2016 Healthcare companies research, develop, produce and supply medicines (or pharmaceuticals ). The pills you take for your headache, your cold or any number of illnesses all come from the work of this industry. In association with: Being part of this means you will positively impact health around the world significantly changing the lives of millions The drugs you are given in a hospital and also the products you buy over the counter all come from the pharmaceutical industry. It s not just helping you in a medical emergency but also in your everyday life it is that important to our society. It contributes more to the UK economy than other industries would be able to with the same resources. It directly employs around 73,000 of which 23,000 work in research and development (R&D) according to 2013 statistics from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical (APBI) It is estimated that the pharma industry across the world is worth more than $1 trillion.
The creation, development and of life-saving vaccines forms a large part of what the Pharmaceutical industry does, helping to stop the spread of disease and save lives worldwide. In 2014, the global vaccines market was worth around $25billion, with more jobs available as this part of the industry grows into new regions. Huge progress has been made in recent years and new technologies have been introduced. With these advances it has been possible to develop drugs to help the fight against HIV for instance, improving the lives of millions of people. Having the opportunity to positively impact the lives of people in this way is an exciting mission to be part of. The pharmaceutical sector offers roles in academic research, research and development (R&D), product and process development as well as roles in the manufacturing and supply of products. There are also a number of sales, commercial and supporting roles available in pharmaceutical companies in areas such as finance, human resources, IT, communications and marketing.
One of the important parts of that industry are the people who work in pharmaceuticals. What skills do I need? Organised Self-confident Proactive Open to change Analytical Good at working in teams
What types of job can I do within Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare? The Pharmaceutical industry requires a wide range of people with a wide range of skills to help deliver the results and help sick people. These are the areas you can work in : Research and development Research and development (R&D) looks at discovering the molecules to treat a disease through to turning it into a product that people can buy. This is a very important and exciting role. Most of the work is carried out by scientists (biologists and chemists), who have a variety of specialist qualifications in things like toxicology, genetics, statistics and animal technology. Working in R&D you will be directly responsible for the development of new medicine. Manufacturing and supply After R&D new medicine s need to be made. Manufacturers, engineers and quality professionals make sure that medicine is actually made and also meets the demands worldwide. They also make sure that the medicines meet the safety and quality regulations. People working in these areas need to keep on top of new technology to make the process as efficient as possible. Commercial After the medicines are made there is a group of people that need who need to promote and sell them to companies, doctors and the public. Prescription medicines can only be advertised directly to doctors, so commercial staff need to target these through things like medical journals, conferences and presentations. Consumer medicines are advertised through traditional media outlets such as television, radio and magazines.
These roles are open to a wide variety of people who have skills in writing, communication, social media and marketing. As well as the science side of the industry, there are a wide range of skills required. Sales managers, health economics experts, healthcare communication professionals and product managers all work together with the aim to promote new medicines for the benefit of patients. Support Functions Core to the business are a wide range of people in different jobs who help support the business of creating, developing, producing and promoting medicines with opportunities in areas such as Human Resources, IT and Finance, Communications. Your route into a pharmaceutical career A-levels and equivalent If you want to go into the more science based pharmaceutical roles whether as a Higher Apprenticeship or through a university degree it is important that you focus on the right subjects. Studying a STEM subject - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - is becoming increasingly important. By studying one of these subjects not only will you get the opportunity to work in a science, technology or engineering-focused role but it provides you with the foundation knowledge to assist you in most roles in this industry. Most science degrees will require you to have at least two science A levels or Highers. Surprisingly chemistry is often needed for entry on to biological science courses, and studying maths beyond GCSE is often counted as a science subject and looked upon favourably when applying for a science-related degree. If you don t want to study for A-levels you could look at a vocational qualification. Special colleges offer these courses and focus more on the skills needed to career out a particular job. Vocational qualifications relevant to the pharmaceutical industry include those in STEM, health, and manufacturing, accounting and business.
