Testing Contracts
Test & Trace
In August 2020, Mark Hewlett was employed on a 12 month fixed term contract as Director of Testing for the UK Government, Test & Trace department, later to become the UKHSA (United Kingdom Health Security Agency). In February 2021 he answered questions alongside Baroness Harding, in front of a government committee. His contract was extended and he ended up becoming the highest paid director on the UKHSA executive board, with a salary of £220,000.
Medco Solutions
Medco Solutions was awarded contracts worth £850 million by the UK government to supply lateral flow tests. The contracts were awarded between 5th March 2021 and the 23rd February 2022.
Medco Solutions Pty Ltd is owned by Dean Hales, the son of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Medco Solutions had already benefitted from £84 million of PPE contracts.
Medco Solutions Pty Ltd is owned by Dean Hales, the son of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Medco Solutions had already benefitted from £84 million of PPE contracts.
Sante Global
Sante Global was awarded a contract worth £271 million by the UK government to supply lateral flow tests in partnership with another brethren owned company Sterilab Services. This contract was awarded on the 5th September 2021.
Sante Global is owned by Gareth & Charles Hales, both are other sons of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Sante under their previous name Unispace, had already benefitted to the tune of £675 million on PPE contracts, awarded via the PPE VIP route following being put forward by Michael Gove.
Sante Global is owned by Gareth & Charles Hales, both are other sons of Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales. Sante under their previous name Unispace, had already benefitted to the tune of £675 million on PPE contracts, awarded via the PPE VIP route following being put forward by Michael Gove.
2San Global
2San Global was not awarded any UK contracts for lateral flow tests or PPE. The company though is owned by Dean Hales, who is also the owner of Medco Solutions PTY Ltd.
Connections
Medco Solutions PTY Ltd, Sante Global Pty Ltd & 2San Pty Ltd were all based at the same address when all these contracts were awarded. 2a Hope Street, Ermington, Sydney is the home to the Hales business empire and all three companies were owned by Dean, Charles, & Gareth Hales on the date the contracts were awarded.
2San Global appoint new CEO
In March 2022, Mark Hewlett left his role as Director of Testing for UKHSA, within 5 weeks he had taken on his new role as CEO of 2San Global. He started the week commencing 11th April 2022. His first week was not in the UK, he was in Sydney, home to Medco, Sante & 2San.
In the following 6 months, 2San Global were to employ at least 10 more people from the UKHSA Test & Trace team. Including senior employees. I estimate the annual cost of these employees would have been in excess of £1 million. In their annual report for 2022, 2San Global stated that on average they had 15 employees, in reality they employed Hewlett's Test & Trace team to run their business.
We are not suggesting that Mark Hewlett or anyone involved as done anything wrong. Though it certainly raised eyebrows in terms of the team likely involved in awarding contracts, ending up employed for a company heavily connected to £1.1 billion contract winners.
In the following 6 months, 2San Global were to employ at least 10 more people from the UKHSA Test & Trace team. Including senior employees. I estimate the annual cost of these employees would have been in excess of £1 million. In their annual report for 2022, 2San Global stated that on average they had 15 employees, in reality they employed Hewlett's Test & Trace team to run their business.
We are not suggesting that Mark Hewlett or anyone involved as done anything wrong. Though it certainly raised eyebrows in terms of the team likely involved in awarding contracts, ending up employed for a company heavily connected to £1.1 billion contract winners.