VWR INTERNATIONAL LTD

Active
Company number 01932827Private limited companyIncorporated 1985

Key figures

£83,755,000
Net assets 2025

† VWR INTERNATIONAL LTD filed these accounts on paper, so Companies House publishes them only as a scanned image. The figures for the years marked † were read automatically from the scan and kept only where the statements add up (for example net assets equal total equity), but a reading error is still possible — check the original accounts at Companies House.

Ratios

2025

Sector comparison

SIC 46750

Where the company stands among the 1,482 active companies whose first SIC code is 46750 (Wholesale of chemical products).

Turnover£195,522,000
Higher than 97% · median £14,649,160 among 82 that publish turnover
Net assets£83,755,000
Higher than 99% · median £57,991
Total assets£133,138,000
Higher than 99% · median £239,254
Employees378
Higher than 99% · median 1
Company age41.3 years
Older than 95% · median 9.5 years
Largest in this sector by net assets
  1. CHAMPION TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED£91.3m
  2. VWR INTERNATIONAL LTD£83.8m
  3. TENNANTS DISTRIBUTION LIMITED£74.6m
  4. SURVENTIS SURFACE TREATMENT LTD.£69.2m
  5. SOLVENTIS LTD.£59.6m
  6. ETERNIS UK LIMITED£37m
  7. SURFACHEM LIMITED£36m
  8. CLARIANT PRODUCTION UK LTD£34.8m
  9. NORKEM LIMITED£34.2m
  10. SAFIC-ALCAN UK LIMITED£28.6m

Positions are approximate. Figures come from each company's latest accounts; money and employee figures are compared only with companies that filed accounts in pounds for a period ending in the last two and a half years and are not dormant, so those groups are smaller than 1,482. The line on each bar marks the median.

Summary: VWR INTERNATIONAL LTD

What kind of company is it?

VWR INTERNATIONAL LTD is a private limited company registered with Companies House under company number 01932827. It was incorporated on 23 Jul 1985. Its status is active. The registered office is in Lutterworth (LE17). Its nature of business (SIC 2007) is wholesale of chemical products (46750), non-specialised wholesale trade (46900).

How is the company doing financially?

The latest accounts in the database are for 2025 (period ending 31 Dec 2025); the company files full accounts. Turnover was £195,522,000. Profit for the year was £6,459,000. Net assets were £83,755,000. Total assets were £133,138,000 and total liabilities £44,837,000. The company had an average of 378 employees.

How does it compare with similar companies?

Compared with 1,482 active companies whose first SIC code is 46750: By turnover it ranks higher than 97% of the 82 that publish turnover (median £14,649,160). By net assets it ranks higher than 99% of them (median £57,991). By total assets it ranks higher than 99% of them (median £239,254). By number of employees it ranks higher than 99% of them (median 1). It is older than 95% of them (median age 9.5 years).

Does it supply the public sector?

The company is named as a supplier in 191 public contract award notices from 60 public sector buyers since 2015. Contracts awarded to it alone have a combined published value of £267.5m. Its most frequent buyer is Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) (19 contracts). 47 of the awards are shared with other suppliers, typically framework agreements.

What do public registers and reports show?

It appears on the Home Office register of licensed sponsors (Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker). HMRC lists it as an importer of goods, mainly miscellaneous manufactures, optical, medical and measuring instruments, furniture and lighting. HMRC lists it as an exporter of goods, mainly optical, medical and measuring instruments, miscellaneous manufactures, machinery. Its gender pay gap report for 2025/26 shows median hourly pay for women 18.8% lower than for men. It has modern slavery statements on the government registry for 3 years.

Who runs and controls the company?

One person with significant control is registered. 2 of 2 registered charges are outstanding.

When are its next filings due?

The next accounts are due by 30 Sep 2027. The next confirmation statement is due by 16 Oct 2027.

