With an interest in life sciences, I have always been intrigued about the development of drugs from concept, to market. Living in Nottingham, I had regularly heard radio adverts for Quotient Sciences with a tagline “We Need You” and decided to investigate further. I was very surprised at how simple the online application was and after a short induction visit; I was placed on the list of volunteers for clinical trials.

Soon after, I selected a trial in which I wanted to participate, and was invited for a screening visit. This process is wholly comprehensive, covering all aspects of our trial visits. What is expected of the volunteers, and what we can expect from Quotient. We also toured the wards so we could experience the environment, which is very comfortable indeed. I had not participated in any other clinical studies so it was good to know the ground rules. Admission is orderly, during which, vital signs, ECG and blood samples are taken. Dosing commonly happens 1-2 days after admission.

“Time is relative”, so said Albert Einstein. Well, there is a lot of free time for volunteers and luckily there is also a lot to occupy that free time during a stay. A number of lounges with TVs, pool and snooker tables, video games consoles, quizzes and competitions, lots to read or time to just kick back and relax in bed during your entire stay. It’s handy to have a laptop, phone or tablet to watch films or listen to music. Time is relevant to Quotient too, the staff are superb, always helpful and informative, and as events happen, it's timed to high precision, sometimes to the second, like dosing and taking observations at regular intervals. It is a very professional set up.

The food is fantastic, there is plenty of choice and portion sizes are generous, if you are not on a restricted intake trial. Decaffeinated hot and cold drinks are freely available during the day, just help yourself. The clinic is situated in a business park, but has an idyllic Rushcliffe Country Park just next door with fabulous views and beautiful wild life.

During my recent clinical trials, fewer observations were taken 24 hours after dosing, so I had even more free time the following days. Naturally, we talk to our fellow volunteers, and typically, we discuss how we intend to spend the money at the end of the trial. Most of us use these funds for regular holidays or home improvements. We also compare conditions and rewards at other clinical trial companies.

Quotient consistently shines out as the best clinical research organisation when I have asked other people to compare different experiences. Even my son and daughter want to participate, which will boost their student finances and I can receive a referral for recommending them to Quotient. These studies are perfect for under-graduates if they can be co-ordinated with University timetables. I have seen many students during my visits to Quotient.

When I discuss my study participation with friends, they are always keen to find out more. They want to know about the conditions, restrictions and financial rewards and I give a positive response to all of these questions.

Quotient has it all… Excellent staff, fantastic food, a big choice of studies, relaxing conditions, great rewards, did I mention excellent staff and fantastic food! For those reasons, I will be an active volunteer for Quotient for years to come.

Today was the last day of my clinical trial at Quotient - after an 18 night stay, I was returning to the outside world.

Well, let’s face it, for the vast majority of us, most jobs in life we do for the money. Not all, but even so, we weigh up the pros and cons of what’s involved and then decide. Of course, volunteering to assist in medical research isn’t deemed a part-time job, but from the point of view that you are giving up just a small amount of your time in return for an  inconvenience allowance, it feels like...well, for me, better than having a job!

This last study has been very pleasant in many respects, the friendly and helpful staff, the recreations on offer and the fact I have managed to make good progress on my own projects each day. One particular aspect I will take away on this occasion though, has to be a number of inspiring conversations that I’ve engaged in with other volunteers - chats that have clearly made me ponder somewhat and even rethink my life plans.

For sure it’s great when you deeply chew the fat over any fascinating topic and on this study I’ve listened to different folk talk in detail about the many varied places they’ve visited around the globe - and I do mean everywhere! One person told me he had, to date, visited over 100 countries in the last ten years or so (he intends to visit them all in good time). And mostly funded through doing medical studies!

So, whilst sitting in the lounge one day last week, I thought “why don’t I take off for a few months to some more exotic corners of the globe? - see some foreign delights, eat some scary looking food...and maybe open my mind a bit?...and within 48 hrs I’d booked flights to Indochina for a nine-week adventure trekking through five Asian countries.

Hopefully when I return, I can get straight back on a study at Quotient and then decide where to go next ...

My name is Joe, I’m 25 and from Nottingham. I’ve just completed my second clinical trial at Quotient Sciences.

I’ve always loved going on holiday and the thought of travelling has always been on my mind, I just had one problem - I am not very good at saving money!

Early in 2017, I decided this was my year to get away and I decided I wanted to go and spend the summer, or at least the majority of it, in Ibiza! I love the island but the only thing holding me back was financing my trip.

