14th April 2021

Drug Development 101 Guide for non-Scientific Life Science Employees

The first step in the drug development process involves discovery work. This begins with target identification – choosing a biochemical mechanism involved in a disease condition.

Step 1: Discovery The first step in the drug development process involves discovery work. This begins with target identification – choosing a biochemical mechanism involved in a disease condition. This is also where the drug developer will confirm that the molecule is indeed involved in altering a gene or a protein responsible for a disease

25th November 2020

The Effects of UK and US Politics on Life Sciences

How could the past political affairs of the UK and US potentially affect the life science industry? It has been over 4 years and since the result of the UK referendum on the 23rd June 2016, there has been continuous speculation surrounding the stability of various economies and relations.

It has been over 4 years and since the result of the UK referendum on the 23rd June 2016, there has been continuous speculation surrounding the stability of various economies and relations. Some sectors have been backed to thrive under potential changes and others headlined to crumble. A relationship recently under the spotlight is that

19th November 2020

Making Rare Diseases Less Rare: Reality or Dream?

Last week I attended The World Orphan Drug Congress, one of several new virtual conferences that have come to light in 2020, given the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected many industries.

  The World Orphan Drug Congress Widely regarded as one of the pharma and biotech’s leading industry events, which focuses on all aspects of rare diseases and orphan drug advancement. With the welcome addition of cell and gene therapy discussions, which continued to carry the baton since its introduction in last year’s congress held in

10th November 2020

From Rookie to Head of Delivery – Success in Seattle

A great example of a success story made in our Skills Alliance Seattle Office.

How long have you been at Skills Alliance? 4 years!   What do you do? I head the Delivery side of the business in the US, focusing mainly on our retained and MSP accounts.   What do you enjoy most about your job? It’s always a great feeling to help small (but very important) life

7th October 2020

Who Do We Work For?

Where does our loyalty lie? With our clients or with our candidates?

This is a question I get a lot with family and friends. I know that certain people I work with are thinking about it, despite not asking me directly. I can see it from how they behave during my interactions throughout the process with them. When candidates or clients withhold information for example is clear

16th September 2020

Why My Impact in Recruitment is My Passion

It’s interesting that before I started recruiting I had this image of who recruiters are and what they do. I saw the recruitment business as a cut-throat, money-driven, and selfish business.

The truth is, there are many recruitment companies out there like that but none of those companies were ones that I wanted or saw myself working at. At my core, I am a people person. I like interacting with others, learning about them, challenging them, guiding them but more importantly, helping them. However, my passion

25th June 2020

A Freelance Career

As someone who has been placing professionals into temporary assignments for the last 9 years, for some people it was their first assignment as a career contractor.

Becoming a freelancer can either be a conscious decision leaving permanent employment, or a more opportunistic process and treated as a “stop-gap” between permanent employment. Either way, the contracting market can be a highly-competitive place, regardless of what industry you operate in. The appetite to utilise contractors within large and small businesses has increased exponentially

8th June 2020

What Workplace we Choose

Yesterday, a former co-worker shared a link to a new advert. A national vote is coming soon in Russia and the citizens are shown a video foretelling the country in 2035 where an orphaned boy is adopted by a gay couple. Then the people are offered to decide...

“what Russia they choose” (the video can be found here VIDEO) I would neither like to dig into political issues nor express any negativity. We might all have different opinions, and our views should not be the same, but as an individual living in a modern world (currently even based in a neutral country 😊) I

26th May 2020

The Pandemic’s Effect on the Perception of Remote Work

How many of us have been confronted with the dilemma of looking at a job we would love to explore, but they had strict policies around working in the office or wanted to hire that perfect candidate but they’re not open to relocation?

This has been an increasingly challenging discussion in recruitment over the last 5 years. What I have seen on this topic is a true mix. For the right candidate some of my clients have been open to making an exception for work remote, sometimes it is a transition period over a year or two and

19th May 2020

Recruiting AI / ML Talent into Life Sciences – Why is it so hard?

Last month, Benevolent AI, a London Based leader in the development and application of artificial intelligence for scientific innovation announced that a potential treatment for Covid19 had entered clinical testing.

Through the use of AI, their platform was able to search existing medicines which could quickly be moved into clinical trials, with other companies and institutions looking to follow suit – AI and Machine Learning are going to completely change the Life Sciences Industry as we know it. However, with many companies now looking to

12th May 2020

Supply Chain Vs Pandemic

For a short while, the incredible circumstances we find ourselves in seemingly had the world at a standstill.

The overriding priority to slow the spread of the virus and save as many lives as possible seems to be going in the right direction (very, very slowly it seems), but there are unfortunately many that have lost loved ones to this invisible nightmare in the process. Putting aside the personal, as a recruiter the

6th May 2020

Covid19 – Making a negative situation positive, my personal approach

It has been 6 weeks of lockdown, economic apocalypse, and the world’s worst global humanitarian crisis in recent history.

