Supporting Future Talent in the UK & Ireland
Ipsen has a long-standing commitment to promoting careers in science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and has a variety of graduate and apprenticeship schemes open to young people with a passion for science. Ipsen is looking across its UK and Ireland business to ensure career opportunities are equal to people from all backgrounds.
Ipsen’s first graduate programme began in October 2018 from our Wrexham site. Two graduates began our 24-month training programme, supporting the Manufacturing Technical and Quality Aseptic functions. Our graduates benefitted from the full insight into both the manufacturing and quality processes at our site.
Additionally, in September 2020 the Bath Road site in Slough welcomed 3 graduates onto the first Specialty Care Graduate Development Programme. The 18 months spent with Ipsen enables them to rotate into 3 departments for 6 months at a time, gaining insights into functions such as Business and Customer Excellence, Corporate Affairs, Medical Affairs, Finance and Marketing.
In 2017, Ipsen Biopharm was nominated as one of only three finalists at the UK STEM Inspiration awards in the ‘Employer – Large Companies’ category.
Key highlights from the Future of Science Survey
More recently, in July 2021, Ipsen launched ‘The Future of Science’ survey with New Scientist, targeting young people (aged 7-21 years old) to understand their current perceptions of careers in science. The survey revealed that 41% of the young people said the pandemic had increased their interest in science and medical careers, with 83% of respondents believing they would consider a career into these areas.
2 in 5 young people felt science and medicine related jobs are not equally accessible to people from all ethnic backgrounds and genders, with this belief increasing with age and rising to 51% of the 16–21-year-old sub-population.
35% of 16- to 21-year-olds said they have not had a conversation about university courses or career options in medical and life sciences at school.
5 in 6 young people have considered becoming a doctor or scientist and 41% said the Covid-19 pandemic had increased their interest in these careers.
John Chaddock, VP Head of REED Operations at Ipsen and Site Head Ipsen Milton Park, comments:
Whilst it is encouraging to learn that the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted more young people to consider a career in science, it is worrying that gender and ethnicity present potential barriers. It is imperative we heed the issues highlighted by this research and work collectively with peers in both government and the life sciences industry to address them in order to ensure the UK remains at the cutting edge of scientific research.
Watch below the Future of Science animation:
Future Talent in Ireland
Ipsen has a long-standing commitment to promoting careers in science and STEM, and has a variety of graduate and apprenticeship schemes open to young people with a passion for science. Ipsen is looking across its UK and Ireland business to ensure career opportunities are equal to people from all backgrounds.
In Ireland we partner with Dublin City University, providing work placements for students. These students have the opportunity to learn more about the pharmaceutical industry and shadow experienced employees. We also engage with the DCU Access to the Workplace programme, where third level education is made attainable to talented students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds through the provision of summer internships for students to gain professional experience.
Learn about Grace’s time with the Analytical Development Team in the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Development Department internship at the Blanchardstown site in Dublin in this Q&A here.
CRSC-GB-000005
August 2022