I asked my dad to help me. The following week, he came home from watching a Nottingham Forest football match and said he had seen an advert inviting volunteers to take part in paid clinical trials. I completed an application form for volunteering at Quotient and promptly had a reply to come to the clinic for an induction to find out more about what’s involved. I was a bit nervous at first and wasn’t sure if it would be for me, but all the staff were so welcoming and explained everything in great detail and I had plenty of chances to ask any questions I had. The nerves soon went and after a month or so, I was taking part in my first clinical trial.

During my time at the clinic, I thought I might be bored but there really is so much to do - there is an Xbox, PlayStation, Sky TV, board games and a ping pong table that we used for tournaments. Elaine, the Volunteer Liaison Officer, organises activities such as bingo, quizzes and crafts. During my first trial in the summer we even got to go on walks in Rushcliffe Country Park next door to the clinic which was amazing. If you want, you can literally lay in bed and spend the days relaxing - the actual medical procedures are only a small part of the time spent at the clinic.

I’m not a fussy eater at all but if you are, there are always several options for breakfast, lunch and tea. I eat a lot but whilst at Quotient I never felt hungry - the food is always to a good standard and the chefs are great.

I made some great friends during my time on the study, a few of them I even keep in contact with now via social media. There were people of all ages and backgrounds so it was a great opportunity to get to know people and we all had some great laughs. For anyone who is looking for a great way to earn some money for doing something that is not only fun and exciting but also very rewarding, I would say go for it.

I am already looking forward to my next trial and being financially and emotionally rewarded - in turn, it means I can plan my next travelling trip or a long holiday.

I currently work for the railway services as a manager, with a family of two kids and a dog. With both myself and my wife in full time employment, my lifestyle is very busy. Several times a year, I leave behind the hectic schedule - the commute into London daily, the cramped train, the crowds of people and the sounds of sirens and I donate my time to medical science. There are people that would consider me a hero, to assist in the advancement of medicines to ensure they are available in the future for people in far more need than me.

I recall a few years ago hearing an advert on Heart FM in Birmingham on my way to work as a police officer - ‘We Need You’ it said and as it’s  nice to be needed, I made enquiries. Having filled out an application telling them about myself and my medical history, I travelled over to Ruddington to attend my first visit at Quotient.

At the time, I had a very young family with single income and we needed the money to help with a few bills and a holiday and the inconvenience allowance came in handy. Nowadays, the money is used for extra holiday spending or just to top up savings and more recently when my wife wanted a slightly more expensive car.

I recall attending my first trial. The one I had picked had a Friday evening admission and discharged on a Monday morning, so it worked with my schedule at work. I still pick the trials that work well with my work pattern; I have previously completed trials of 16 days.

The facilities are good, on every trial I have made a friend and got to know people from across the UK and had a real laugh and with the staff too.

I have to say the food is one of the things I look forward to. A choice of breakfast cereals, croissant and even muffins on my last visit. Tea, coffee, water and juice is also available (decaffeinated only!). Lunch is a great choice of soup, sandwiches, rolls and wraps, salads, crisps and fruit. Evening meal choices are always good too and the menu has grown over the years and includes a hearty desert choice as well.

I am a bit of a TV fiend, and not getting time in my life very often to watch much television, I take the opportunity to put back the recliners, watch as many movies as we can find, socialise and relax. There are pool tables, table tennis, bingo, books, board games and more. The time really does fly.

Of course, there is the medical study to consider and the procedures this involves which can take some time during the day. I recall a daily evening Monopoly game with a regular group of six of us during one 10-day stay that made the evenings fly.

My family enjoy the rewards that taking part in these studies helps with such as city breaks &family holidays.

Last – but by no means least,  all the staff deserve a mention - they are funny, interesting, bubbly! I moved to Milton Keynes four years ago and have several clinical trials facilities nearer to me and they don’t have a patch on Quotient. The staff make the difference, the facilities are better than others I have visited and it keeps bringing me back.

In summary, I look forward to heading back to Quotient, to have a rest, a break, be well fed, chill out, meet new people- and the real reason we are there - to help make a difference to medicines for our future our children’s futures…

I first noticed Quotient Sciences when I was passing the time away on a sunny Sunday afternoon, scrolling through Facebook when an advert came up on my screen with the words 'We Need You'. 

No, it wasn’t Uncle Sam on a war time recruitment poster, but an opportunity to take part in a clinical trial. As my curiosity grew stronger and my eyes were drawn to the allowance I could receive, I simply clicked and applied and was soon booked in for an appointment.

