Science & Technology

Biosciences

In the Biosciences you could find yourself working as a:

- Biochemical engineer

- Biomedical engineer

- Biomedical scientist

As a biochemical engineer you're likely to be working within Industry to create new products by applying engineering science principles to biological materials, processes and systems. This could include things like new medicines, foods, packaging or materials and could involve working on new products that might dramatically improve lives or help in the reduction of waste and pollution.

As a biomedical engineer you're likely to be applying engineering principles and materials technology to the healthcare sector. Jobs in this area exist within the health services as well as research institutes and with the manufacturers of medical equipment. You're likely to be involved in the research, design and development of new medical products such as joint replacements, surgical instruments and rehabilitation equipment.

As a biomedical scientist you're likely to be carrying out lab tests on human samples to diagnose and track the progress of illnesses and the effectiveness of treatments. It is a highly responsible role as the work you will be involved with is essential to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Moving into a job in this sector you're likely to undergo further specialist training before moving into a specific area of diagnosis or detection.

According to the Yorkshire Forward Bioscience Cluster, there are about 120 bioscience-related businesses in the region. Around 10,000 people are employed in the sector in Yorkshire and this is predicted to grow by over 10% in the next five years. Most of this growth will be with entrepreneurial drug discovery & development companies and contract research organisations.

Most of the smaller enterprises in the region are clustered around York, Sheffield and Leeds and these are mostly spinout companies from the regions Universities. There are some larger companies elsewhere such as Covance in Harrogate and Reckitt Bekinser in Hull. York is the UK's first National City of Science and has a strong profile in this sector with a particular focus on Bioscience. There is also a strong cluster of medical and healthcare related companies in South Yorkshire and an established pharmaceutical presence with companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Smith & Nephew.

There are also two major Government Laboratories in the region who have strong bioscience interests: the Central Science Laboratory near York, which undertakes a range of work on Agriculture, Food and the Environment, and the Forensic Science Service laboratory at Wetherby.

Graduates entering the sector will need a sound, related, science degree background. Commercial knowledge is sought after in potential employees and is there is a highlighted shortage of graduates possessing the relevant commercial knowledge to enter the sector work ready by the regions employers. The Bio2Work programme supported by SYBEN in the region runs a Leeds based programme which aims to bridge the gap between graduation and industry entry and help recent graduates gain the skills they need to enter the sector. More information on the program can be found here.

Useful links:

Yorkshire Forward Bioscience Cluster

Overview of the bioscience cluster in the region.

BioScience York

BioScience York exists to help businesses in the bioscience, healthcare, and environmental technologies. They provide a range of services including start-up support to help businesses in this sector support the economic and scientific prosperity of York and its environs.

Their ‘other contacts' page has a number of useful links for the Yorkshire region and is worth looking at.

South Yorkshire Bioscience Enterprise Network (SYBEN)

A comprehensive information portal for bioscience information in South Yorkshire.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

BBSRC is Britain's lead funding agency for academic research and training in the non-medical life sciences.

ABPI
Includes a good overview of the typical range of opportunities in pharmaceutical companies.

Central Science Laboratory (CSL)

Based near York, the Central Science Laboratory undertakes a range of work on Agriculture, Food and the Environment.

The Forensic Science Service (FSS):

The FSS is the market leader in the supply of forensic science services to police forces in England and Wales, as well as being a source of training, consultancy and scientific support.