Job market information
Finding out about science
The science industry is part of the engineering manufacturing, science and mathematics sector, represented by Semta Sector Skills Council. This sector also includes the following industries: automotive manufacture; electronics and electrical equipment manufacture; mechanical equipment manufacture; metals; and transport equipment manufacture. Across the sector as a whole, the workforce comprises approximately 2 million people, working across around 75,000 companies. UK engineering and science turnover is over £250 billion. British engineering exports amount to 37% of total UK exports of goods and services. The UK is Europe’s top location for investment in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development.
The science industries comprises pharmaceuticals, manufacture of medical and surgical equipment plus science and engineering research and development, so covers a range of disciplines. This research and development work takes place in a variety of establishments, such as university departments, research based employers or other scientific based employers. Overall, it comprises:
- Research based pharmaceutical companies that discover, develop, market and distribute medication and drugs
- Research and development in pharmaceutical manufacturing companies
- Bioscience companies that are a spin-off from university research departments
- The application of bioscience to produce innovative medicines, therapeutics and medical devices
- The application of bioscience for the processing and production of materials (i.e. the use of bioscience in engineering industries)
- Research and experimental development in bioscience.
Bioscience-related companies tend to be located in clusters (e.g. science parks that are sometimes linked with university hospitals). One of the most significant cluster groups is around Cambridge, Oxford and London. There is also a large cluster in the North West, where there is a long established pharmaceutical industry. In Scotland, clusters are centred around Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Wales and Northern Ireland, clusters of companies are centred around the main universities.
Key facts:
- There are an estimated 191,000 people employed in the industry in Great Britain, which includes those involved in research and development with science qualifications, as well as those with other qualifications and job roles that are not science related but are essential to the business.
- There are an estimated 6,490 companies.
- The South East and East of England have the largest Science Industry (Bioscience) employment in the UK.
- 91% of the pharmaceuticals workforce and 88% of the medical devices workforce is full-time.
- Around 6% of those in science occupations are self-employed.
- The workforce has a young age profile.
- Bioscience graduates need to have strengths in chemistry, mathematics and physics, some course are not equipping them with the skills to cope with the cross-disciplinary nature of modern bioscience or the practical aspects of laboratory work.
- Currently, there are insufficient numbers pursuing technical courses, making it difficult for industry to recruit good quality technicians.
Jobs in the industry range from: analytical chemist/scientist, biochemist, biomedical engineer, biomedical scientist, biologist, biotechnologist, clinical scientist, microbiologist, physicist, research scientist, education lab technician, laboratory technicians, medical laboratory assistant, scientific laboratory technician, process/product design engineer and production engineer.
Entry and progression
Work in science, research and development could include: ways to improve medicines and the methods used to administer them; sophisticated equipment to aid doctors in diagnosing illness; technology to improve materials (e.g. replacement hip joints) as well as the research that leads to medical and technological breakthroughs.
Within the industry, there is a preference for four-year degrees (at Bachelor or Masters level) that offer industrial placements. Some combined degrees, when combined with another science or mathematics subject, are relevant to the industry, but other combined degrees are not valued by employers. Employers are looking to recruit graduates with first or upper second class degrees.
There is a range of relevant industry endorsed courses (at foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate level), apprenticeships, vocational qualifications and training schemes available. Entry requirements vary considerably in the industry. The following provides an overview of some of the qualifications required at different levels:
- Managers, senior researcher/scientists and professional science occupations – entry requires a Masters Degree or PhD qualification along with research experience, often in a specific field. Relevant subjects include biochemistry, biology, chemistry, engineering, genetics, microbiology, physics or physiology.
- Associate professional and technical occupations – For those working as laboratory technicians or laboratory assistants, entry may be through a relevant BTEC National Certificate/Diploma or an apprenticeship. Many people employed in these roles are graduates, as low numbers of employers offer apprenticeships or entry to Further Education leavers with science HNC/HND qualifications.
- Managers and senior officials in manufacturing roles within science companies – Often have a degree in an engineering discipline or a subject specific to management or production management. Some may have a science HNC/HND and extensive working experience, such as having completed an advanced apprenticeship.
- Skilled trades occupations in manufacturing roles within science companies – Most enter through Advanced Apprenticeships. Many will have work-based competencies to Level 3 and have gained the relevant vocational qualifications.
- Process, plant and machine operatives – Most enter through Apprenticeships. Some working in specialised jobs may have work-based competencies to Level 2 and have gained the relevant vocational qualifications.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
191,000 |
| Number of UK employers: |
6,490 |
| [N.B. The following estimates are based on a telephone survey of a limited number of employers.] |
| Gender: |
58% male |
42% female |
|---|
| Only 36% of senior researchers and 27% of science managers are female |
| 59% of laboratory technicians are female |
| 52% of laboratory scientists are female |
| Age: |
13% of the workforce is under 25 years |
|---|
| 56% is aged between 25-44 years |
| 22% is aged between 45-54 years |
| 8% is aged over 55 years |
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2008, Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Semta, 2006.]