At my first screening appointment, I was greeted by a smiling receptionist who politely asked me to take a seat. As part of my appointment, I was invited into a room by a doctor who simply asked me the obvious health questions - and I also had some questions burning on my brain too. For example, I wanted to know what impact taking part in clinical trials might have on my health. After the doctor had dealt with my endless amount of questions, he reassured me that clinical trials are not as difficult as I’d thought and many of the products Quotient Sciences develops are already available on the market.

My mind was now at ease, and I was ready to get stuck in. A few days later I received a phone call explaining that I was eligible for the trial and was invited to be at Quotient Sciences' Ruddington base at 8am sharp the following Monday for admission. As I arrived, you guessed it... I was greeted again by another lovely receptionist who kindly let me through the door and instructed me to take my first left into the clinic. The nurses were very welcoming as they had me sat on my bed and went ahead with all the appropriate admission tests whilst talking me through it the whole time - because I’m not ashamed to admit... me and needles do not always go well. Afterwards, I was allowed to relax and await further notice.

The facilities at Quotient Sciences are fantastic - flat screen TVs with Sky, Xbox, pool tables and table tennis. I was living in this fantastic world where I could be a kid all over again with all the entertainment available. But wait... it gets better, fantastic facilities and great nurses aside, you are provided with 3 healthy meals a day as well - and let me tell you, they were all wonderfully appetising. To give you a clearer example of the food provided, one evening I was served a hunters chicken, wrapped succulently in crispy bacon, lathered in thick gravy. All this seemed too good to be true and I was waiting for the catch. However, there was no catch at all and after I was dosed, I was again asked to kick back and relax and do what I wanted essentially.

It’s been a real pleasure to do a clinical trial at the company, with the friendly staff and great facilities. To sum up, I would highly recommend Quotient Sciences.

I said I would only do one clinical trial and that would be it. However due to my wonderful experience, (thanks Quotient Sciences!), as soon as my 3 month wash out period is over, I’ll be back and ready to do it all over again. 

I have completed three trials with Quotient Sciences now and got into them when I noticed a newspaper advert many years ago. 

I was between jobs and the money was very good so thought it would be perfect while I was looking for something else; it also sounded really interesting.  So I had a screening, which was great as I got to visit the beautiful country park right next door to Quotient Sciences after my appointment – it was a great day all round actually.

I had done a trial elsewhere once, but found Quotient Sciences much more friendly, professional and just a pleasant experience. Free parking was a big bonus too, and the food is always very good with a great menu. The staff are very pleasant and they cannot do enough for you during your stay – the activities are fun - bingo, quizzes and more help to keep you occupied throughout your stay.

I choose to take part in clinical trials because I find the medical side very interesting and the payment is great too.

I tend to spend my time on a trial by getting to know the other people who have also joined the study; I always end up making friends and staying in contact with some of them. This time I did need the rest, as I hadn’t had time off from my job in a year and I felt totally refreshed after my stay with Quotient Sciences. I enjoyed taking part in the activities on offer, watching TV with the others and chatting about different things.

I always recommend Quotient Sciences to my friends and co-workers because it’s a great way to catch up on any work you may have during your stay, and for me I come out rested, with a few more new friends and financially much better off - I really enjoy explaining my days in the trial to people.

It fits perfectly around my life and I return home having lots to talk about to friends and family plus it helps make a difference helping to develop essential new medicines. I have used payments before for new cars, a nice cruise and general house repairs.

I am looking forward to more future clinical trials. I recently met 2 friends this time that I had met a few years ago when we first did a trial together; it was like a reunion.

One thing I find - the time goes by so quickly when I’m staying at Quotient Sciences, and my days never drag. I am so glad I went along the first time all those years ago and would not go anywhere else now.

If you are in 2 minds about applying, I would totally recommend it, what have you got to lose? You’re even paid a travel allowance for going along to your appointments!

I have just completed my first clinical trial with Quotient. I didn’t know anything about them at first but I kept seeing We Need You adverts on Facebook and after they popped up several times, I eventually decided to give Quotient a call to find out more.

I booked in for an induction, thinking “Sal what are you doing?”, but after learning more about clinical research, I found it all very interesting. I could be a part of the development of new drugs that may help people.

I watched my mum, then my son and now my grandson suffer with asthma and I wanted to see if I could help in any way. The staff were very informative and there was absolutely no pressure from them. Prior to taking part, I was given a health check to make sure that I was fit and well (which I would not have had otherwise).

