral flow (antigen) tests may now be used for post-arrival testing as an alternative to PCR testing, with a photograph of the completed lateral flow test required in order to verify the result.
Sophie continued;
“In support of changes to government travel guidance, our COVID-19 testing service has evolved to now include lateral flow testing in addition to our gold-standard PCR testing, and Randox is recognised as a provider of both services on the official government list.
“Randox is committed to providing competitive, effective and efficient testing to support holidaymakers and those undertaking international travel and the opening of the Randox Health Travel Centre in Enniskillen is another positive step towards the normalization of travel and other social activities.”
The Randox Health Travel Centre in Enniskillen is open to all asymptomatic individuals and is conveniently located on the Tempo Road.
Randox COVID Testing is also available at Randox Health Travel Centres at Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Airport, and in Randox Health Clinics in Holywood and Crumlin.
Visit booking.randox.com to book your appointment. Prices are included below.
| Service | Price |
| PCR Next Day (Result before 11:59pm) | £55 |
| PCR Express (Results in 1-3 hours) COMING SOON | £90 |
| Antigen Rapid Test | £30 |
| Day 2 PCR | £55 |
| Day 8 PCR | £55 |
| Day 2 Antigen | £35 |
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A slam-dunking new partnership agreed between Randox Laboratories and Olimpia Milano
Monday 22nd November 2021: A slam-dunking new partnership agreed between Randox Laboratories and Olimpia Milano
Global health diagnostics company Randox Laboratories has been announced as the official Diagnostics Partner of Olimpia Milano basketball team, in a new partnership spanning the remainder of the 2021/22 season.
Taking effect immediately, the new deal will see the sporting institution have access to Randox technology to perform a variety of health testing on Olimpia’s athletes and wider support staff. The cutting-edge health testing programme will include COVID PCR and lateral flow testing, a capability Randox already provides for international travel requirements and the UK’s National Testing Programme.
Adding to Randox’s existing portfolio of sports sponsorships which include the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic and Paralympic Teams, the Aintree Racecourse Randox Grand National, and Sheffield United Football Club, the agreement with Olimpia Milano is the first venture into the European sports industry for the global testing company, which has an office in Rome from which it sells its pioneering tests and machines to hospitals, universities and veterinary centres across Italy.
Giulio Saule, Randox Sales Manager for North Italy, explained;
“Randox is tremendously proud to be associated with a sporting organisation as prestigious as Olimpia Milano and to have the opportunity to bring our testing capabilities, including COVID testing, out of the standard laboratory setting and on to the court, so that players and coaches may directly benefit from our world-leading diagnostic technologies.
“Our clinical tests and analysers have useful applications for sports science to help measure, predict and develop athletic performance, and so we look forward to working with the squad to not only ensure COVID-safe exercise and games, but to enhance their training plans for optimal results.”
Founded in 1982 in County Antrim by leading medical scientist Dr. Peter FitzGerald CBE, Randox has been saving lives through early and accurate diagnosis for almost 40 years. Today more than 5% of the world’s population – in excess of 370 million people across 145 countries – receives medical diagnosis through use of Randox products each year.
To achieve its goals the company is committed to an extensive research programme, which includes the investment of more than £300m in the development of its innovative biochip array technology which allows many tests to be run simultaneously, greatly improving the diagnostic power available to clinicians. The company currently employs more than 2000 people of over 40 different nationalities.
Dr. Peter FitzGerald, Managing Director of Randox Laboratories, is thrilled at the new Olimpia Milano partnership and expansion into the European sports industry, stating;
“We understand the importance of comprehensive and reliable testing within sport and furthermore the significant reach for our preventative health messaging when channelled through the power of sport. As a global market leader within the clinical diagnostics field, it was a ‘no-brainer’ for Randox to partner with a similarly ambitious sporting organisation leading the way in both the Lega Basket Serie A and the EuroLeague.
“We look forward to working alongside Olimpia Milano – working together to push the boundaries of healthcare and enhance team performance as the season progresses.”
Christos Stavropoulos, General Manager of Olimpia Milano, concluded;
“We are very excited for this new partnership with Randox, which has been well-known across the life sciences industry in Italy for many years but is now also a household name for its COVID testing laboratories which have grown to be one of the largest and most productive in Europe. We are extremely impressed with their operation and look forward to working together as both organisations go from strength to strength in the years ahead.”