Apprenticeships Apprenticeships give you the chance to earn a salary whilst getting the skills you need to succeed in your chosen industry. They usually last two-three years and will place you in a job with a related company who will provide on-the-job-training, while you attend a college or training centre to gain a nationally recognised qualification such as a BTEC or National Higher. Some apprenticeships offer the opportunity to progress to study part-time for an Honours Degree. An increasing number of employers offer apprenticeship schemes, with apprenticeships in areas such as engineering or pharmaceutical technology being offered by pharmaceutical recruiters, and a new type of Higher Level Apprenticeship in Life Sciences has recently been developed. One employer with a wide range of apprenticeship opportunities is GSK. As one of the world s leading healthcare companies GSK discovers, develops, manufactures and distributes vaccines, prescription medicines and consumer health products. At present GSK are offering Advanced and Higher apprenticeships in the following roles : Laboratory Science Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Engineering Manufacturing Supply Chain IT Finance Business Administration Design and Artwork Pharmaceutical Technologist
GSK apprenticeships are three years long but can vary by scheme (four years for Engineering and Manufacturing). They work with top training providers and professional bodies to deliver the highest quality qualifications (Cogent in Science) and were the first in the science industry to take on Trailblazer Apprentices under the new standards. Ex-apprentices have gone on to senior roles both in the UK and abroad. Find out more about GSK apprenticeships at : www.gsk.com/apprenticeships University You can enter the industry from any degree background. Although chemistry, biology, pharmacology and engineering are all vital and obvious degrees to take if you want to work in the more technical roles in the pharmaceutical industry, but there is such a wide range of jobs that many different degrees are also brilliant entry points. Degrees such as cell biology, biochemistry and immunology, as well as not directly related degrees such as business/management, IT or mathematics could also be useful. It s worth taking time to explore all your options and to consider the possible job opportunities after a degree. Many different employers also offer specific entry schemes for graduates with fasttrack career progression. The application criteria and details of the scheme will depend on the individual employer. For example, GSK a range of graduate opportunities including a PhD programme. More information can be found here: www.futureleaders.gsk.com
Tips for getting a role in pharmaceutical healthcare Have you decided that a career in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry is for you, but don t really know where to start? Here are some top tips from GSK to help you land your dream job. 1. Bring your personality show the real you throughout the application process and at final stage assessment days 2. Show your passion and enthusiasm for wanting to work in the healthcare industry what makes you want to work in this industry? 3. Think about how your skills match what the employer is looking for. Bring these into your application form. Think about your hobbies, interests not just your academics but when you ve shown passion and commitment for something. 4. Get on LinkedIn and follow organisations you re interested in on Social Media. 5. Work experience not just restricted to paid work is particularly important in the graduate space. Students need to consider paid/unpaid work, voluntary work, extracurricular activities. 6. Research the more you know about the career the better informed you will be. Not just into the company but also the role.
Apprentice Case Study In association with: Andrew Williamson IT Apprentice What do you do? I am a third (and final) year IT apprentice at GlaxoSmithKline s Stevenage R&D site, working towards my Level 4 Diploma for ICT Professionals (Systems and Principles). My main role is that of an IT Project Coordinator within Research & Development IT s (R&DIT) Small Projects Service. My responsibilities within this service include supporting projects and programs by assisting with project reporting, status updates, performance monitoring, risk and issue tracking, meeting facilitation, and project documentation. I am also one of GSK NxtGen s (Apprentice Network imagine a university Student Union for apprentices!) Southern Regional Leads. We are the points of contact for the apprentices in the southern geographical area and distribute information, engage and support and escalate issues as appropriate to approximately 130 apprentices based across 7 sites. Is this an area of work you always wanted to go into? I can t say it is! I ve always been very interested and capable in IT and Technology, but it wasn t until the final year of my A-Levels that I began considering an IT as an option. My A-levels were very science-based, which perhaps drew me towards an apprenticeship at a science/pharmaceutical organisation.
Apprentice Case Study What is it like as a school leaver at GSK? GSK is hugely supportive towards all apprentices fresh out of school. It was a very intimidating and scary prospect at first, but I was made to feel incredibly welcome and comfortable everyone I ve met has been happy and willing to help, support, and develop my abilities and knowledge! What s the best thing that you ve done in your job? In February 2015 I coordinated and organised an Apprenticeship Open Evening for prospective apprentices from local schools. I enlisted the help of over 15 fellow apprentices from Stevenage, Ware and Harlow sites, and we hosted over 150 visiting students who were interested in the many apprenticeships GSK offers. It was a huge success, and the level of positive engagement and feedback I received more than made up for the difficult and stressful responsibility! Where would you like to see yourself in five years time? In five years time I d be more than happy to be in a full time position at GSK within R&DIT. My time here so far has been so hugely rewarding, and offered so many opportunities for development; I like to think I could make a career here! What advice would you give to someone who was in a similar position that you were? Don t turn down a single opportunity for learning & development! You re at the stage in life where what you know and what you can do becomes very important and determines what happens next. It might be hard work but at the end of the day it s absolutely worth it.
More useful resources Need more help with your careers choices? You can find a wealth of help and opportunities at the following places : GSK TM TheBigChoice.com student & graduate jobs TheBigChoice.com Find quality advice and opportunities in apprenticeships, part-time jobs and training on this youth careers portal. School Leavers Guide This interactive app guide brings together expert advice, guidance on career steps and positions from top employers via your tablet or smartphone. National Careers Service The official place for careers advice and information in the UK. National Apprenticeship Service Everything you need on apprenticeships and the best vacancies on offer.