In 2024, funding was provided to two complementary programmes – the RESILIENCE Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence and the Industry Skills Accelerator (ISA) – designed to equip the UK medicines manufacturing workforce with the skills needed to support the sector’s rapid evolution by establishing coordinated skills interventions, targeting both new entrants and existing workforce development.

Bridging the life sciences skills gap

Driven by ambitions set out in the government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan and Modern Industrial Strategy, investment in workforce capability is essential to ensure the UK remains globally competitive as a location for manufacturing innovative medicines. However, skills shortages in areas such as data science, regulatory affairs and advanced manufacturing present a significant barrier to growth.

RESILIENCE received £4.3 million to create a “one-stop shop” for training, outreach and industry engagement, delivered by partners University of Birmingham, UCL, Teesside University, Herriot-Watt University and Britest.

RESILIENCE is helping to build the skilled workforce needed to support growth in the UK medicines manufacturing sector through a programme of in-person, hands-on and virtual reality training. Almost 2,300 individuals from universities, industry, further education and the NHS have been trained in the first two years, making a significant contribution to addressing the sector’s critical skills gap. It delivers core and bespoke courses covering key areas of medicines manufacturing, alongside workplace and leadership accelerators that have already equipped over 170 participants with workplace-ready skills.

Inspiring the next generation through national outreach

Outreach and careers engagement are also a major success for the RESILIENCE team, playing a key role in broadening the talent pipeline for the medicines manufacturing sector. Through participation in more than 350 events spanning the length and breadth of the country and interacting with over 25,000 individuals, the programme is significantly increasing awareness of careers in the sector helping to inspire future entrants and strengthen the long-term talent pipeline.

The programme’s success was recognised at the 2026 Learning Excellence Awards, where RESILIENCE received the “Outstanding Course or Initiative” award. It also won the Health, Medical and Pharma sector award and was named the Innovation Winner in the Learning Tools and Technology category, reflecting its significant impact on skills development.

Vision for future growth

As medicines manufacturing continues to evolve towards novel and high-potential modalities, alongside increasing digitalisation and automation, the outputs delivered through these programmes are helping to ensure the UK workforce is prepared for the sector’s changing needs.

Through RESILIENCE and ISA, Innovate UK is helping to realise the potential of businesses in medicines manufacturing, turning innovation into commercial success. It’s vital that the UK is an attractive location for investment, innovation and high-value manufacturing. Together, these programmes are strengthening the foundations for growth across the sector, helping ambitious, innovative businesses adopt new technologies, scale innovation and support the delivery of the government’s ambitions for life sciences.

– Laura Griffiths, Head of Healthy Lives at Innovate UK

The impact of these investments has featured in the UK government’s recent Life Sciences Jobs Plan, which sets out how government, industry and partners will work together over the next three years to address current and future workforce challenges across the sector.

Access to skilled workers is essential if we are to drive continued growth in the UK Life Sciences sector. RESILIENCE and ISA are playing a vital role in developing the talent pipeline and supporting the development of the workforce across the UK.

– Andrew Howard, Deputy Director for Manufacturing at the Office for Life Sciences

To learn more about these initiatives and how they can help you and your organisation visit RESILIENCE and Industry Skills Accelerator