Ever since Sir Alexander Fleming invented lifesaving antibiotic penicillin in an accidental experiment with a mouldy sandwich, Scotland has been at the forefront of producing medicines.
And right now we’re enjoying a boom time in this specialist area of manufacturing.
This is reflected in the building of the new Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC) in Renfrewshire.
This will provide academics, research scientists and manufacturing partners access to innovative equipment and pooled knowledge.
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It also aims to encourage collaboration to develop new technologies and processes that will boost productivity in manufacturing medicines.
It’s supported by a £13 million investment from UK Research and Innovation through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, along with £15 million from Scottish Enterprise and £7 million from both GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca.
This comes in the wake of a study by the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde that revealed the pharmaceutical market in Scotland already generates more than £462 million in exports.
A whopping £120 million is also spent on Research & Development (R&D) in Scotland – that’s the second highest R&D spend in the manufacturing sector after consumer electronics.
In fact, the so-called ‘big pharma’ companies are major employers all across the country. Some of the world’s largest firms – such as GlaxoSmithKline – have invested in facilities here and it’s estimated the sector now indirectly supports more than 17,000 jobs.
If you want to leave the rat race and join the lab place, the types of qualification and skills you need are going to vary depending on the roles you wish to go for.
If you want to be a pioneer in the laboratory or pursue clinical research, a Degree or Masters in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, pharmacology, microbiology or a related science field will see you grow your career faster than microbes in a petri dish.
If you have experience in healthcare – such as a nurse or doctor – your qualifications and knowledge can often help you transfer directly into this sector.
Engineering, too, is another foundation for entry with experience in chemical, mechanical, process, quality or manufacturing engineering all suitable backgrounds.
For the actual process of making tablets, ointments and all manner of magical substances that improve wellbeing and treat Granny Ina’s bunions, the role of production operative is an excellent entry level into the business.
Often training is given on the job and, if you show you can handle forward planning and organising production schedules, you could quickly find yourself moving up the ladder to the role of production manager.
Developing and making drugs costs gazillions and so it takes a lot of computer power and number crunching to estimate production budgets. Then there are the cost negotiations with suppliers and buyers to deal with. All of this means opportunities for project managers, IT experts and specialist accountants.
Our need for new medicines is never going away and, with so many companies operating within Scotland’s pharmaceutical industry, there’s great scope to progress in a new career.
Why not find out more by exploring the job opportunities in Production & Manufacturing on s1jobs?