Opportunities in the life sciences sector - …

1 Opportunities in the life sciences sectorIn partnership with Suffolk County Council, Business East Monthly is running a series of reports aimed at informing young people about the career Opportunities that exist in the region and the skills required to make the most of these openings. This month we provide an overview of the life sciences sector featuring interviews with employers, employees and education skills report: Life sciences We have around 550 highly skilled people drawn from across the 16 East Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, November 21, sciences generate GVA to the economy of the East, contributing 10,000 high value jobs across the region. It is rightly identified as a key sector in the Norfolk and Suffolk Economic have international expertise in the field of food, health and the microbiome, and an advanced cluster of animal health and emerging pharmaceutical has developed a reputation for excellence in biotechnology and, in particular, stem cell research and regenerative medicine at the University of Suffolk.

2 Two new degree courses in regenerative medicine have been created and the university has forged strong links with Ipswich Hospital to build specialist Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) headquartered in Lowestoft, is the UK s most diverse centre for applied marine and freshwater science and research. It provides innovative solutions for the aquatic environment, biodiversity and food security. There is also a cluster of animal health firms at Newmarket and several large pharmaceutical companies at Haverhill, taking advantage of links to the Cambridge life sciences Norfolk, Norwich Research Park is a world-leading research base, at the forefront of global food, health and life sciences research. It is home to over 75 businesses; 3000 researchers and clinicians and it is continuing to expand.

3 The Park is one of the largest single site concentrations of research, training, education, and enterprise in genetics and genomics, plant and microbial science, food, health and the microbiome. The 81m Quadram Institute, due to open on the park in 2018, brings together expertise from Quadram Institute Bioscience, University of East Anglia and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. It will help to create a fundamental shift in the way we understand and address the impact of food on are the new developments at Cefas?Cefas is developing our capabilities into new scientific fields and new geographies internationally. We are helping to understand and protect the marine environment in the UK, Caribbean, Pacific, South East Asia and the Middle East and we have around 550 highly skilled people drawn from across the world to deliver this work, of which around 450 are based in roles are you looking to fill and why?

4 Currently, we are seeking marine coastal processes and mapping scientists to support our work in support of the UK government s Blue Belt programme for the Overseas , we have recruited apprentices in our science, IT and executive support teams, and Masters and PhD students across our scientific teams to help lead the UK s thinking on topics such as marine plastics and specific skills are you looking for in the medium to long term? In the medium to long term, we will become more interested in skills which allow us to engage with coastal communities, such as those involved in the fishing industry, often in developing the long-term we will need to understand more about the economic value that our seas provide, so a clearer understanding of marine natural capital will become a do you recruit this talent?

5 We recruit the best people for the role based on their skills, drive For those who choose to develop their skills and knowledge on the job, our apprenticeship roles include laboratory technicians; project administrators; finance, communications and IT are very proud of the passion and energy our apprentices bring and are very pleased to watch their careers develop as they complete their studies, and take on further responsibilities. Visit to find out more about CefasLife sciences is a key sector in the region s economic strategyBy Sally Ann Forsyth, chief executive officer, Norwich Research ParkThe employersQ&A: Stuart Rogers, chief scientist at the The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Lowestoftand passion for marine science and protecting the environment.

6 However, different roles require different levels of experience, ranging from experienced scientists to newly awarded PhD-holders to those who leave school and join us as initiatives do you have in place to ensure you will have the right talent coming through? We fund and supervise many PhD students around the world (often in collaboration with our strategic university partners UEA and the University of Exeter) to ensure that we continue to employ and benefit from the keenest minds in marine science. Dr Sally Ann Forysth, CEO of Norwich Research Rogers, CefasThomas Maes from CEFAS who is co-ordinating a study of marine litter. Pictured on board the CEFAS EndeavourEast Anglian Daily Times Tuesday, November 21, 2017 works at Sanofi s Haverhill site which specialises in a number of areas including the development of products used to treat patients on kidney is the current state of the life sciences sector in East Anglia?

7 The life sciences sector continues to grow and remains a key asset within the region especially for research and development. Universities in the region are playing a key role in developing the talent for the future of the industry. In terms of skill gaps which impact Sanofi Haverhill, these tend to be associated with engineering roles such as automation, project engineers and maintenance technicians. We also see recruitment challenges associated with some quality roles such as validation and roles are you looking to fill and why? We are typically recruiting maintenance technicians for all of our plant equipment, process technicians for manufacturing and quality positions such as quality assurance and quality control. These are core positions directly associated with our manufacturing process; if we don t have people in these roles, we would no longer be able to operate.

8 We also have a high number of positions in these areas, so recruiting these people is incredibly important. How do you recruit this talent? Most positions are recruited through our talent acquisition partner, Alexander Mann Solutions. But we also offer some apprenticeships, in the areas of manufacturing and maintenance, and industrial placements. What initiatives do you have in place?It is important to think beyond recruitment and work to inspire the next generation to be attracted to a career in manufacturing. Employees who are involved in the manufacturing process tend to have a close connection to the patient and this drives engagement. Working within the site also provides many connections to the broader business; we have relationships with R&D as part of new product development and also our commercial teams in supporting marketing of our products around the world.

9 This message is important to get across to the employees of the well as offering apprenticeships and industrial placements, we are active in the local area with regard to supporting employees of the future. We work with Cambridge University institutions to offer support to students as part of PhD programs; this also aims to position us as an employer of choice for them in the future. We also offer careers advice and interviewing experience to Samuel Ward Academy (Haverhill) for students considering employment options. We ensure that people are supported once they join Sanofi, working with Cambridge Regional College who support our apprenticeship programme with technical training. We also have an extensive talent management programme which identifies those employees with the greatest potential; and we offer development programs and secondments to enable this talent to be realised.

10 Find out more at Our skills gaps tend to be in engineering Q&A: Paul Smith is head of secondary operations and HR at Sanofi, HaverhillWhat life science roles does the agri-tech sector need to fill?Increasingly, this sector needs hybridised scientist technologists, and plenty of IT whizz kids. The key is cracking the data challenge; how to extract and use the mountains of data collected by different means and in various formats. For example, drones are increasingly used to take images of crops: first they need a pilot, then someone to interpret the images, then someone to turn images into data, and not forgetting the right technology and machinery on farms that allows farmers to change their management as a result.