| British pharmaceutical
companies offer a wealth of exciting career opportunities
to graduates wanting to work in one of the most
successful industries in the country. The UK-based
pharmaceutical industry has a record of success
that is the envy of the world. British laboratories
have produced seven of the world's top 25 medicines
- a record second only to the USA. Those medicines
make a vital contribution to the country's balance
of trade. With exports running at more than £5
billion a year, the pharmaceutical industry makes
a positive contribution to the trade balance of
some £2 billion a year.
 More
than half of the 60,000-plus staff directly employed
by pharmaceutical companies are graduates, working
in all aspects of the research, development and
marketing of life-saving and life-enhancing medicines.
Most science graduates start their careers in
research and development, looking for new medicines
to treat infections, degenerative diseases, or
psychiatric conditions.
All new medicines and treatments begin in the
laboratory, where scientists extract, design or
synthesise chemical compounds whose therapeutic
benefits are assessed through screening. The compounds
are then tested for safety and stability. A number
of compounds will be selected and put through
further rigorous trials; once stringent safety
standards have been met, a programme of clinical
assessment on humans is carried out. A large amount
of data will be collected from these studies and
analysed, often by mathematics graduates, and
the results are then passed to a clinical department
for interpretation. When a successful product
has been identified and tested for safety, companies
need people who can design and carry out its production
cost-effectively and on a large scale. Further
trials will begin at this stage of the development
to determine dosage levels and the best way to
deliver the active ingredient.
Pharmaceutical companies invest heavily in the
latest state-of-the-art technology. Companies
need highly skilled engineers to use this technology
to devise innovative solutions to a range of problems.
This could be anything from the large scale design
and operation of a manufacturing plant, to smaller
projects such as the construction of automated
equipment to help research teams, or the development
of delivery systems like inhalers.
But it is not just science graduates who can
have successful careers in the pharmaceutical
industry. It is vital that the right graduates
join the sales and marketing side of company operations
too. Companies need graduates with excellent communication
skills and a sound understanding of the industry
to promote new products to a highly competitive
international marketplace. Profits from the sales
of products, that are skilfully marketed using
creative and effective advertising and promotional
campaigns, can then be re-invested in the search
for new medicines. The industry currently spends
£6 million a day - more than a third of
all UK industry on research and development -
in the search for tomorrow's medicines.
 Medical
or non-medical graduates can also pursue a career
in registration and regulatory affairs, as it
is essential for companies to show compliance
with the necessary regulations before a drug can
be developed or marketed. Strong writing and linguistic
skills are desirable in this area, as is proven
expertise in statistics and computer technology.
Other specialist functions within the industry
offer challenging opportunities for graduates
interested in business management. Specialist
support services include finance, legal, personnel,
safety and environmental control, purchasing,
accounts and administration.
Many companies will provide advice and support
as you develop your career, and will ensure that
you are equipped with the skills needed to succeed
in a rapidly changing
environment. Most will help you find roles to
suit your individual strengths, and will give
guidance on promotion and opportunities in different
areas of company activity. Companies may also
give you support through part-time study, leading
to professional qualifications, high quality vocational
training at all levels, and training in specialist
areas and new techniques. The industry is committed
to provide the best possible environment for its
workforce - companies employ health and safety
experts to ensure that high standards operate
and legal requirements are met.
Most important of all, you will be given the
opportunity to work in a highly successful industry
where you can make a real contribution to helping
improve the quality of life for millions of people
around the world.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry (ABPI), represents nearly 100 companies
involved in the research, development and manufacture
of new medicines and treatments in the UK. A booklet
produced by the ABPI, giving details of careers
in the pharmaceutical industry, is available.
It also includes a list of graduate recruitment
contacts within ABPI member companies, who will
be happy to provide information about current
vacancies and receive speculative applications.
For a copy of 'The Pharmaceutical
Industry - Careers for Graduates', contact,
The ABPI Publication Department,
12 Whitehall,
London SW1A 2DY.
Tel: 0171 930 3477, Fax: 0171 747 1411.
Author
Kate Davies
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry
|
