About Nature's Laboratory
Founded in 2002 by James Fearnley, Nature's Laboratory is a leading manufacturer of natural health products. We also spearhead in-depth research and analysis and are developing innovative technology to drive the natural health industry forward.
Our Team
- James Fearnley
CEO
James trained as a lawyer before turning his attention to natural health. He is a world expert on propolis and the driving force behind Nature's Laboratory. - Shankar Katekhaye
Quality & Research Director
Shankar is a PhD qualified pharmacognosist. He brings a wealth of experience in the formulation of natural health products and oversees our quality management systems. - Tom Cull
Manufacturing Director
Tom worked in the restaurant industry for many years before joining our team. He manages our purchasing and production processes and works with our contract manufacturing customers. - Bhagyashree Kamble
Research Assistant
Bhagyashree joins us through the KTP arrangement with Bradford University. She supports Shankar in our R&D lab as well as working on her KTP project. - Lucy Kaya
Community Communications Director
Lucy directs our communication strategy, working with Jack and James share the vision and work of Nature's Laboratory with the wider world through our blogs, newsletters and social media. - Angela Watts
Office Manager
Angela manages our sales office, helping customers with their queries, processing orders and keeping on top of our paperwork. - Richard Locker
Dispatch Manager
Richard ensures all our packages and parcels and well wrapped up and dispatched on time to our customers around the UK and further afield. - Andy Burgess
Manufacturing
Andy is involved in the production of our herbal medicines, especially liquids and powders. - Sean Lennon
Manufacturing
Sean is one of Nature's Laboratory's longest-serving staff members, primarily focussed on liquid production, pressing and bottling. - Chris Buckley
Manufacturing
Chris has a keen attention to detail. He runs our encapsulation machine, bottling, filling and labelling processes.
Common Cause CIC Staff
Natures's Laboratory support Common Cause, a not-for-profit community interest company which runs The Dispensary, a health shop in Whitby. We cover the staff costs for the shop, which would otherwise not be viable.
- Zoe Curran
The Dispensary Manager
Zoe is employed by Nature's Laboratory to run The Dispensary health shop in Whitby and engage with our local community. - Alice Stevens
The Dispensary Assistant
Alice works alongside Zoe in The Dispensary on a part-time basis.
Based in Whitby, North Yorkshire
Nature's Laboratory is based in Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast. We're surrounding by the North Sea and the beautiful and rugged North York Moors National Park.
Whitby is an enterprising town, with a vibrant community. Primarily known for its connection to James Cook and as the inspiration for Bram Stoker's 'Dracula', Whitby is a popular seaside destination and a wonderful place to live and work.
Company Timeline
- Founded in 2002 by James Fearnley, Nature's Laboratory is now a leading manufacturer of natural health products
- Nature’s Laboratory has created a global research community as well as developing innovative natural health technology
- Nature’s Laboratory is pioneering a model of social and cultural responsibility which it believes can provide the sustainable and healthy businesses of the future
- Nature's Laboratory Limited Founded
18th February 2002James Fearnley founded Nature's Laboratory Limited to research and develop the medicinal properties and products of both plants and beehive products.
- BeeVital launched by Nature’s Laboratory
July 2002BeeVital the home of Apiceutical Medicine (medicine from the beehive) is launched, focused on research and development of medicines from propolis and other medicines from the hive.
- Herbal Apothecary Joins Nature’s Laboratory
January 2005Nature’s Laboratory moves Herbal Apothecary, one of the UK'’s most trusted manufacturers of herbal medicines from its home in Leicester to its new factory in Whitby.
- Sweet Cecily's Launched
January 2011Sweet Cecily's was officially launched in 2011. With our years of experience & expertise with plants and natural products, we decided to develop our own range of natural skincare.
- ARC - Apiceutical Research Centre Launched
March 2011Nature’s Laboratory launches ARC and a plan to build a global research centre, exploring the medicinal properties of all bee products (apiceuticals) as well as sustainable beekeeping. The project is supported by an international board of academic researchers.
- Common Cause CIC launches The Dispensary
December 2012Professor David Bellamy launches The Dispensary, the Nature’s Laboratory inspired Community Health Store in Whitby, North Yorkshire. The project now includes a community library and a community bakery jointly run with Esk Valley Camphill Community. The Dispensary promotes future health, encouraging, supporting, and initiating social, economic & cultural health in our local community.
- IPRG - International Propolis Research Group
Febrary 2016Nature’s Laboratory brings together an international community of researchers focused on developing the medicinal properties of propolis. The IPRG runs international conferences annually.
- Threes Company launched by Nature’s Laboratory
June 2017Building healthier organisations by helping them to identify, audit and balance their social, cultural, and economic life.
- The BeeArc Project Launched
March 2018The BeeArc – The Nature of the Future - launched by Nature’s Laboratory. BEEARC is a social enterprise developing a Discovery & Cultural Centre, Research Centre and model Sustainable Community inspired by the honeybee.
- Hivechat Launched by Nature's Laboratory
January 2019Building Community Through Communication – a unique and innovative community communications platform – helping organisations and groups relate and grow together putting on seminars, workshops & virtual conferences.
- Jack Barber Ltd Merges with Nature's Laboratory
April 2021When Jack joined Nature's Laboratory, he brough with him a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. Jack , now Managing Director, is integrating the multi-faceted activities of Nature’s Laboratory, and transforming our ability to communicate with the world. Jack is also continuing to develop Jack Barber Ltd as a community web business within Nature’s Laboratory.
- United Kingdom Phyto-Apitherapy Association
March 2022Nature’s Laboratory has stimulated the creation of UKAPA which brings together practitioners of both phytotherapy ( the use of plants or herbs as medication to treat or prevent diseases) and apitherapy ( the use of honeybee products to treat illnesses & their symptoms) to share knowledge and experience and to promote natural medicine.
James Fearnley
James is a social, economic, and cultural entrepreneur applying his
innovative concepts to economics, education, and community development
as well as natural medicine. He has started over 30 social, cultural and
economic initiatives over the last 40 years.
Our Commitments
Research
Research lives at the heart of everything we do at Nature's Laboratory. Working in partnership with leading universities, and undertaking our own projects in-house, Nature's laboratory works to further our understanding of natural medicines. Our multi-disciplinary team continues to develop innovative new technology which facilitates analysis and research of natural health products.
Quality
The products we produce are of the highest quality. We work with trusted suppliers, sourcing raw ingredients from the UK and around the globe. We operate HACCP and are ISO accredited, which ensures we continue to develop our quality systems and processes. We were one of the first businesses to be awarded the HerbMark - a quality mark for manufacturers of herbal products established by the BHMA.
Access
We work to promote the use of herbal medicines. This includes supporting practitioners and practitioner groups such as NIMH. Our support of Common Cause, a community interest not-for-profit company in Whitby also demonstrates this as we enable easy access to natural health products, healthy food and therapeutic activities.