Biomedical Scientist Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Biomedical scientist

Hours

37.5 per week
Starting salary

£21,200 + per year

If you enjoy science and you are interested in medicine and health care, this could be a great job choice for you. These scientists analyse samples from patients to help doctors diagnose and treat them.

To become a registered biomedical scientist, you will need to have passed an approved degree.

As a scientist you will need to have an enquiring mind and be good at solving problems. An interest in science and computing is very useful. So too is accuracy and attention to detail.

The work

As a biomedical scientist, you would normally work in a hospital laboratory and specialise in an area such as:

chemical pathology (biochemistry) – diagnosing disease and testing organ function by analysing blood and other biological materials
transfusion science – checking for donor, transfusion and plasma compatibility
haematology – identifying blood cell abnormalities and calculating haemoglobin levels
cellular pathology – finding the cause of illness and disease by analysing tissue samples
medical microbiology – locating micro-organisms and testing their reaction to antibiotics
virology – identifying viral infections and screening those at risk
cytology – finding abnormalities by analysing cells collected from patients
immunology – treating diseases such as AIDS and leukaemia by developing tests and treatments that influence the immune system.

You would also be involved in carrying out new research, and would often support junior staff and technicians.

Hours

In the NHS you would usually work 37.5 hours a week. This would often include evening and weekend shifts, and being on an on-call rota.

You will mainly work in clean, sometimes sterile environments, and would wear protective clothing.

Income

Biomedical scientists in the NHS can earn between around £21,200 and £27,500 a year. Specialists, team leaders and managers may earn between £33,500 and £40,200 a year.

Additional payments may be made for overtime, on-call duties, and to those living in London. Salaries in the private sector may be higher than those in the NHS.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To become a registered biomedical scientist, you will need to:

gain an Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accredited honours degree
have at least one year's training at an approved laboratory (this could be part of a sandwich degree course)
complete a Registration Training Portfolio for the Certificate of Competence
be awarded an IBMS Certificate of Competence, followed by registration with the Health Professions Council (HPC).

Once you have achieved an IBMS approved degree you may be able to apply for a trainee biomedical scientist post in the NHS. This would enable you to complete the remaining stages leading to HPC registration.

Alternatively, some course providers run integrated degree courses that include clinical laboratory placements and the IBMS Certificate of Competence. At the end of one of these courses you can apply directly for registration with the HPC.

Check the HPC website for a list of course providers.

Health Professions Council

To do a biomedical science degree, you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) including maths and English, plus three A levels, preferably including biology and chemistry. Check with course providers for exact entry requirements as these may vary and other qualifications may be accepted.

For more information on each stage of pre-registration training, see the IBMS website.

Institute of Biomedical Science

Training and development

Once you are registered and working as a biomedical scientist, you can specialise in an area (see 'the work' section above) by taking advanced Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) accredited courses and qualifications. Taking these would increase your career prospects. Courses include:

Specialist, Higher Specialist, and Advanced Specialist Diplomas
MSc degree courses (leading to fellowship status with the IBMS)
Professional Doctorates.

Throughout your career, it will help you to take part in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to develop your knowledge and skills. The IBMS runs a CPD scheme. See the IBMS website for more information.

Institute of Biomedical Science

Skills and knowledge

To become a biomedical scientist, you will need to have:

a high level of ability and interest in science and computing
an interest in medicine, and in development of new treatments
the ability to concentrate for long periods
a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
high ethical standards
the ability to take responsibility for making decisions
an enquiring mind and good problem-solving skills
the ability to lead a research and development team
strong spoken and written communication skills
empathy and understanding when working directly with patients.

More information

Institute of Biomedical Science (Opens new window)
12 Coldbath Square
London
EC1R 5HL
Tel: 020 7713 0214
www.ibms.org

NHS Careers (Opens new window)
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk

Health Learning and Skills Advice Line (Opens new window)
Tel: 08000 150850

Health Professions Council (Opens new window)
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU
Tel: 020 7582 0866
www.hpc-uk.org

Opportunities

You will find most jobs within the NHS. You could also work in the food industry and in the pharmaceutical industry, and for private hospitals, the Public Health Laboratory Service, the National Blood Service, research laboratories and government agencies such as the Health and Safety Executive.

In the NHS, you could progress through four grades. Promotion is based on experience, further training and qualifications. Achieving an MSc or Fellowship of the Institute of Biomedical Science is likely to give you an advantage when applying for promotion.

With experience, you could move into research, training and education, product development and commerce.

Your skills in biomedical science could also be used in the developing world. This could be, for example, working with voluntary and overseas organisations such as the Voluntary Service Overseas and the World Health Organisation.

Jobs are advertised in publications such as The Biomedical Scientist and on websites such as NHS Jobs.

NHS Jobs

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

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.

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.]