A start-up Coventry business is set to begin trials in Warwickshire to test the capability of drones delivering urgent medical supplies after receiving support.

Skyfarer, which was established by Elliot Parnham in 2019 after studying aerospace engineering at university, was initially planning to be part of a project in Africa that would see supplies delivered to hard-to-reach areas via drone technology.

But travel restrictions due to the global Coronavirus pandemic has seen the company look closer to home and is working with, among others, the NHS on the possibility of using autonomous aircraft to reduce the time it takes to move critical medical supplies to where they are needed urgently.

That includes plasma, blood, organs and samples that could be delivered to locations much more quickly than by road.

Skyfarer has been supported by Business Ready, a programme that delivers support to expanding businesses which is managed by the business support team at the University of Warwick Science Park, and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Warwickshire County Council as part of the CW Business: Start, Grow & Scale Programme.

Pictured (left to right): Luke Pulford, Matthew Lawrence (both Business Ready), Peter Butlin (Warwickshire County Council), Elliot Parnham (Skyfarer)