News & Events

Oxford, United Kingdom (March 13, 2007) - BD, a leading global medical technology company and one of Oxford’s largest employers, has just celebrated its move to the state-of-the-art Oxford Science Park as part of its continuing commitment to Oxford and the local business environment.

Johnny Lundgren, Country General Manager for BD in the UK, said: “This is a major move for BD and further demonstrates BD’s close ties with the UK and in particular, Oxford, and our intention to build upon the great work achieved here to date. The Oxford Science Park absolutely matches our needs and provides a great base for employees and clients alike. This is also testament to the healthy business environment in Oxford.”

BD opened its first U.K. office in Wembley, London in 1965 and moved to Oxford in the early 1980s. The BD facility in Oxford houses approximately 130 sales and marketing associates as well as human resources, information technology, customer service and finance associates. Today, BD’s U.K. facilities in Oxford, Plymouth, Bidford-on-Avon and Swindon play a major role in the Company.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in New Jersey, BD employs more than 27,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world and serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public.

BD has many strong ties to Oxford via a number of initiatives including support for the John Radcliffe Hospital. Additionally, BD has provided years of research assistance to the Transplant Immunology Programme at the University of Oxford, helping to develop a better understanding of how the immune system reacts after transplantation and new approaches for preventing rejection.

The link between the University of Oxford and BD goes back a long way. The Company contributed to building the Transplant Centre at the Churchill Hospital; Henry P. Becton, son of BD co-founder Maxwell W. Becton, participated in the turf-turning ceremony at the commencement of the building works in the early 1990s.

Kathryn Wood, Professor of Immunology at the University of Oxford, added: “Access to BD’s technologies has enhanced the way that we work and the treatment we offer patients by enabling us to assess the precise characteristics of the immune response each patient makes to their transplant. It has been a great pleasure to work with BD scientists. We look forward to continuing to build on our relationship as BD moves into its new home in the Oxford Science Park. I wish them every success.”

Peter Thomas, Senior Designer for Scott Brownrigg Interiors, the architects chosen to design the interior of the Oxford building, said: “We were delighted to be picked as BD’s design partner for the new office.”

Thomas continued, “BD selected a building that meets both its current and future needs. A main design criterion was to maintain a strong link with the impressive and inspirational existing natural landscape and to create an overall sense of ‘Outside In’. Using high-quality finishes, we achieved a natural look that is stylish and contemporary, while retaining a high degree of sustainability.”