Filed accounts2025
2025 †
Turnover195,522,000
Profit for the year6,459,000
Total assets133,138,000
Total liabilities44,837,000
Net assets / total equity83,755,000
Average number of employees378

A dash (—) means no accounts were filed for that year or the item is not in the accounts; 0 is a zero stated in the accounts. Small companies usually file only a balance sheet, so the profit and loss account is often missing.

Public contracts

191 contracts

VWR INTERNATIONAL LTD is named as a supplier in 191 public contract award notices from 60 public sector buyers since 2015. The 141 contracts awarded to it alone with a published value add up to £267.5m. 47 awards are shared with other suppliers and not counted in that total.

Contracts per year
Main buyers60
Department of Health and Social Care (T&T)
19 contracts · £6.4m
Public Health England
16 contracts · £1m
UK Health Security Agency
15 contracts · £3.5m
UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED
14 contracts · £199.7m
Defra Network eTendering Portal
13 contracts · £31.9m
Latest 100 contracts
  1. Homogeniser x 2 (Pre-Clinical)‡UK Health Security Agency · £18,986 · runs until Dec 2029
  2. UKHSA Diagnostics & Research Open Framework‡Secretary of State for Health and Social Care acting as part of the Crown through UK Heal… · shared by 81 suppliers, up to £6,250,000,000 in total · 2 lots · runs until Sep 2028
  3. UKRI-6044 Ultra high-pressure syringe pumps for CRSAS setup‡UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) · £48,626 · runs until Dec 2026
  4. UWQ358 - Flow Cytometer - AWARD‡University Of Worcester · £38,337
  5. Microscopy and Imaging Equipment‡APUC Limited · shared by 15 suppliers, up to £30,000,000 in total · 2 lots
Show 95 more
  1. UWQ359 - 2 x CO2 Incubators - AWARD‡University Of Worcester · £9,197
  2. APHA Capex: Supply of Ultramicrotome‡Animal and Plant Health Agency · £147,925 · runs until Oct 2027
  3. Laboratory Consumables and Chemicals‡APUC Limited · shared by 6 suppliers, up to £40,000,000 in total · 9 lots
  4. Q PCR CyclerDefence Science and Technology Laboratory · £15,808
  5. Laboratory ConsumablesUniversity of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation · £120,000
  6. C32394 - Supply of x 2 CO2 Incubators for APHA‡Animal and Plant Health Agency · £20,348 · runs until Feb 2029
  7. Supply of Cell Imaging System‡Animal and Plant Health Agency · £82,341 · runs until Mar 2027
  8. Purchase of Fridges and Freezers - Framework Competition - LAB5061 LU‡Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency · £300,000 · runs until Oct 2028
  9. Lab Equipment (General) and Associated Services‡London Universities Purchasing Consortium · shared by 8 suppliers, up to £200,000,000 in total · runs until Oct 2028
  10. Lab Equipment (General)‡London Universities Purchasing Consortium · shared by 7 suppliers, up to £1,600,000,000 in total · 8 lots
  11. Supply of Dried Blood Spot Cards‡UK Health Security Agency · £108,735 · runs until Jul 2027
  12. QUB/2715/25 Framework for Lab Consumables and Chemicals‡Queen's University Belfast · shared by 12 suppliers, up to £6,000,000 in total · 6 lots
  13. Labs Consumables ePunchout 2UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON · £1,500,000 · runs until May 2027
  14. Purchase of a laboratory glasswasher.‡Prifysgol Bangor / Bangor University · £32,305 · runs until May 2030
  15. Lot 9a Mini-Comp Call-off Contract Award from SUPC Inter Regional Laboratory Agreement Consumables & Chemicals LAB4043 SU‡Swansea University · £1,692,778
  16. GSS25021 - Sartorius Cubis® II Microbalances.UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED · £17,806
  17. Call Off Agreement for the Purchase of Laboratory Consumables and Laboratory Chemicals‡NHSBT - Clinical Services · £1,920,000 · runs until Dec 2026
  18. CENTRAL Centrifuge and Ancillary EquipmentUniversity of Bristol · £71,140
  19. Procurement of UV-Vis Scanning SpectrometersUniversity of Bristol · £129,000
  20. The Supply of General Laboratory Equipment and Associated Services‡APUC Limited · shared by 9 suppliers, up to £7,692,300 in total · 10 lots
  21. GSS23744 - UK Research and Innovation: Molecular Biology and Laboratory Chemicals FrameworkUK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED · shared by 11 suppliers · runs until Jul 2028
