The Oxford-Cambridge Arc Life Sciences Skills Report

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is home to the most productive Life Sciences cluster in Europe. The Oxford-Cambridge Universities Project is looking to better understand and harness this wealth of economic resource for the benefit of the region. The Arc has launched a project to understand what is required for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc to be one of the world’s leading clusters of innovation and economic activity in Life Sciences.

Whitecap Consulting was appointed by The Open University on behalf of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Universities Group to research and analyse workforce skills and associated requirements for growing the Life Sciences sector in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

• The key skills required in the Life Sciences sector, and their relative availability currently
• Examine current requirements for various types of skills and how their relative availability is expected to change in the next c8 years
• Broader macro factors that are seen to be most effective at increasing the depth and strength of Life Sciences skills in the Arc (for example collaboration between businesses, universities and colleges)
• Business level micro factors that are seen to be most effective at increasing the depth and strength of Life Sciences skills in the Arc (for example organisational “purpose” and flexi working environments)
• The best options for training and developing skills for Life Sciences in the Arc – for example., internships, apprenticeships and research degrees

Established in 2012, Whitecap Consulting is a regional strategy consultancy headquartered in Leeds, with offices in Manchester, Milton Keynes, Bristol, Newcastle and Birmingham.

In his foreword to the report, Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, said:

“The Open University is pleased to have led this project on behalf of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Universities Group, as we collectively aim to develop and significantly grow the Life Sciences sector in region and deliver a material contribution across UK to 2030 and beyond.

This report outlines various significant skills challenges and funding considerations observed across the region, alongside a set of critical recommendations. These insights provide the foundations of a roadmap to join together and enhance skills development across the Arc – better supporting our Life Science ecosystem going forward.”

Professor Kevin Shakesheff
Pro Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, The Open University

Download report