Covid: Hundreds of Rhymney jobs to produce rapid-flow tests

Rapid lateral flow test kits can give a result on Covid-19 in about 30 minutes

About 300 jobs are to be created at a factory where millions of Covid rapid-flow tests will be produced.

Innova Medical Group (IMG), the world's largest provider of rapid antigen tests, has gone into partnership with Sharp Packaging, in Caerphilly county.

The investment, in Rhymney, will see delivery of packaging machinery at the end of June, with production due to start in early July.

It will be the first place to produce Innova's tests in the UK.

The firm said the expanded Sharp site will fill a significant amount of the UK government's future demand.

• Free Covid tests for those who cannot work at home

"Innova understands the importance of speed in the fight against the pandemic and strategic contract manufacturing allows us to start local production quickly," said Daniel Elliott, IMG president.

"By domestically sourcing as much of the processes as possible, we are confident this partnership with Sharp will deliver value to our UK customers."

He added: "We are making a long-term investment into the area in Wales, for not only Covid but for post-Covid and what comes next."

Mr Elliott said there would be a variety of jobs created from production level, management and healthcare quality assurance.

'First class company'

Ian Morgan, general manager of Sharp UK, said: "This important partnership not only allows us to expand our facility by a third but will add nearly 300 new jobs, providing much needed opportunities for our local community."

Welsh economy minister Vaughan Gething added: "Wales welcomes Innova's investment and the hundreds of new job opportunities it creates, boosting the local economy and further enhancing Wales' reputation in the life sciences sector.

"Sharp are a first class company and the Welsh government is proud to have worked closely with them and supported their expansion, which has been crucial in bringing these new quality jobs to Rhymney."