LGC Ltd

LGC Group, formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, is an international life sciences measurement and tools company.

The Inland Revenue Laboratory, as it was now known, was appointed a Referee Analyst under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict.

[6] The head was Dr Edward Thorpe, with the title of Principal Chemist, who expanded its activities to include health problems caused by the match and lead-glazing industries.

[4][5] The analysis of tobacco remained a substantial part of the work, being greatly increased during World War I because of supplies to troops.

[8][9] This gave it the remit to seek outside work (which it already did to a significant extent) and earn income to fully cover costs, while having more management autonomy.

[4] As part of a general programme of privatisation of public services by the government, Michael Heseltine announced that Laboratory of the Government Chemist would become an independent, non-profit company limited by guarantee, or could possibly be bought by a company or institution which could show that it would remain sufficiently independent to fulfil its statutory duties.

A consortium of Laboratory employees, the Royal Society of Chemistry and 3i put together a bid in 1995, which was accepted, taking the form of a management buyout.

Clement's Inn Passage c1965