Rather than struggling through this period, or perhaps ending up in an existential crisis myself, I decided to make every day count. It is sad, perhaps even upsetting, to think that this extreme crisis has been what it takes for people like me to look at their lives and assess, but that seems to be

23rd March 2020

Introducing our New Business Units

Skills Alliance Executive, Staffing & Consulting

We are excited to announce the delineation of Skills Alliance into three newly independent global business units: Skills Alliance Executive, Skills Alliance Staffing & Skills Alliance Consulting. Skills Alliance has progressed significantly over the past 5 years to become a leading global life sciences staffing, services and consulting organisation. Each business unit offers a unique yet complimentary service line designed

17th February 2020

Opioids: The Addiction Across the United States

Who would have pictured a prescribed pain-killer causing pain and devastating friends and families across the United States?

Throughout the past two decades, opioids have been aggressively marked as the safer pain pill, primarily by the manufacturers Purdue Pharma and Johnson & Johnson.   Now let’s start from the drug in question, what are opioids and what makes them so addictive?   Opioids are a broad group of pain-relieving drugs that work by

10th October 2019

From Team Leader to Europe Director

In only 15 months, our Team Leader Harpreet managed to significantly grow his billings and pipeline while also managing and growing his team, focusing on the European market.

  How long have you been at Skills? 15 months.   What do you do? Manage our EU business and also do some recruitment.   What do you enjoy most about your job? Being able to do huge deals with clients who bring in life-changing drugs. It’s good knowing the people you bring are directly

19th September 2019

Brexit: What it means for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Will the UK pharmaceutical industry be ready for Brexit, Deal or No Deal?

The UK is set to leave the European Union on October 31st, 2019, after extending the original deadline from the 29th March. Currently, there are ongoing discussions on whether we’ll have a deal in place or if a no withdrawal deal is agreed. Will the UK pharmaceutical industry be ready for Brexit, Deal or No Deal?

13th September 2019

WTW: Views on Work from the Life Sciences Industry

Our recent survey examined the views of individuals working in the life sciences industry in North America and Europe about their experience of work.

Our recent survey examined the views of individuals working in the life sciences industry in North America and Europe about their experience of work. In December 2018, Willis Towers Watson and Skills Alliance partnered to ask individuals working in the life sciences industry in North America and Europe about their experience of work. Our survey

29th August 2019

Drug pricing: Is it necessary for life saving drugs to be so expensive?

Diabetes, cancer, these are just the most common diseases where drug pricing is affecting the livelihood of people suffering from them.

How many people that you know have ever needed a lifesaving drug? Diabetes, cancer, these are just the most common diseases where drug pricing is affecting the livelihood of people suffering from them. The business world has one main goal, to sell a product to satisfy demand. The company’s objective is to maximize profit, without

18th July 2019

Biology 101 Guide for non-Scientific Life Science Employees

Working in such a broad and complex sector as the life science industry, it isn’t possible to be an expert in every field our companies and colleagues work in.

Introduction I hope to break down some of the basics of scientific jargon used every day in the life sciences sector because when we don’t understand the complexity and beauty of the meaning of these words, we don’t appreciate the incredible effort scientists put into laboratories every day to push humanities’ understanding of our bodies

20th June 2019

The Vaccines Debate

The debate surrounding whether or not to vaccinate our kids is one that has really come to the forefront in 2019.

Whether it is due to the impact of social media sites or indeed from public testimony in front of Congress, the vaccination debate is certainly becoming more than just any other conspiracy theory. This article will attempt to discuss why this idea is becoming increasingly popular and in turn, what is being done to counter

13th June 2019

Why the Life Science Industry should focus on Emerging Markets

According to a McKinsey Associates report conducted in 2017, the pharma industry began expanding into the emerging markets due to positive forecasts.

However, these emerging markets began suffering downturns or showed weaker growth forecasts as commodity prices fell and some healthcare systems struggled to scale up adequately their provision of care. According to a report conducted by McKinsey Associates in 2017, the pharma industry began expanding into the emerging markets due to positive forecasts, but these emerging

4th June 2019

Go Hard and Go Home

With traditionally long hours, relentless rejection and rabid competition constantly biting at your ankles, there is little wonder that the burn out rate for this industry is high.

Recruitment is a tough gig, this is no news. For as long as the current Recruitment model has been around, it has always been a hard job to do well. With traditionally long hours, relentless rejection and rabid competition constantly biting at your ankles, there is little wonder that the burn out rate for this

27th March 2019

NYC’s Booming Biotech Hub

Why a Biotech organization should be based here and what are the plans for continued growth?

At the BIO Convention in June 2018, a report written by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization revealed that New York City now employs the most Biotech research workers in the country. Much to the dismay of Massachusetts and Californian Life Sciences professionals, NYC has taken over the top spot! But in the city that never sleeps;

13th March 2019

Pharma and the Environment: One Relationship that can’t go to waste

What do population growth, longer life expectancy and increased access to cheaper generic medicines have in common? 

They all contribute to the increasingly complex and reciprocal relationship between the global pharmaceutical industry and the environment, and this blog will cover some of the concerns and solutions associated with this relationship.   Allergic to change – The impact of climate change on pharma Climate change is increasing the impact of aero-allergens and the

7th March 2019

Market Access in 2019

The single greatest and most misunderstood lever to increase revenue?