For further information please contact James Crilly; james.crilly@randox.com / 028 9442 2413
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Ministers and MPs Praise Randox’s ‘Life-Saving’ Role In Delivering Mass Testing During Pandemic
18th November 2021
Speaking in the House of Commons on behalf of the government on November 17, Health Minister Gillian Keegan praised Randox’s 40 years of experience in testing and diagnostics. She confirmed to the House that as early as March 2020, Randox already had lab-based PCR testing capacity for Covid-19.
Recognising the imperative of testing as a weapon against the pandemic and facing a shortage of proven testing capacity, she said “the Government had made the common sense decision to work with companies that had existing diagnostic capability.”
The Minister continued: “The initial challenge that (Randox) faced was the challenge facing governments the world over: a shortage of machinery and transport. Nonetheless, it quickly overcame them to play a critical role in our pandemic response.”
She also confirmed that in June 2020, Randox was ahead of all other labs in process, plans, and reporting. A six-month-extension was agreed in September 2020, and by March 2021 Randox was exceeding contract targets, processing more than 120,000 tests in a single day.
Keegan said to date, that Randox has carried out over 15 million tests for Covid-19, and identified over 700,000 positive cases. “That is 700,000 people who might otherwise have gone on to spread the disease,” She continued: “As a result of this testing capacity, they received the right advice to isolate, thereby protecting their friends, their family and society at large.”
Her recognition of Randox’s crucial role in combatting the pandemic at its height was echoed by Maggie Throup MP, Minister for Vaccines and Public Health, who said that working with Randox was a decision which had “saved many thousands of lives”.
She told the House: “contracts with companies such as Randox have been some of the essential building blocks without which we would never have built what is now one of the largest testing networks in the world.”
Throup said she “utterly rejected” the idea that Randox had received any kind of special treatment.
“Our partnership with Randox is simply a reflection of the situation in which we found ourselves in March 2020”, she clarified, “facing a global pandemic of unknown and unprecedented proportions and acting as a responsible Government should. We worked against genuine fears that we would run out of vital testing equipment, that we would not have the capacity to test people and that the deadly virus might continue to spread from person to person, silent and undetected.”
“Working with Randox was the right thing to do, it was the responsible thing to do and, quite simply, it was a decision that has saved many thousands of lives”, she told MPs.
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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House of Commons Debate | Randox Statement
17th November 2021: House of Commons Debate | Randox Statement
Randox will be pleased to co-operate fully in laying before the House all the material required.
Public disclosure will demonstrate the extraordinary efficiency and value for money provided by Randox through contracts awarded in full compliance with government regulations at a time of national crisis.
Contrary to much of what has been written and broadcast, lobbying played no role in the awarding of these contracts.
The company has 40 years experience in testing and diagnostics. It is proud of its performance and delivery under the contracts awarded to it on merit by the Government. They resulted in the delivery of more than 21 million Covid tests, 15 million of them to the National Testing Programme from the start of the emergency in the Spring of 2020.
At this time, hindered by global shortages and less experience than Randox, other laboratories were simply not able to provide whole-system capabilities to deliver the tests which the World Health Organisation and the UK government agreed were crucial to combating the pandemic.
11th November 2021: COVID Contracts | Randox Statement
Randox states categorically that political lobbying played no role in the award of Covid contracts to the company. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) contracts to provide Covid-19 testing were awarded on merit to Randox as the largest healthcare diagnostic company from the UK. The entire process was transparent and compliant with government regulations in a time of national crisis.
Randox has almost 40 years experience in testing and diagnostics: it was one of the first companies in the world to develop a Covid-19 test and to have developed extensive laboratory, IT and logistic infrastructure to support large scale testing operations. The decision to award Covid-19 contracts was fully validated by the company’s performance and delivery under the terms of the contracts.
The company was awarded its initial Covid contract on 30 Mar 20 and, within a short period, had exceeded the initial Covid-19 testing capability of the entire NHS.
Subsequent DHSC planning required Randox to deliver 17,000 tests per day by the end of April and more beyond then. To facilitate and ultimately enable these extraordinary levels of delivery, Randox was temporarily allocated 5 extraction systems from universities in order to increase capacity. DHSC directed the Army to collect equipment, in line with their support for all Pillar 2 laboratories.
This was a pragmatic and transparent move by the DHSC to meet a critical national need to save lives and ease overwhelming pressure on the NHS. The extraction systems were returned once the systems ordered by Randox, against the backdrop of a global shortage of such equipment, had been delivered and installed.
Randox and its staff have striven tirelessly and innovatively to support the national Covid-19 testing effort. We are proud of our collective achievement at a time of crisis in being the only Pillar 2 laboratory to have reported in excess of 100,000 Covid-19 results in one day.
