Life Sciences Talent & Skills Snapshot 2021 – SW

Here, a Life Sciences sector, talent and skills overview, specifically for the South West, based on ADLIB internal data and knowledge.

We’re publishing Technology, Data, Engineering, Science, Sustainability, eCommerce, Marketing and Design sector-specific Talent & Skills Snapshots over the next few weeks to share and provide sector knowledge specific to the Bristol and Bath regions.

Sector overview

The South West UK has seen consistent growth of 25% year on year within the life sciences sector. There has also been a fast-growing emergence of innovation hubs in the area with UnitDX, Future Space Bristol, and the newly formed Max-Planck centre for Biology hosting growth scale-ups and starts-ups covering minimal biology, synthetic biology, next-generation sequencing (NGS), microbiome healthcare and patient testing. Bristol and Bath has a diverse array of life science and healthcare companies. Within drug discovery, there are established players such as Charles River Laboratories (pharmacology) and up and coming cell and gene therapy companies including Exmoor Pharma and CytoSeek. Scientific instrumentation has always had a strong presence, especially from the well-established Oxford Instruments and Malvern Panalytical.

Talent overview

With world-leading research teams in Bristol University and Bath University, further supported by the excellent courses with Life Science and Health Science at the University of West of England and Bath Spa University, the area is abundant with talent graduating locally. Bristol University sees over 6000 graduates each year within life sciences and health sciences, closely followed by Bath University, with more than 5000 Science graduates yearly. With lower living costs than the traditional Life Science hubs of Oxford and Cambridge, Bristol and Bath surroundings appeal to both undergraduates and more experienced Scientists.

Skills in demand

The area has seen a constant demand over the past 12 months across a wide range of disciplines, including molecular science, clinical science, QC (quality control), laboratory support and biomedical science.