Employment trends and future prospects
In the 2006, 34% of companies expected a general expansion and growth in staff numbers over the next 3 years and 16% expected that their organisation would move into new products, service or research areas. This indicates both good prospects for the recruitment of new staff and expansion into new research areas to develop new products and services (requiring training, up skilling and where relevant achievement of appropriate qualifications).
Retirement of crucial scientific staff is causing problems in the industry. This is an issue across a range of occupations from senior scientists, managers, laboratory scientists and technicians, researchers and production and design engineers, to sales and marketing staff.
Skill requirements and shortages
Despite employers’ experiencing skill shortages and gaps, recruitment continues to be, generally, at graduate level. A depth of scientific knowledge and skills, in Chemistry, Biological science and Mathematics is important for those wishing to enter the industry. There is also a need for interdisciplinary awareness, practical skills, experience in the industry, the ability to work to regulatory standards and good communication skills.
For specific scientific areas, the greatest skills shortages are in:
- Clinical/pharmacology/translational medicine
- Bioscience
- Analytical and physical chemistry
- Process and chemical engineering
- In vivo sciences (clinical trials and animal testing)
- Bioinformatics
The following general scientific skills are identified as being areas where there are shortages: biological and medical sciences; chemical sciences; process engineering; plus mathematics and statistics.
The main scientific skills gaps are in:
- bioscience and molecular biology
- analytical and physical chemistry
- biochemistry
- biotechnology/biopharmaceuticals
- genomics/proteomics/metabolomics
- synthetic organic chemistry/medicinal chemistry
- mathematics or statistics
The main generic skills gaps are in: business skills; management skills; IT skills (general); project management; team-working; and regulation.
Occupational trends
For the UK science industry over the period 2009-2016, the proportion of jobs for Managers and Senior Officials, Professionals and Associate Professionals (Technicians) occupations will see an increase in employment, whereas Admin and secretarial, skilled trades (Craft), Process, plant & machine operatives and Elementary occupations will see a decline in employment.
The following trends will affect new and emerging jobs:
- The businesses are competitive and fast moving and there is pressure to protect new ideas and inventions as well as ensuring that products (such as medicines and medical devices) are safely tested and developed before being introduced for public use.
- The equipment and software that is being developed for the industry and the skills that will be needed to analyse the millions of samples and tests for drug development, will require people with strong mathematical understanding. The area of bioinformatics has already been identified as an area where it is difficult to recruit people with the required experience and skills.
- Future science professionals will need to have even greater strengths in both IT and mathematical analysis, alongside their knowledge of biology and chemistry. These are already being identified as areas that some new graduates are lacking.
- Diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, coronary heart disease and diabetes) are under constant review, as breakthroughs in understanding are made and greater knowledge of the causes of and treatment for these diseases are made. Scientists explore these new findings and constantly seek to improve the drugs and treatments available and even the way in which the drugs if required, may be delivered. This will require professional scientists and research managers who can understand these breakthroughs and develop even more effective medicines and treatments based on these findings.
- Professional scientists, engineers and those with an understanding of the needs of the medical industry are likely to be needed in future to further improve and develop both the diagnostic and scanning equipment, as well as improve the materials and devices used in other medical applications.
- With scientific developments proceeding rapidly, employers will be looking for some highly specialist skills, which require specialist training and courses. These areas may include bio-processing and bio-manufacturing as the industry moves to the biological delivery of drugs and medicines.
- There is also a need for multidisciplinary approaches covering genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, IT, mathematics and statistics.
National and regional data
East Midlands – The science industries in the region employ 8,700 people in around 390 establishments. The healthcare sector is important in the region.
East of England – The science industries in the region employ 30,500 people in around 900 establishments. There is a well-established bioscience industry in the region. Cambridge has:
- Over 185 biotech companies
- Around 20% of the world's Nobel Prize winners in medicine and chemistry
- 17 of the UK’s publicly quoted biotech companies
- A quarter of the public biotechnology companies in Europe
London – The science industries in the region employ 20,400 people in around 840 establishments. The following are the key activities of the region: Therapeutics; Contract Research Organisations; Biomedical engineering; Bioinformatics; Bio-nanotechnology; Food, environment and renewable; and Agricultural bioscience.
North East – The science industries in the region employ 7,600 people in around 200 establishments. Healthcare is a leading employer in the region, with over 140,000 people working in biotechnology, healthcare and life science companies, the NHS and associated health organisations. High level medical research is being carried out in the region’s universities and institutes (including the Institute for Ageing & Health, the Life Knowledge Park and many others). There are also strong clinical capabilities within the region’s hospitals.
