New report into skills needs in the UK pharmaceutical industry
Michael Crowhurst
Public First has published a new report for The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry on how skills requirements are changing in the biopharmaceutical industry. You can access the report here.
The ABPI commissioned Public First to run a survey of over 30 different employers within the industry to understand better the changing skills needs within the UK pharmaceutical industry.
The biennial research highlighted that progress has been made in addressing skills gaps identified in the previous iterations of the report series. However, the report also showed that critical skills such as scientific, mathematical and digital knowledge skills have re-emerged as a challenge with 57% of respondents in the 2023 survey identifying these as challenges, compared to 38% in 2021’s survey results.
Findings also suggest that there are new emerging skills gaps in robotics, data pathology and data science.
The report identifies three key policy recommendations:
Short term
Simplify access to, and increase the flexibility of, government skills provision, in particular the apprenticeship levy, to ensure that businesses of all sizes have the resources to be able to train and retain key staff. This should include further devolution of skills and apprenticeship spending, in order to enable local leaders to put in place the provision that best suits the needs of their area.
Medium term
Develop a clearer and more coherent careers guidance system across the UK; in England by implementing the strategic framework outlined by Sir John Holman in his review of careers guidance. An important aspect of this should be to develop a better picture of graduate career readiness and ensure that higher education institutions support STEM graduates to develop both the technical and transferable skills required to succeed in the industry.
Long term
Support development of a more highly skilled workforce that is equipped for the increasing number of jobs that rely on data, digital and analytical skills by delivering on an ambition that all young people can access outstanding and inspiring STEM education from primary stage, supported by specialist teachers and adequately funded schools and colleges.