The life sciences sector in Ireland employs more than 50,000 people, exports more than €45 billion worth of goods annually, and plays host to some of the biggest companies in the world.
Best of all, as befits a sector that focuses on looking after people, it tends to look after its people.
“The sector is really sought after as employers,” says Rob Daly, chief customer officer with CPL, a recruitment company.
“I won’t say it’s a calling but in pharmaceuticals and life sciences you hear a lot about ‘mission’ companies that can attract talent and in which talent wants to stay. If you are working on a drug that is trying to cure cancer, that is very meaningful, purposeful work. That goes all the way from manufacturing to the back office, right up — everyone knows they all contribute to the end product.”
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It’s also a sector that is held to ultra-high regulatory standards, “so it attracts people who hold themselves to a high standard”, he says.
“And once you get in, there are huge opportunities for career development. We have seen people who have moved from production line into research and management. They pay well and have great benefits, so people tend to stay longer.”
It’s also a sector open to winkling out talent. One of the pharmaceutical companies on Daly’s books actively seeks out hair colourists as production operatives, for example. “These are people who are used to mixing ingredients precisely and who have great attention to detail.
“A science graduate with four years in college will want to get on to the graduate programme. But the production operative sees it as an opportunity to get into a major, internationally known brand with, if they perform well, terrific opportunities for more training and career development. And the pharma companies are very good at offering training and upskilling to their people once they get in,” says Daly.
Michelle Bonner, country head of human resources at medical technology company B Braun Medical, agrees. Her company employs 66,000 people in 64 countries.
“We are a global organisation with massive opportunities for career development. One of our strategic objectives is to develop from within. What makes it a good sector for employment is that there is a patient at the end of everything we do. Even though I’m in HR, I know every people decision I make has a patient at the end of it, so you’re contributing to the healthcare of Ireland.”
B Braun provides dialysis facilities around the country. “For us it’s all about what we can do in the community, which is a nice industry to be in,” Bonner says.
“Our benefits are good too. For example, at B Braun our employer contributes 10 per cent of our salary into our pension. Because of inflation, we’ve been looking at ways of helping so, as well as the normal increments, we gave two €500 vouchers to our people this year, which we will give again next year, to help them manage.
“The core values are very family oriented, with great flexibility.”
An interest in sustaining healthy behaviours can be seen in many biopharmaceutical companies, including Abbvie, which supports physical, mental and financial wellness. Its Vitality programme provides education on health-related topics and has health promotion programmes on topics such as diabetes, cancer and weight management. It offers on-site screenings, has sports clubs, runs fitness events and, on the benefits side, has incentive and recognition programmes, healthcare benefits, life and disability insurance and employee assistance programmes, as well as family-friendly flexibility.
Horizon Therapeutics works to deliver medicines for rare, autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases.
“Horizon is an employer of choice because of its unique benefits, development opportunities, flexibility, work-life balance and inclusive culture,” says executive director of human resources David Long. Independent employee feedback at the firm indicates its people feel a sense of belonging and want to stay, he adds.
Horizon also provides competitive benefits, a flexible work environment, promotes healthy lifestyles, offers excellent health insurance and services and maintains supportive, compassionate leave policies.
All employees are awarded Horizon shares, an annual merit increase, and a bonus and pension scheme. The company also offers sick pay, long-term illness plans, education assistance, and income protection, among other benefits.
“We also offer a Make It Personal Day for every employee. This is an additional full day of paid time off for employees that can be used to do something that is meaningful and personal to them. This perk exemplifies Horizon’s commitment to sustaining a rich culture built around giving back,” Long says.
The company is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion and allyship, and aims to provide a work environment that is supportive and compassionate. Emphasis is put on helping staff develop their skills and grow in their careers.
“We encourage colleagues to take advantage of myriad programmes and resources to learn on the job,” Long says. “We also provide opportunities to work in cross-functional teams, offer mentoring and coaching and encourages short-or long-term education courses. We also provide management training, an internal learning platform called GrowU that serves as our internal learning library, and a variety of leadership development programs and opportunities.”
The appeal of the wider sector can also be attributed to its strong focus on operational excellence and innovation. “For the right talent fit, this focus can allow people to unlock their abilities in a unique environment that would be hard to replicate in other sectors,” says Fania Stoney, business development strategist at Great Place to Work.
And now, more ever, we can relate to the industry. “After the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I believe we have been able to better understand the importance of the pharma and healthcare industry and the crucial role that it plays in everyone’s lives,” says Stoney’s colleague, GPTW marketing co-ordinator Fernanda Pinto-Godoy.
“My father was in ICU because of Covid and if it wasn’t for all the people in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry that were out there fighting this disease, I probably wouldn’t have him with me today. If you think about why does this sector make an attractive place to work? I cannot think of something more powerful than that.
“Working in a place where you are making a difference, impacting and saving so many lives is invaluable.”