Abstract Market Access is the critical process required to ensure biotech and pharma companies can maximise the clinical and commercial potential of their drugs. It has become as important as receiving Marketing Authorisation Approval, as a drug’s success will be significantly limited without it. Moreover, a successful Market Access strategy does not just make the

29th November 2018

Micro-Dosing and the Pharmaceutical Industry

Are we experiencing a role reversal of drugs within the Pharmaceutical industry? 

There has been a steady increase in the number of studies into the use of drugs such as Cannabis, Psilocybin (a psychedelic compound commonly found in mushrooms) and most recently LSD and how with micro dosing, these drugs can have a positive impact on the human body and brain.   What is micro- dosing? Micro

15th November 2018

Top Career Advice – 5 Top Life Sciences Jobs

In this article we look at 5 of the best jobs in the life sciences market.

With the Life Sciences industry growing at an unprecedented pace, companies are looking to employ the best scientific minds to research, manufacture and sell their life-saving products.   Medical Science Liaison (MSL) – Salary £45 to £50k With advanced scientific training and a doctorate degree (Ph.D., PharmD., M.D.) in life sciences, the MSL’s role is to

2nd November 2018

AI in Pharmaceuticals

Artificial Intelligence will take over our jobs, potentially leading to the destruction of the current social system.

  In the words of Elon Musk, A.I. is “potentially more dangerous than nukes” and Stephen Hawking highlighted that it could be “the worst thing ever to happen to humanity”. Or, can Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain and other recent technological advances contribute to the Life Science industry, specifically the Clinical Trials and Patient Access

26th October 2018

Getting Science into the Clinic

A study carried out by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) shows that the amount of capital invested alongside Corporate Venture Capitalists into UK companies increased six-fold between 2010 and 2015, marking a fundamental shift in how Start-Up British biotech is funded.

Have you thought about the life cycle of these innovative Start-Ups and the process involved when developing an interesting candidate and eventual pipeline? This blog outlines a brief overview of how Biotech gets science into the clinic, understanding this helps us advise our clients and candidates as the Life Science industry continues to shift away

17th October 2018

Legalised? We’re only just about prescribing…

Today, Canada legalised Cannabis for recreational use. Is the UK behind the times?

On the 26th of July this year, the UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced that specialist doctors would be able to prescribe cannabis derived medicinal products from autumn 2018 (1). Is the UK behind the times? The advisory council on the misuse of drugs (ACMD) and the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) conducted a

26th September 2018

Top Career Advice – Life Sciences Interview

As you look ahead to your upcoming life sciences interview with any pharma or biotech company it is important to understand how crucial it is to undertake good preparation beforehand.

Whilst you may have an idea of what to expect, here we look at how to tailor your answers specifically for a life sciences interview that may very well set you apart from other candidates in the running for a position as well as some of the common pitfalls to avoid.   Motivation for Position

18th September 2018

The Price of Innovation

Since 1976 and the FDA regulation coming into place, the medical devices industry has gone from strength to strength, emerging as one of the fast growing sectors with innovation at the forefront.

The Concorde, embarked on its first commercial flight, since then we now have millions of passenger flights in operation on a weekly basis. The Apple Computer company was formed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, we now have the Iphone, Apple watch which have been come a standard part of some of our lives. In

22nd August 2018

Regulatory Affairs Talent Gap is a Problem for Small Pharma

In football, money like anything in life tends to have a big impact on the quality of a Team.

Though it doesn’t always equate to Premier Leagues or Champions Leagues, the rule is simple: more money equals better players and should result in more wins! In pharmaceutical regulatory affairs, the same is increasingly true. To the detriment of smaller players and the benefit of bigger ones, regulatory affairs talent is in high demand; this

17th August 2018

Technology advances in the Pharmaceutical Industry – 3D Bioprinting

“I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots” – Albert Einstein

Was he wrong? Walk down the road and you’ll notice how many people are glued to their phone/tablet. In my opinion, it’s true that the use of technology is slowly replacing the need to use our minds to think. Anything and everything we want to know is easily accessed through a computerised device. Alas, the

2nd August 2018

One of the most pressing public health issues – poor drug adherence

What is being done? Is it a) helping you b) watching you?

The FDA approval of the first ever tablet to alert patients that they have ingested it sparked my interest. The tablet which contains a grain-size ingestible sensor transmits a message to a smart patch worn on the rib cage when it comes into contact with stomach acid. Otsuka in partnership with Proteus Digital Health developed the

3rd July 2018

Death Row… Deception & Drugs

In 1982, the state of Texas became the first jurisdiction in the world to carry out an execution by lethal injection.

Normally, on my train to work on a Monday morning I’m reading about how well my football club Arsenal have performed over the weekend. Looking outside the window whilst the train was starting to speed up, I received a text from a friend saying, “Did you see what happened in Texas last night?” As the

3rd July 2018

Women in the Pharmaceutical Industry

How influential have women become in the pharmaceutical industry?

The Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration that honours the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths, reminds us of the importance of this question. Indeed, this is a commemoration of the efforts that women have put into escaping the status quo that denied them access to the labour market and until recently