Originating in Washington, we are now situated in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, where we serve customers across the North of England within the Life Science, healthcare, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Production, Food Analysis and many more.
Our new website opens opportunities to view the world’s finest manufacturers of Laboratory Instrumentation, Consumables and Chemicals at ease.
With stocks of over 14,000 products at our distribution depot at Cumbie Way, Newton Aycliffe we have a wide variety of the finest laboratory equipment on offer. We are backed up with daily deliveries from the exceptional support of our main supplier VWR International.
The market demands a quick response to orders received and we at NELS make every effort to ensure we satisfy you the customer.
Decades of
Industry Experience
We are part of the McQuilkin Group, an independent Scottish family business that has enjoyed the support of laboratories for over 100 years.
Our Team
Scott McQuilkin
Managing Director
Scott has been with the business now for 20 years and his challenge at first was to understand the company from inside and out.
He focused on how we as a company handle every aspect, from our vast range of product to manufacturing process. From Goods in, Deliveries through to Project Management and AutoCAD and Account Management and finance, he has worked in all departments in each of the companies, understanding what we do and how we give the best possible customer experience. Scott plays a vital role in maintaining customer and employee relationships which are so important to the future of our business. He enjoys family, rugby, skiing and trekking and takes great enjoyment from seeing the teams and businesses develop.
Tracy Smith
Financial Manager
Tracy has been with NELS for over 30 years now and before that was employed in accountancy, recycling industry, shipping, and telecoms.
As well as finance she is also our Quality Manager and in charge of the Sales Office at Newton Aycliffe, and is responsible for looking after standing orders, setting up new projects, and our operating procedures.
Out of the office, you’ll find Tracy looking after her huge collection of bees and helping out with the local animal rescue charities. The latest additions to the family home have been a hedgehog and a couple of foxes!
Paul Price
Commercial Manager
Joining in September 2017, Paul brought with him over 20 years experience of purchasing knowledge within the laboratory equipment and chemicals industry.
With a CIPS qualification he is continuously striving for excellent supplier relations and understands the benefits these will have to our customers. Being based in the North West, Paul is also focussed on developing the NELS customer base in this region.
He is sports mad and will spend most of his weekends boring his family to death with football, rugby league, F1 (or anything else he can squeeze in if he gets the TV remote quick enough!)
Steven Sweeney
Sales Manager
Steve joined the team in 2014 after gaining a degree in Biology and then working in hospital microbiology and blood science laboratories.
He is responsible for most of our key accounts and is dedicated to providing them a first-class account management and service. His experience in laboratory supplies means he’ll often be able to find a solution to any lab concerns you may have. Steve loves playing and watching various sports and has an avid interest in natural history and spends much time enjoying the wealth of beautiful wilderness here in the Northeast often with his dog Beryl.
Aanisah Zaman
Deputy Sales Manager
Aanisah joined NELS in September 2019 and has a degree in Biomedical Sciences and a Masters in Medical Sciences.
She is dedicated to supporting our customers across the North East and Cumbria, ensuring their needs are met with care and precision. Her favourite part of the role is meeting our customers in person and building meaningful relationships.
Outside of work, Aanisah enjoys staying active through weight training at the gym, walks, and body roll sessions. A passionate foodie, she loves exploring new restaurants and experimenting with cooking and baking whenever she gets the chance.
Rachel Matthews
Account Manager
Rachel has been with us since June 2018 and before this was a NELS customer in her previous role as Lab Manager. She aims to make the ordering process as smooth as possible and loves problem solving for her customers.
Outside of work she loves to spend time with her daughters, watch terrible TV, read good books and plan her next trip to Disney World.
Josie Goacher
Account Manager
Josie joined NELS in August 2021 and is our Account Manager for the North West and Yorkshire and focuses on building strong, genuine relationships with her customers. She enjoys supporting labs across the region and providing a friendly, reliable point of contact.
Outside of work, she loves travelling, staying active at the gym, and spending time with friends and family.
Maxine Prince
Customer Services
Maxine joined NELS back in 2018 to provide administrational support to the Customer Services team and NELS.
A dedicated member of the team, she works diligently to ensure customer orders work smoothly through the system and our clients always receive their goods on time. Not being a fan of the cold weather Maxine loves to holiday in warmer climates, and when in the office keeps her temperature up with her permanently switched on fan heater!
Paul Hughes
Warehouse Manager
Paul joined NELS back in 2007 as a Stores Operative/Driver and has grown with the company as it has emerged into its current position into the market covering the whole of the North of England. Knowledge of both company and logistics has helped him to progress into his current role as Warehouse and Logistics Manager.
Paul is responsible for the day-to-day running of the warehouse with his team making sure that the goods are received, allocated and shipped to the customer, ensuring the quality service of which the company is known for.
Paul is into sports his biggest passion being rugby, from playing the game to following the game. He has played semi-professional and county level. Captaining various teams from college, colts to senior also playing abroad for teams in New Zealand.
He loves to travel, New Zealand being his favourite place. He also loves Singapore, Australia, Thailand and Turkey.
Now settled down, he loves to spend time with his family, following his daughter’s passion for equestrian and singing.
Karen Price
Customer Services/Credit Control
We were happy to welcome Karen to the NELS team in 2018.
Karen is the one that makes things tick behind the scenes to make sure your orders arrive in good shape and on time.
She’s the NELS problem solver and will do anything to fix up any client concerns.
Homelife revolves around holidaying in Tenerife and spending time with two beloved Sausage Dogs, Dougie and Donnie who you may well hear in full voice should you need to get Karen on the phone!
Allan Bridgeman
Group Operations
Allan has been with the company since October 2022 and currently heads Group Operations.
With a strong focus on operational performance, Allan oversees ISO compliance, Health & Safety standards, and provides HR support. Allan plays a key role in ensuring the Group operates efficiently, safely, and in line with regulatory and quality benchmarks.
In his spare time, Allan has been passionate about radio-controlled model cars, having raced and been involved in the hobby for nearly 30 years. He’s also an avid fan of World Sidecar Motocross. When he’s not following motorsports, Allan enjoys playing darts and catching Metallica in concert whenever he gets the chance.