For all media enquiries, please contact Ian Monk on ian@ianmonk.com or +44 7970 026072 / + 44 203 011 1933
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We Are Randox | Randox IT team win Company of the Year at Belfast Telegraph’s IT Awards
06 November 2021: Randox IT win IT Company of the Year at the Belfast Telegraph IT Awards 2021
A massive congratulations to the Randox IT team who won the most coveted category of Overall IT Company of the Year at the Belfast Telegraph IT Awards on Friday 5th November 2021.
The event from the Belfast-based media outlet, is an annual showcase of the finest that the Northern Ireland IT industry has to offer with both IT agencies and in-house IT teams vying for the chance to be crowned among the best their respective fields.
As well as winning IT Company of the Year, the Randox team also took home three other awards – triumphing in the categories of Digital Project of the Year, IT Project of the Year and IT Team of the Year.
Commenting on Randox’s achievements, the judging panel said: “While there were a number of very strong contenders, the judges felt that Randox were worthy winners of the Overall IT Company of the Year because of the way in which the team at Randox worked together at speed, to rise to the challenge of Covid.
“They were able to deliver a highly effective end-to-end solution to support the nationwide testing programme on a 24/7 basis, which has been hailed as a significant success in the fight against Covid-19.”
See an overview of their applications below.
In early 2020 Randox, the largest diagnostics company from the UK, recognised the threat from COVID-19 and based on almost 40 years of experience, developed a test to identify the virus in a greatly accelerated timeframe of just two weeks.
Faced with unprecedented demand for testing to curb the spread of the virus, the company stepped up to support the UK Government’s National COVID-19 Testing Programme without hesitation.
Armed with world-leading testing technology and expertise, the next step for Randox was to scale its capacity and infrastructure.
Growing from an initial testing capacity of just 150 samples on the first day of COVID testing in March 2020, to now a capacity of 500,000 COVID samples per day, Randox has to date tested almost 20 million samples across the National Testing Programme and private testing for international travel.
These accomplishments would not have been possible without the Randox IT team, who responded quickly in an ever-evolving situation and introduced a full end-to-end testing process inclusive of logistics, sample registration, accessioning and results reporting, for tens of thousands of daily tests.
The development of platforms such as an online sample kit registration portal, intelligent robotics automation, and an informatic lab workflow management system, all designed and developed entirely in-house, showcases the knowledge, expertise, responsiveness and overall capability within Randox IT.
Examples of innovative systems developed in-house by the Randox IT team include but are not limited to;
- Online sample collection kit registration portal
- Robust accessioning platform for sample receipt and chain of custody
- End-to-end digital and informatic laboratory workflow management solution
- Robotics for intelligent process automation
- Fully automated result communication system
- Intelligent data management
- Diagnostic algorithm development
Each of these innovative and re-deployable platforms has been scaled across a number of different testing services. Initially intended for Randox’s new 80,000 sqft of molecular laboratory space at the company’s headquarters in Antrim, the systems are also in use across newly built adaptive labs in Manchester and London, in mobile testing vans at key airport locations, and in a number of walk-through and drive-through testing clinics across the UK and Ireland.
The improvements in IT automation, robotics and software capabilities, have enabled Randox to upscale its testing capability like no other – growing the company to be amongst the largest COVID-19 testing laboratories in Europe.
The finals for the Belfast Telegraph IT Awards 2021 took place on Friday 5th November 2021 in The Mac, Belfast. To find out more click here.
Congratulations to the Randox IT team!
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We Are Randox | Charlotte Dixon World Indoor Rowing Champion
02 November 2021
Charlotte Dixon: Covid Scientist and World Indoor Rowing Champion
One of our favourite things about our We Are Randox series of staff interviews is the opportunity we are given to find out about the unique and interesting talents of our colleagues.
From creative bakers to melodious musicians, motivated youth leaders to athletic sportspeople, many of our staff are just as busy outside of the office as they are in it.
Take Covid Scientist Charlotte Dixon for example. During working hours Charlotte spends time in our Covid-19 testing laboratories – reviewing results before they are sent to the patient, helping her team with any issues they face, and compiling performance reports for management – but outside of work she is impressively the World Indoor Rowing Champion in the women’s U23 500m sprint, having beaten experienced competitors from Denmark, Egypt and Europe in the prestigious World Indoor Rowing Championships.
We caught up with Charlotte to find out about her intense training regime, her goals for the future of her rowing career, and her advice for anyone wanting to try a new sport or hobby.
