Skills - Shaping a 21st Century Workforce

Skills Support

Skills development is a core part of Bionow's offer. Focusing solely on the life sciences sector across the North, Bionow is uniquely placed to bring together SMEs, corporates, Universities and training providers to grow the sector.

The life sciences sector is constantly and rapidly evolving, so to continue to thrive and remain competitive organisations in this sector need access to a range of relevant cutting-edge skills and expertise. Therefore, to support the businesses, Universities, and individuals that make up the Bionow community, we have a comprehensive package of support included in our membership.

Bionow members can maximise their recruitment reach by posting vacancies on the Bionow Jobs page, with current vacancies being promoted monthly on social media, enabling you to extend your talent search at no extra cost.

We also offer more general skills support and advice including mentoring opportunities, skills surveys, reports, white papers and focused sessions at our conferences. If you want to get involved and support the future of life sciences, join Bionow.

Bionow Member Tools and Resources:

Bionow Skills Special Interest Group (SIG)

All members are invited to join the Bionow Skills Special Interest Group to share knowledge, experience and expertise across the sector

All members are invited to join the Bionow Skills Special Interest Group (SIG) to build and share knowledge, experience and expertise across the sector.

The SIG brings together SMEs, corporates, colleges, universities and other training providers to help shape the skills base available to the sector, supporting and influencing the development of skills provision, whether they be from private providers or educational institutions.

We also offer more general skills support and advice including mentoring opportunities, skills surveys, reports, white papers and focused sessions at our conferences. If you want to get involved and support the future of life sciences, join Bionow.

Apprenticeship Journeys

Find out more about apprenticeships as a path to life sciences careers through insightful case studies

Find out more about apprenticeships as a path to life sciences careers through insightful case studies. These stories highlight the hands-on experience and practical training that apprenticeships offer, providing a compelling alternative to traditional academic routes.

Perfect for those eager to dive into the workforce and earning while they learn, our case studies detail the opportunities, challenges, and successes of individuals who have chosen this route. Gain valuable firsthand perspectives and advice on how apprenticeships can lead to rewarding and impactful careers.

Downloads

Apprenticeship Journey: Laura Dean

Apprenticeship Journey: Matt McLoughlin

Apprenticeship Journey: Emily Butterworth

Apprenticeship Journey: Joe Watkins

Early Career Journeys

Be inspired by accounts of early career navigation and decision-making through our series of case studies

Be inspired by accounts of early career navigation and decision-making through our series of case studies. These real-life stories offer a glimpse into the diverse career paths and experiences of professionals who have navigated the exciting fields of life sciences and beyond.

Whether you're a student or recent graduate, or are just considering a career change, these accounts provide valuable insights, practical advice, and motivation to help you explore and succeed in a range of industries.

Downloads

Early Career Journey: Arshnous Marandi

Early Career Journey: Claire Neilson

Senior Career Journeys

Read about career achievements in a range of disciplines with our series of senior career case studies in life sciences

Read about career achievements in a range of disciplines with our series of senior career case studies in life sciences. These detailed accounts showcase the experiences and significant contributions of experts who have made significant contributions to their fields.

Ideal for professionals at any stage, these stories offer insights, strategic advice and inspiration drawn from years of dedication and innovation. Delve into the successes and challenges faced by industry leaders and gain a deeper understanding of the various paths to senior leadership.

Downloads

Senior Career Journey: Crawford Brown

Senior Career Journey: Helen Hughes

Senior Career Journey: Richard Ryrie

Student Placements and Projects

Bionow works closely with our University Sponsors and a core strand of our support is the facilitation of student placements within our member companies and organisations

Supporting the placement of students within sector companies and organisations brings tremendous benefit to the students themselves through gaining valuable work experience. For businesses it is an opportunity to engage an undergraduate or postgraduate student for a period of 8-52 weeks during which you can ‘try before you buy’.

Most of our University Sponsors offer the opportunity to engage a student to work on a defined project. There are opportunities across various departments and faculties, including Business Schools and the project may involve remote working at the company’s premises or be carried out within the University. The project might be paid or be part of the course.

Opportunities include:

Summer student placements for undergraduates
Professional internships for postgraduate students (doctoral training PhD programs)
Industrial placements and sandwich years in industry

For more information, please contact stella.james@bionow.co.uk

Bionow Liverpool Life Sciences UTC Mentoring Scheme

The Bionow Liverpool Life Sciences UTC mentoring scheme provides year 12 students from the college with access to opportunities and networks of professionals across the life sciences industry

The Bionow Liverpool Life Sciences UTC mentoring scheme provides year 12 students from the college with access to opportunities and networks of professionals across the life sciences industry. The aim is to broaden the range of careers they are considering and provide expertise and experiences which increase their chances of progressing on to careers in the sector.

The scheme identifies experienced industry experts from the Bionow membership who, on a voluntary basis, support BTEC Applied Science students at the UTC. Based on their experience, mentors are matched with students and work together to help them to identify potential career paths and guide them through the challenges of their personal growth. Mentoring meetings take place monthly, with each meeting lasting for up to an hour, with enough time between meetings for the mentee to be able to work towards the goals set in their action plan.

In addition, students take part in company site visits at Bionow member companies, and attend industry talks and Bionow conferences. This further supports their personal and professional development, with a new cohort getting the opportunity to join the scheme each academic year.

Events attended by students as part of the scheme and facilitated by Bionow:

Bionow’s BioInfect Conference
Bionow’s Pharma Manufacturing Conference
BIA’s bioProcess UK Conference

For more information on how to get involved, please contact geoff.davison@bionow.co.uk

Bionow Careers Fair

The Bionow Life Sciences Careers Fair is a great opportunity to access the next generation of skills and talent

Industry Toolkit

Introducing our comprehensive Industry Toolkit: The ultimate guide designed to help life science organisations navigate the skills essential for business growth

Introducing our comprehensive Industry Toolkit: The ultimate guide designed to help life science organisations navigate the evolving landscape of skills essential for business growth. This essential resource covers every aspect of workforce development, from effective recruitment strategies and talent management to targeted upskilling programs.

Whether you're looking to foster a dynamic workplace culture, attract top talent or enhance your team's capabilities, our toolkit provides valuable insights and practical tools to support your business goals, empowering your organisation to thrive in the competitive life sciences sector.

Skills - Shaping a 21st Century Workforce