Aug 27 2009 by Gemma Jaleel, Skelmersdale Advertiser
A SUPERBUG killing products company based in Skelmersdale who turned down £120,000 on Dragon’s Den, is setting up on the Isle of Man.
Founder Paul Ward, 41, impressed the Dragons on the BBC show so much, that James Caan offered to invest.
But Paul, a former medic with the Royal Army, said it was never about the money, he just wanted to get the company’s name out there.
“I didn’t want to give away more than 5% of my equity, even when James offered to give me his 30% share back over two years.
“But the show has given us great publicity and I have interest in the company from all over the world.”
Now Paul with his business partner Cath Brownles is setting up the internet platform for the company on the Isle of Man while maintaining a manufacturing base in Skelmersdale.
Paul said: “The Isle of Man have offered us grants to start up there, so our internet infrastructure will be launched here because we see the internet market as our way forward.
“We would love to do it in Skelmersdale but the broadband set-up in the Isle of Man is fantastic, and it’s not particularly brilliant here.”
Paul, from Widnes, told the Advertiser that the business has doubled its turnover this year and was on target to do the same next year.
Paul’s company Paragon PE Ltd was set up three years ago and soon started to develop products for their Germ Warfare cleaning and sanitising range which can kill hospital bugs like C.Difficile, MRSA, E.Coli and Listeria.
They are now producing products which kill Avian and Swine flu in the form of hand sanitisers.
These have been snapped up by organisations around the world including Citibank, Royal Bank of Scotland and Office Depot.
Paul, who will stay in Skelmersdale and commute to the Isle of Man, said: “We have also produced a non-biological liquid laundry detergent which kills C.Diff, MRSA and swine flu.
“All our products are fully tested, certified and proven to kill these superbugs.”