1. Hi Charlotte, can you tell us about your job at Randox and the main responsibilities of the role?
I work in the Covid-19 Labs at the Randox Science Park in Antrim, as a Reviewer for a type of testing called qPCR. As a Reviewer I load plates of samples on to the machines which perform sample analysis to produce a negative or positive COVID result, and then review the results to ensure they are sent out correctly to the patient.
I am also the Shift Lead for my team, for which the main responsibility is to organise the shift and delegate any jobs that need done, ensuring I appropriately deal with any issues that may arise and communicate with the managers to resolve any problems.
2. What does a typical day look like in your role at Randox?
Depending on whether I’m doing a day or night shift, my day starts at 8am or 8pm with a handover meeting with the managers and other shift leads to discuss any points that need to be noted or carried forward from one shift to the next, and then the two labs for which I am a Shift Lead get deep cleaned. The 12 hour shifts normally involve a mixture of test scanning, witnessing and loading plates of samples, as well as reviewing results. Once I have written the shift report, the day/night finishes with a final tidy of the lab and another meeting with the team managing the next shift, to discuss the report and any issues to be passed on.
3. What was your educational / career background to get to this role?
I studied Biomedical Science at Ulster University Coleraine and graduated in 2019. Once graduated I took time out to focus on my equestrian ambitions and during this time I got the opportunity to compete internationally several times. Unfortunately, Covid-19 halted all competitions, but then the chance to work at Randox arose, and I jumped at the opportunity to put my science background to use.
4. What do you enjoy most about the job and what do you find most challenging?
During the pandemic I was grateful that my role in Covid testing meant I was able to play a direct role in the fight against the pandemic. However, I always say the best part about my job is the people I get to work with. I’ve made some amazing friends in this job and they really can make those long night shifts that little bit easier.
5. Tell us a bit about your title of “World Indoor Rowing Champion” – when and how did you receive this accolade?
Finishing University in 2019 I joined my local gym, Gladiator Training, in the aim to get fitter to benefit my horse riding, which I have done since I was little. I signed up to a 12-week indoor rowing programme and things really just went from there. At the end of 2019 I entered the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships for a bit of fun and won 2 races, before going on to place in the British Championships a few weeks later.
In 2020 things were a little different due to Covid restrictions but thankfully Indoor Rowing events could be held virtually. In December I won both the British and European U23 500m Championships, qualifying me for the World Indoor Rowing Championships.
After I qualified for the World’s, I was granted Elite athlete status which allowed me to train with my Coach at the gym even when restrictions meant it wasn’t open to the public. My training was so focused, and it was during this time that I made the most progress and realised how much I appreciate being able to train every day.
The World Indoor Rowing Championships, due to be held in California, was also held virtually due to restrictions. I had the fastest qualifying time going into the race and finished in Gold with a personal best time of 1:31.6 against competitors from across the world.
6. What does your training involve?
I train for 2 hours, 5-6 days a week. This is either at 5am before day shifts, 4pm before night shifts or 9am on days off. Working long hours means I have to be quite flexible with when I do my training, but I’m pretty used to it by now. What I do during training can vary quite a lot and depends on what type of competition I’m prepping for. In preparation for the World Championships, I rowed 2-3 days a week and then did a large amount of weight training on the other days to increase strength and sprint capacity.
7. What’s up next in your indoor rowing career?
Quite a lot of exciting things actually! I am currently preparing for the Irish indoor Rowing Championships held in Limerick on 20th November. This is my first year in the Senior category so I’m excited to try to go for Gold in multiple races. I have also just been accepted onto the British Rowing World Class Start Squad, a programme set up to find and train future Olympians. Rowing on water is something I have never done but I am so excited to give this a shot and see where it takes me!
8. Can you tell us a little bit about your equestrian interests and achievements?
I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to ride horses since as long as I can remember. I compete mainly in Eventing, which involves Dressage, Showjumping and Cross-Country – a bit like a triathlon for horses! Over the years I have notched up a few major titles including an U18 International Win, a Senior International Win (at only 19 years old), several other International placings and winning Team Gold at the Student Rider World Finals in Switzerland.
9. How do you juggle your time between work, rowing and equestrianism?
Juggling my time can be a bit difficult. Training on top of 12-hour shifts makes for extremely long days. I am so lucky though that I have an incredible team of people who support me with the horses and keep their fitness regimes up during competition season whilst I’m at work, leaving me to focus on riding them on my 4 days off. Riding and training are easy when they’re so enjoyable and I think that is the secret to juggling everything!