  22. UK Research and Innovation - Molecular Biology and Laboratory Chemicals FrameworkUK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED
  23. CO2 Incubators‡University of Bristol · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £28,060 in total
  24. Call-off from UKSBS Chemicals Framework VWR‡Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs · £100,000
  25. C245831 - Provision of Dried Blood Spot collection and preservation cards‡UK Health Security Agency · £34,800
  26. RA338290 - Incubators- general gravity‡Shropshire Healthcare Procurement Service · £11,540
  27. Q23/11_HEMS Lab Equipment - AWARD‡Anglia Ruskin University · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £63,998 in total
  28. Supply of Foetal Bovine Serum‡APHA · £284,400
  29. Supply of Foetal Bovine Serum‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · £284,400
  30. portable qPCR machinesDefence Science and Technology Laboratory · £30,919
  31. Purchases of Class ll Recirculating Class ll Biological Safety Cabinets‡University of Bristol · £300,000 · runs until Dec 2027
  32. Purchase of Recirculating Class ll Biological Safety Cabinets‡University of Bristol · £300,000
  33. Procurement of Lab equipment for sample analysis improvementDefence Science and Technology Laboratory · £73,071
  34. Supply of BVD-free Foetal Bovine Serum to APHA‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · £284,400
  35. UKHSA_Scientific_Purchase of Replacement Centrifuges for Cambridge‡UK Health Security Agency · £22,174
  36. UKHSA_Scientific- Provision of new CO2 incubators (VEU)‡UK Health Security Agency · £49,538
  37. Provision of Glassware washer‡UK Health Security Agency · £9,518
  38. Provision of Disinfectants - Lot 2 (Virkon LSP and Virkon S)‡Animal and Plant Health Agency · £621,917 · 3 lots
  39. Provision of Disinfectants‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · £207,350
  40. Maintenance of maldi biotyper mass spectrometer‡NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership-Procurement Services (hosted by Velindre University… · shared by 58 suppliers, up to £10,000,000,001 in total · 6 lots
  41. Equipment for Biomedical Laboratory - A call-off from Lot 11 (one stop shop) of the LUPC awarded framework agreement for Laboratory Equipment (General) and Ass…LEEDS TRINITY UNIVERSITY · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £259,000 in total
  42. GB-Wallingford: Maintenance of Fume Cupboards and LEV‡UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology · £63,954
  43. 2423 - General Lab EquipmentCENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £10,000,000 in total · 2 lots · runs until Apr 2027
  44. General Lab EquipmentCENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £5,000,000 in total
  45. The purchase of Two Droplet Reagent Dispensers - Lot 1‡UK Health Security Agency · £25,450
  46. SLS Autoclave Replacements‡University of Warwick · £148,914
  47. Disposal of 70% and 80% Ethanol‡UK Health Security Agency · £17,966
  48. CEFAS22-115 Contract for Innova® 44 / 44R Stackable Incubator Unit‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · £14,316
  49. QUB/2287/22 Contract for Supply, Delivery, Installation, Commissioning, Maintenance and Consumables for an Automated Microbial Colony Picking and Handling Syst…‡Queen' University Belfast · £350,000
  50. (NU/1803) - Workshop and Laboratory Equipment – Stephenson Building‡University of Newcastle upon Tyne t/a Newcastle University · £22,523
  51. CS22579 - Refrigerated Superspeed CentrifugeUK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED · £35,475
  52. SLS Autoclave Replacements - AWARD‡The University of Warwick · £148,914
  53. Fluorescence Plate Reader‡MHRA Buyer Organisation · £10,000
  54. Maintenance of various equipment types‡UK Health Security Agency · £18,000
  55. Provision of Mass Spectrometry and Chromatography Equipment including Associated Servicing, Maintenance and RepairsAPUC LIMITED · shared by 17 suppliers, up to £25,000,000 in total
  56. Laboratory consumables for use on e-punch out systemUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £1,500,000 in total
  57. UK SBS RE21225 Laboratory Consumables FrameworkUK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED · shared by 30 suppliers, up to £9,500,000 in total
