A family-run Teddington laboratory celebrated its 40th anniversary last week with a visit from MP for Twickenham Vince Cable.

Butterworth Laboratories, recently commended in the export category at the 2014 Richmond business awards, opened in 1974 and moved to its Waldegrave Road site in 1980.

Managing director Doris Butterworth founded the organisation following the closure of the National Physical Laboratory’s elemental micro-analytical section, and has grown the company from two staff members to 58.

She said: "The business feels like a family, we are all very informal with each other and I think that’s the secret.

"If you employ people you feel responsible for them."

The demand for Butterworth’s services is growing, and the organisation, which already works with nearly 300 pharmaceutical firms, has submitted a planning application to add a second storey to their premises.

Head of business operations John Welch, who has worked for the company for 27 years, said there was a need to provide staff with better working facilities and more laboratory space, as well as an investment in new instrumental techniques.

He said: "Teddington is an ideal base for the company and its staff, which is a highly skilled workforce that commute from all over London.

"If the plans aren’t approved then we could be forced to open a second facility outside the borough or even move completely, which would be a last resort."

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Dr Cable said he was happy to offer his general support for the organisation’s expansion plans.

He said: "One of the things that you realise coming here is that there are outstanding, cutting edge organisations like Butterworth providing very high quality local employment, yet so few people know about them.

"This is why acknowledging them at the Richmond Business Awards is so important."