Now an employer of 230 people, Penn is fast becoming one of south Wales’ largest employers of specially skilled, highly trained staff. More than three quarters of the new appointments are technical, requiring specialist skills and experience. Valerie Ellis, Human Resources director said: "Last year was a strong year for Penn, the business grew by nearly 40% which meant that we had to recruit more highly skilled pharmaceutical professionals. "All departments within Penn witnessed growth during 2007 and 2008’s recruitment drive has started well, we have already appointed seven new members of staff. Over the coming months, we anticipate further growth across the company by introducing new business initiatives which include the production of high potency drugs and extending our temperature controlled facilities by a further 75,000 square feet capacity to support our Clinical Trial Supply (CTS) and Storage and Distribution services." Penn Pharmaceutical Service has recently opened a US office, although there have been strong links across the Atlantic for a number of years with Penn working with US companies who need clinical trial supply and manufacture, as well as import and release of pharmaceutical products into the European market. The US base will allow for further global expansion and increase Penn’s profile.