North West – The science industries in the region employ 17,800 people in around 580 establishments. Several major pharmaceutical companies are located in the region. There is also a rapidly expanding biotechnology community and internationally renowned academic and clinical research strengths. The main types of bio-activity in the region include: Biopharmaceutical manufacture and research; Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine; Treatment of infectious diseases; Clinical trials and informatics; and Cancer research and care.
South East – The science industries in the region employ 49,200 people in around 1,260 establishments. The region has the highest concentration of health technologies companies in the UK. World-renowned universities, medical schools and institutes undertaking pioneering health research are located in the region. 30% of the UK’s life sciences research and development activity is carried out in the South East; 9 out of 10 of the world’s leading life sciences companies; and the top 12 global pharmaceutical companies have operations in the South East.
South West – The South West is a major centre of biomedical research with internationally recognised expertise, employing around 15,500 people in 560 companies. Employment in the sector is growing faster than the national average; there was a 48% increase in employment numbers between 1998 and 2004. The following are key areas of bio-activity in the region: Biomedical; and Healthcare.
West Midlands – The science industries in the region employ 5,300 people in around 420 establishments. A further 500 to 600 companies have also had some recent interest or involvement in medical technologies. Almost half of the activity in the West Midlands is manufacturing related and more than a third service oriented. The region is known for:
- The most advanced ophthalmic surgical centre in the UK, located at The Academy of Life
- Sciences, Aston University
- Creation of the first pacemakers and plastic heart valve
- Development and commercialisation of the first ‘his and her’ home fertility kits
- Trial and development of the first allergy and herpes vaccines
- Concept and development of first ever device to detect skin cancer
Yorkshire and the Humber – The science industries in the region employ 10,800 people in around 450 establishments. Bioscience companies in the region are focused on: entrepreneurial drug discovery and development; tissue engineering and biomaterials; and Plant biotechnology. There are also a number of Contract Research Organisations (CROs). There is a strong presence of pharmaceutical and medical device organisations in the region.
Northern Ireland – The science industries in Northern Ireland employ 3,100 people in around 140 establishments. Northern Ireland’s main focus is on Cancer Biotech and Medical Devices. Other areas of strength are: tissue engineering; diabetes; bioinformatics; clinical trials; neurodegenerative diseases; and infectious diseases.
Scotland – The science industries in Scotland employ 14,300 people in around 480 establishments. Scotland has strengths in most aspects of Bioscience, strong research and development groups and a coordinated policy focus through the Scottish Life Sciences Strategy. Cancer research, Cardiovascular research, Neuroscience, Genomics, Proteomics and bioinformatics, Signal transduction biology, Stem cell research and regenerative technology, Virology, and Immunology are key areas of focus in Scotland.
Wales – The science industries in Wales employ 7,600 people in around 270 establishments. Bioscience enterprise in Wales includes: diagnostics; medical technology; clinical trials and drug development; systems biology; and agricultural biotechnology.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2008, Northern Ireland Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and IDBR, 2008.]
Salary levels
Pay scales in this industry vary depending on individual experience, level of responsibility and location of job. So, the following only provides an indication of the average annual salaries of the current workforce:
Analytical chemist – starting salary for new graduates is around £20,000 to £23,000. An experienced analytical chemist can earn around £33,500. Some analytical chemists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £37,000. - Biochemist – starting salary for new graduates is around £20,000 to £23,000. An experienced biochemist can earn around £33,500. Some analytical chemists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £50,000.
- Biomedical engineer – starting salary for new graduates is around £20,000 to £24,000. An experienced biomedical engineer can earn around £32,500. Some biomedical engineers with high levels of responsibility earn more than £60,000.
- Biomedical scientist – starting salary range from at least £20,225 for a newly-qualified biomedical scientist. Some at professional manager level can earn up to £64,000.
- Biologist – starting salary for new graduates is around £17,000 to £20,000. An experienced biologist can earn around £32,500. Some biologists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £45,000.
- Biotechnologist – starting salary for new graduates is around £17,000 to £20,000. An experienced biotechnologist can earn on average around £32,500. Some biotechnologists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £44,000.
- Clinical scientist – starting salary for new graduates is around £20,000 to £24,000. An experienced clinical scientist can earn around £32,500. Some clinical scientists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £60,000.
- Microbiologist – starting salary for new graduates is around £17,000 to £20,000. An experienced microbiologist can earn around £32,500. Some microbiologists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £50,000.
- Physicist – starting salary for new graduates is around £20,000 to £23,000. An experienced physicist can earn around £38,500. Some physicists with high levels of responsibility earn more than £44,000.
- Research Scientist – starting salary for graduate can be around £18,500. Experienced research scientists earn around £30,000. Those with extensive experience and responsibility can earn over £38,000.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using SEMTA AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