  58. Laboratory ConsumablesUK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED · £199,500,000 · 21 lots
  59. 33547 - Provision of Laboratory Chemicals and Consumables‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · £31,050,000
  60. 29047 - UK SBS Molecular Biology and Laboratory Chemicals Framework‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · shared by 6 suppliers, up to £365,949 in total
  61. NRW Laboratory Consumables Framework‡Natural Resources Wales · £100,000
  62. VWR Incubators‡UK Health Security Agency · £104,134
  63. 36180 - Supply of Laboratory Consumables from the UK SBS Framework‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · shared by 22 suppliers, up to £3,486,621 in total
  64. Supply of Handheld Raman EquipmentCENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED · £177,897
  65. QUNT95166-250B UltraPlex 1-Step ToughMix (4X), Bulk 250ml A1999EUNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (THE) · £48,000
  66. CEFAS21-147 RFQ for a cryogenic mill‡Defra Network eTendering Portal · £15,235
  67. Autoclave - AWARD‡The University of Warwick · £59,248
  68. UKHSA_Scientific_Purchase of Pipettes for the Vaccine Task Force‡UK Health Security Agency · £600,000 · 2 lots
  69. Cleanroom Consumables and Laundry Services‡East Of England NHS Collaborative Hub · shared by 7 suppliers, up to £15,000,000 in total
  70. Aseptic Cleanroom Consumables and Laundry Services‡East Of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub c/o West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £45,000,000 in total · 3 lots
  71. Purchase of CO2 Incubators x 8Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency · £50,000
  72. PURCH1965 For The Provision Of A Framework For The Supply Of Tissue Culture Media Supplies‡University of Glasgow · shared by 5 suppliers, up to £800,000 in total
  73. Contract for the Supply and Installation of a Thermo Scientific Sorvall LYNX 6000 Superspeed Centrifuge, 3-Phase to the University of BirminghamTHE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM · £42,138
  74. Temperature Mapping Services‡Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service · £55,000
  75. 96 Well Plates, Bleach and Sterlin Jars‡UK Health Security Agency · £42,442
  76. Ultraplex 1-step ToughmixUNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (THE) · £47,681
  77. 70% Ethanol - VWR for RFL Leamington Spa and UKBC‡UK Health Security Agency · £121,440
  78. VWR Bravo Compatible Tips‡UK Health Security Agency · £2,223,651
  79. Provision of Benchtop and Floor Standing Centrifuges (LUPC)‡Public Health England · £180,000
  80. Multi Channel Pipettes for Rosalind Franklin Lab‡UK Health Security Agency · £79,364 · 2 lots
  81. Shaking Incubator‡MHRA Buyer Organisation · £20,000
  82. VWR 80% Duty Free Nuclease FreeEthanol‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £734,632
  83. Quick Seal Micro, Microplate seal, peel able, Lab Sheets‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £26,541 · 2 lots
  84. The Supply, Delivery, Installation and Maintenance of Biological Safety Cabinets‡Medicines Discovery Catapult · £105,000
  85. Framework of Suppliers to provide GMP Equipment for Vaccines Project‡CENTRE FOR PROCESS INNOVATION LIMITED · shared by 4 suppliers, up to £40,000,000 in total
  86. Centrifuges for Biochemistry‡University of Bristol · £96,283
  87. Universal Fit Pipette Tips‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £1,419,218 · 2 lots
  88. Laboratory Equipment (General) and Associated Post Installation Services‡London Universities Purchasing Consortium · shared by 17 suppliers, up to £120,000,000 in total
  89. Provision of Anemometers‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £28,958
  90. Framework for the supply of Centrifuges‡Centre for Process Innovation Limited · shared by 3 suppliers, up to £3,000,000 in total · 2 lots
  91. Provision of VHP connection items‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £33,636
  92. Megalab Ancillaries Versoflo Face Masks‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £10,086
  93. Megalab Ancillaries‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £39,330
  94. Reserviors fo Project Jupiter‡Department of Health and Social Care (T&T) · £19,753
  95. Maintenance & Service of Spectrophotometers & Plate readers (Lot 3- BMG makes)‡MHRA Buyer Organisation · £30,000

