What Sort of Jobs?

Opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry in the UK are wide ranging, as you would expect from science based, global companies. Many companies have European Head Offices in the UK, with jobs in HR, Finance, Marketing, Communications and many other areas.

High proportions of employees are graduates or have postgraduate qualifications, but there are also opportunities for young people to join the industry straight from school as an apprentice and to continue their studies through day release.

Everyone who works for a pharmaceutical company makes a contribution towards improving the health of thousands of people around the world. From the research scientists who look at what causes a disease to occur, to those promoting the final medicine to doctors, the contributions of all employees are valued.

Awareness of the wide variety of opportunities within science is an issue at secondary school and within undergraduate training. In particular, vocational options are often less well known. These are issues which should be tackled through improved awareness and availability of career information, advice and guidance

Sustaining the Skills Pipeline report, November 2005

Research and Development sites exist around the country with openings for chemists, biologists, pharmacists, IT experts, doctors and people with many other qualifications. 

Manufacturing sites will also employ chemists as well as engineers, pharmacists and others. Many roles are for graduate scientists, but there is an increasing demand for maths based graduates such as statisticians and health economists.

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