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Chemist

  • Hours

    30-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £16,000 + per year

Chemists study the make-up of chemicals and materials. They also examine how they interact and behave under different conditions. If you are fascinated by chemistry and enjoy experimenting, this job could be ideal for you.

To be a chemist, you will need to have an enquiring mind. You will need a logical approach to solving problems. You will also need a lot of patience.

To become a chemist you will usually need a degree in chemistry or a related scientific subject.



The work

As a chemist, you would use this knowledge to develop products and processes in a wide range of areas, for example:

  • developing medicines in the pharmaceutical industry
  • analysing oceans and investigating climate change
  • keeping water supplies clean
  • creating new products and controlling quality in the food industry
  • finding ways to dispose of industrial waste safely
  • creating plastics and artificial fibres in the polymer industry
  • diagnosing and treating illness and disease in the healthcare sector
  • analysing forensic evidence in criminal investigations
  • teaching, lecturing and academic research.

Whatever industry you worked in, you would follow complex procedures and use sophisticated hi-tech equipment. Your day-to-day tasks would include:

  • designing and conducting laboratory experiments
  • making observations and noting results
  • writing reports and presenting your findings.

You may also supervise the work of support staff such as laboratory technicians, and carry out other administrative work.


Hours

You would usually work 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional evenings and weekends. Depending on where you work, you may need to work shifts or be on an on-call rota.

Much of your work will take place in a laboratory in sterile conditions.

Some travelling may be involved, for example, when carrying out fieldwork or going to scientific meetings and conferences.


Income

Trainee graduate chemists can earn between £16,000 and £22,000 a year. With experience, this can rise to between £25,000 and £35,000 a year.

With postgraduate qualifications and additional responsibilities, earnings could reach £60,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You will usually need a degree in chemistry, applied or analytical chemistry, biochemistry or a related scientific subject. Many employers will also want you to have a relevant postgraduate qualification such as an MSc, MPhil or PhD.

To do a science-based degree, you will usually need five GCSEs (A-C) including science, English and maths, plus at least two A levels including biology and preferably chemistry. If you do not have a background in science, you may be able to do a one-year foundation or bridging course. You should check exact entry requirements with individual course providers as other qualifications may be accepted.

It is preferable to gain work experience before applying for your first job. You may be able to do this through a work placement as part of a sandwich degree course, or through direct work experience with companies. See the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) website for more information.

You may be able to start your career as a laboratory technician. You will need four or more GCSEs (A-C) for this, however many technicians have higher qualifications such as A levels, a BTEC National or a BTEC HNC/HND in a science-based subject.

Once you start work you could study for a relevant degree on a part-time basis.

For more information about a career in science, see the Future Morph website.


Training and development

You will be given on-the-job training in laboratory techniques, relevant IT software and health and safety regulations, plus management training if you have supervisory responsibilities.

If you do not already have a postgraduate qualification or membership/fellowship of a professional body, your employer may encourage you to work towards this. For example, all public analysts, food analysts and agricultural analysts need to achieve the Mastership in Chemical Analysis (MChemA). This is a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) qualification.

As an experienced chemist with in-depth knowledge of your specialist area, you may meet the requirements of Chartered Chemist (CChem) or Chartered Scientist (CSci) status. See the following website pages for more information.


Skills and knowledge

To be a chemist, you will need to have:

  • scientific, numerical and technical skills
  • an enquiring mind
  • a logical approach to solving problems
  • patience and persistence
  • the ability to analyse data
  • leadership and teamworking skills
  • the ability to make decisions
  • good spoken and written communication skills
  • IT skills.

More information

SEMTA (Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK) (Opens new window)
14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0845 643 9001
www.semta.org.uk

Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (Opens new window)
Athlone Wing
Old Building
Great Horton Road
Bradford
BD7 1AY
Tel: 01274 436485
www.theukrc.org/wise

Future Morph
www.futuremorph.org

Royal Society of Chemistry (Opens new window)
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London
W1J 0BA
Tel: 020 7440 3344
www.rsc.org

Science Council (Opens new window)
32 - 36 Loman Street
London
SE1 0EH
Tel: 020 7922 7888
www.sciencecouncil.org

NHS Careers (Opens new window)
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk

Cogent SSC Ltd (Sector Skills Council for Chemicals, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Polymers) (Opens new window)
Unit 5, Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington, Cheshire
WA1 1GG
Tel: 01925 515200
www.cogent-ssc.com

Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) (Opens new window)
14/15 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8PS
Tel: 020 7598 1500
www.soci.org

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Careers(Opens new window)
12 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2DY
Tel: 020 7930 3477
http://careers.abpi.org.uk/Pages/default.aspx


Opportunities

You can find opportunities with a wide range of employers including the NHS, public health laboratories, research institutes and government agencies. As a chemist working in industry, you could be involved in research and development, patent work, health and safety or forensic science.

You could also use your scientific knowledge in other areas such as teaching and the media.

Jobs are advertised in the local and national press, in scientific journals and by specialist recruitment agencies. You may also find the following websites useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in a new window):

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 (Opens in a new window) 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.]


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