From contract award notices on Contracts Finder (since 2016) and Find a Tender (since 2021), published by the Cabinet Office under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Values are as published by the buyer and usually cover the whole contract term; the total leaves out awards shared between several suppliers, where the published figure is a ceiling for all of them, placeholder values and single figures of £1 billion or more. Notices marked ‡ do not state a company number and were linked by an exact match on the registered name. Contracts below the publication thresholds and those of devolved buyers that publish elsewhere are not included.

Statutory reporting

Gender pay gap2025/26
Median hourly pay
women 18.8% lower
Mean hourly pay
women 15.3% lower
Median bonus pay
women 40.2% lower
Employer size
250 to 499 employees
Lower pay quarter57% womenLower middle55% womenUpper middle51% womenUpper pay quarter38% women
Earlier years (7)
Year
Median hourly pay
Mean hourly pay
2024/25
women 25% lower
women 16.5% lower
2023/24
women 23.4% lower
women 17.7% lower
2022/23
women 29.3% lower
women 19.2% lower
2021/22
women 26.4% lower
women 12% lower
2020/21
women 0.6% lower
women 14.8% lower
2018/19
women 24.2% lower
women 11.5% lower
2017/18
women 18.3% lower
women 21.2% lower

A positive gap means women's average hourly pay is lower than men's across the whole employer; it is not a comparison of pay for the same work. View on the Gender pay gap service

Modern slavery statements3
2022
Statement · summary on GOV.UK
2021
Statement · summary on GOV.UK
2020
Statement · summary on GOV.UK

Figures the company reported itself to the government's Check payment practices service, Gender pay gap service and Modern slavery statement registry (Open Government Licence v3.0). Only large companies and employers with 250 or more staff have to report, so most companies have nothing here.

Registers and licences

Sponsor licence‡
Licence type and rating
Worker (A rating)
Routes
Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker, Skilled Worker

On the Home Office register of licensed sponsors, which lists organisations licensed to sponsor workers from overseas.

International trade‡

Listed by HMRC as an importer of goods in 12 of the last 12 months on record, most recently August 2026. Main goods: miscellaneous manufactures, optical, medical and measuring instruments, furniture and lighting, clocks and watches and electrical equipment.

Listed by HMRC as an exporter of goods in 12 of the last 12 months on record, most recently August 2026. Main goods: optical, medical and measuring instruments, miscellaneous manufactures, machinery, electrical equipment and iron and steel articles.

From HMRC's monthly lists of importers and exporters. Traders can ask to be left off the lists, so absence does not mean a company does not trade.

Sources: Charity Commission for England and Wales, Care Quality Commission, Home Office and HM Revenue & Customs, under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Entries marked ‡ come from lists that do not state a company number and were linked by an exact match on the registered name.

History

3 events
  1. Financial year 2025 endedAccounts: turnover £195.5m, net assets £83.8m, 378 employees
  2. Vwr Holdco Limited registered as a person with significant control
  3. Company incorporatedPrivate limited company

Dates as recorded at Companies House: incorporation, name changes, officer appointments and resignations, current persons with significant control, and the end of each financial year with figures in the database. Former persons with significant control are not listed.