Karl Spratt
Co Founder & CEO
Karl spent many years in the construction and design industry in particular specialising in the design and installation of industrial roof systems. Karl has also project managed several successful property developments. In more recent years, Karl has concentrated his efforts in renewable energies where he serves as a director. Karl co founded Hempire in 2014.
Paul Kirkham
Co Founder & Director
Paul has spent the majority of his career within the health and beauty sector. Starting with Wella Paul worked his way up to management within Wella and later Procter & Gamble. Paul remained with the company following the takeover by Coty. In recent years Paul serves as a director of a renewable energy company. He co founded Hempire in 2014.
Steve Grady
Director
Steve originally came from the construction industry where he served as founder and CEO of a PVCu fabrication company that supplied a number of national house builders. During this time he also founded a window blind company that continues to be one of the largest independent manufacturer of blinds in the UK. Steve is a co founder of a company that supplies web solutions to local authorities where he still serves as a Director. He also acts as a consultant to several UK companies across various sectors and brings a wealth of marketing, communications and manufacturing efficiency experience to the board.
Charles Calvert
Director
Charles has a financial services background spanning 25 years both in the UK and Middle Eastern markets. After recently releasing some of his majority stake in a financial advisory company, Charles has invested in various growth sectors and acted both as an Angel and consultant. Over the past few years, Charles has also enjoyed considerable success in property development, building over 150 new homes. Charles is a welcome addition to the team, with his networking ability, entrepreneurial energy and numerous contacts across many sectors he is accustomed to working within highly regulated industries and undoubtedly adds value and drive to the board.
Advisory Board
Dr. Burrinder Grewal
Advisor
Burrinder has over 15 years’ experience of business building in the life science, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, investment management and venture capital (IP Group plc) and corporate strategy originating from the London practice of Deloitte Consulting where he worked predominately for a pharmaceutical industry client base.
Burrinder is currently Managing Director of NHS Huddersfield Pharmacy Specials, an organisation that develops and manufactures sterile and non-sterile medicines that are distributed throughout the NHS. He holds degrees in Pharmacy and Economics and a doctorate in Transdermal Drug Delivery and formulation.
Peter Ridgway
Advisor
Peter is a chemist by trade with a very keen interest in supercritical fluids, chromatography and purification. He has worked in and around the pharmaceutical industry for over 25 years beginning his career with AstraZeneca as a Process Chromatographer.
Peter later spent several years as European Technical Manager for a leading chromatography company providing support to clients in the use of supercritical fluids. Since 2011 Peter has enjoyed the challenges of co-founding and directing Reach Separations, a company that delivers purification services and chromatographic expertise to clients from Pharma and agrochemical sectors across Europe and the US.
Dr. Callie Seaman BSc (HONS)
Advisor
Dr. Callie Seaman is a plant-obsessed Director and Formulation Chemist at a plant nutrition and fertiliser company. She has been in the hydro industry for 15 years in research development and manufacturing. She has a Ph.D. in fertiliser chemistry and a BSc (HONS) in Biomedical Sciences and loves nothing more than applying this knowledge to pushing the boundaries of nutrient performance.
Having just completed her first post doctorate role at Sheffield Hallam university, Callie’s latest research involves studing the effects of fertilization and other environmental condition of the production of secondary metabolities in cannabis.