I’m very appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been offered at Randox and how accommodating they have been when it has come to my training schedule and I’m so excited for what the future holds with both my future sporting and working careers!
10. How do you like to relax when you have time in your busy schedule?
I really enjoy training and riding so I rarely feel like I need a ‘break’ from it but when I’m not working I just love going out for dinner to relax. I just enjoy eating lots of nice food.
11. What advice would you give to someone who wanted to try a new sport or hobby, or take one they have already to the next level?
I think whenever you take up a new hobby or sport you may not enjoy it that much at first, as chances are you won’t be very good at it! The key is to persevere and also find people who make it fun. A community of supportive people is the best thing about any sport. If you want to push yourself to the next level you just have to be prepared to work hard and do things that you haven’t done before. That’s how you’re going to make progress at the end of the day.
We are delighted to have Charlotte with us at Randox as part of our COVID-19 testing programme.
For current vacancies at Randox please visit randox.getgotjobs.co.uk
For more We Are Randox stories about our amazing colleagues, make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and follow the hashtag #WeAreRandox.
For further information please contact Randox PR by emailing randoxpr@randox.com
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Randox and Collect+ join forces to boost accessibility of reduced-cost PCR and Lateral Flow tests
25th October 2021: Randox and Collect+ join forces to boost accessibility of reduced-cost PCR and Lateral Flow tests
Today, Randox and Collect+ announce a new partnership that will provide even easier, nationwide access to low-cost COVID-19 testing. The partnership enables consumers to order a new reduced-cost PCR (£34.99) or lateral flow (£19.99) test online and then pick it up on the same day from participating shopping centres within the Collect+ network. This first of its kind partnership means people in the UK no longer need to wait for a home delivery or walk-in clinic access when ordering a COVID-19 test.
With an initial 29 locations already open, this collaboration plans to expand to more than 100 Collect+ locations in the coming weeks, and hopes to go further to utilise even more of the Collect+ network over the medium to longer term. Randox’s collaboration with Collect+ has not only simplified the logistics process but has sought to help support their retailer partners and provide another vital service at the heart of local communities.
In recognition of changes to travel guidelines for England, which state that from 24th October, fully vaccinated passengers from non-red list countries can take a lateral flow test for their day-two post-arrival checks, Randox now offers home testing kits as both PCR and lateral flow, to aid pre-departure testing and any current and future day 2 requirements. PCR and lateral flow tests are available at the newly reduced prices of £34.99 and £19.99 respectively when using Collect+ click and collect.
Philip Robinson, VP Sales at Randox said: “As guidelines change and the country continues to open up, Randox is able to support any travel testing requirements by utilising our extensive diagnostics experience and logistics network, and offering value for money for both PCR and lateral flow tests that can be collected at the customer’s convenience thanks to our new partnership with the Collect + service from PayPoint.
“Our significant investment in capacity expansion and in logistics solutions such as Collect + click and collect sites that further simplify the process of ordering COVID-19 tests, have allowed us to make ongoing price reductions, demonstrating our commitment to helping people live their lives as easily and normally as possible.”
Nick Williams, Head of Strategic Partners & Product, Collect+ said: “This is an exciting and important partnership for Collect+, which has always had consumer convenience and accessibility at the very heart of its operations. Randox has been instrumental in making COVID-19 tests easily available to people around the UK and this collaboration will see that country wide impact become even more meaningful.”
As Randox remains amongst the very largest COVID-19 laboratories in the UK and Europe and to date has processed almost 20 million tests, facilitated by drive-thru services, in-person clinics and home delivery options, the introduction of Collect+ locations further diversifies the efforts made by the company to make testing more accessible.
The number of Randox shopping centres with Randox Collect + locations now totals 29, including but not limited to Liverpool ONE, Waterloo Station, Brent Cross London, and Festival Place Basingstoke.
Neil Churchill, Centre Director, Festival Place Shopping Centre, commented:
“The Randox click and collect service is a good illustration of Festival Place’s growing position as an all-day destination, offering a variety of services to complement the traditional retail offer. Our Guest Services team have noted an increase in visitors, from all across Europe, passing through Festival Place to collect the Randox kits required for their travel. Customers appreciate the option to pick up their kits close to home while able to do their shopping at the same time.”
For further information on our new Click and Collect service please click here.
For press enquiries please contact Amy Millar, Randox Public Relations Team Leader; amy.millar@randox.com or 028 9442 2413