Andrew Crowhurst, Process Support Coordinator, Drug Substance Manufacturing, started his career with us in 2021 as an operations chemist. In this blog, he shares more about his journey at Arcinova, the career development opportunities available across the company, and how he balances building his career with life outside of work.
What experience did you have before you worked at Arcinova?
I was a fresh baby-faced graduate, straight out of uni, with little idea of what I really wanted to do other than stay in the North East and use my Chemistry degree. And that’s how I started out as what was then an Operations Chemist in the Drug Substance department.
What does a typical day at Arcinova look like for you?
For me really no two days are the same, there is always an element of trouble shooting and problem solving, which is inevitable when we’re running a process for the first time on scale. Although there’s similarities between all our projects and the documentation I prepare, each project is unique which certainly keeps me on my toes working across multiple projects, but I enjoy the challenge it brings!
How do you like to celebrate success at work?
When we have successes on projects, it is usually celebrated with an evening at one of Alnwick’ s highly rated curry houses which is always good and usually a good laugh with the team too.
Have you experienced opportunities for career progression within Arcinova?
Yes, having started out as an operations chemist (a role that has since been rebranded as a Production Chemist), I have taken a step out of the lab into the process support coordinator role I now have. This has definitely been a step up and at times a challenge, but definitely a worth while one! I feel I have also progressed within this role, taking on extra duties as the site lead for the IMS (Inventory Management System).
What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow a career in your role?
Whilst it can certainly be challenging at times, especially when things aren’t going to plan, as long as you stay on top of things and remain objective, it can be very rewarding working through problems. It is also worth it when you successfully deliver on a project and when everything goes to plan. It is worth remembering during the difficult times what that success feels like and focussing on getting to that.
What helps you maintain balance between your work and personal life?
For me, I just have to be really disciplined in fitting my training around doing a full-time job and also still finding time to recharge and relax. Having flexible working really helps with this, knowing I can finish early on one day or start later another day makes planning my training a little easier. It’s also really important being able to leave whatever happens at work, at work and not let it impact on my training or eat into what little me time I get.
What’s something people might be surprised to learn about your life outside work?
I am a multiple British champion and compete internationally for Great Britain in the sport of wild water canoeing. I have won 2 international medals in the MC2 team sprint at the 2024 world championships in Sabero, Spain and in the MC2 individual sprint at the 2025 World Cup race in Skopje, North Macedonia.