Some of my friends were very sceptical about me taking part but I felt safe at all times. The staff at Quotient were great and friendly, from the doctors and nurses to the loveliest chef.

Before I started the clinical trial, I did not appreciate the in-depth work and tireless testing that went into the medication we all take for granted. I can honestly say that I feel grateful to all those other volunteers in the past that participated in trials of the medicines that my loved ones have needed.

I met some lovely people, made new friends, had a rest and hopefully in a very small way may have helped with medicines of the future.

I am definitely looking forward to my next clinical trial. My Nan used to say “count your blessings my girl” and I do.  I’m blessed with my health and strength - so I can help those that are not so fortunate. You never know - it may be me one day that will be in need of these medicines.

My name is Alastair and I have been volunteering now for around seven years.

I am a landscape designer/gardener and being self-employed gives me the flexibility to do the clinical trials that I can fit in when I’m not so busy.

I came to do clinical trials as my mother also contributed to medical science and this really opened my eyes to what we could do to help each other. I spoke to my GP, various professionals and my family and the rest is history.

After the study is complete, I give some of the money to the British Heart Foundation as they were amazing with my mum. The rest goes into our family holiday pot.

I have recommended the studies to many friends and a lot of them are now regular volunteers. One of the great things about the trials is meeting new people, many of whom I keep in touch with.

The clinic is always clean, the food is great and with the Sky packages on offer, Wi-Fi, Xbox, pool tournaments and many other activities, you are never bored.

As far as fitting it in around my family, providing you plan well - it’s easy. Thanks to the amazing staff you are always filled with confidence that you are in safe hands from start to finish.

I found myself with free time one summer and decided that being a volunteer for a clinical trial would be a good way to fill the time. 

My friends reacted with surprise and said it was a strange way to spend valuable leisure time, but for me, as well as the incentive of a financial reward for completing the study, there was the personal reward of being able to step out of the busy routine of daily life.

Participating in a clinical trial gave me time for the small things. Time to read that book; time to catch up on writing; time to clean my computer hard drive; time to find some quiet study time; time to run through the movies I never had time to see, and finally time to read the daily newspapers.

I’ve been very lucky in life with my health and so, for me, signing up for a clinical study was a simple obligation saying thank you for having such good fortune and a healthy frame. I don’t possess a medical cabinet, very rarely visit a pharmacy and have never been admitted to a hospital – that amounts to a whole lot of luck in my opinion.

I wanted to use my position to help research and development for possibly vital medicines to support those less fortunate than myself.

Regarding my clinical trial experience, the details of each study are clearly explained long before you reach a volunteer bed on a ward. It’s an information process that allows you to comfortably make an informed decision before taking part in a clinical study. Safety checks and assessment of health, past and existing, are prioritised and you feel the sense of ethical professionalism all through the volunteer experience.

The Quotient clinical team are exceptional in their attentiveness and willingness to help with any questions that you may have. Raise any query and it will be addressed; whether it be about the test medicine, the food, receiving mail, or something more personal.

You do need to be prepared for the clinical routine. It requires you to follow instruction and to be ready at the particular times for meals or procedures. Each study is conducted with care, accuracy and with a fair dose of good humour as well, by all the members of the ward team. From the senior medical team to the newest staff member, you do feel the duty of care with which they have been trusted and the upmost consideration is taken with your care at all times.

You don’t need to bring much onto the ward as there is limited space to store things. You’ll spend a great deal of your time relaxing, either in bed or on the sofas or excellent reclining chairs. Whatever makes you feel most comfy at home also works here. If you are a light sleeper, then ear‐plugs and eye‐blinds are a good idea.

The volunteer liaison officer runs a great program of social events to keep you enthused during the study. There are always activities to participate in and the ‘Queen of the Quiz’ Elaine is always ready to consider new suggestions from volunteers.

I’ve used the inconvenience allowances to travel far and wide. Friends in Melbourne, San Francisco, Bali, Mozambique, and Jamaica have all been on my radar and it’s just a great feeling being able to make those trips annually and see family and old friends.

For me, I can recommend Quotient as being unsurpassed in offering its volunteers the best experience possible on their studies. I am always comfortable, always informed and am never without the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers.

I’ll keep volunteering at Quotient as I know it does make such a huge difference – the forward push of vital medical research does need people like us…. So look online and apply – it really does start with you.