We’re delighted to announce that our US recruitment team is expanding and one of our experienced recruiters, George Truman, has been invited to join the team. The US recruitment team focuses on the life science market and has real specialisms within the areas of cell and gene therapy, the antibody sector, CMC, and computational biology.

George has worked with CK since 2019 and has been developing the technical UK market, he has had great success within this sector. As such, he would like to carry his success to the US life science market. George also already has ties and links to Boston, Massachusetts, so this is a natural move for him and will enable him to easily move into this role.

“I am delighted to join the US team. After 4 years of recruiting technical staff in the UK for larger firms, I am really excited to move into the emerging biotech market in Boston, Massachusetts, and New England. It is great to be working with such exciting clients helping to develop such fascinating therapies and technologies. I also have I have family in Boston, have visited many times, and look forward to getting out there again.”

CK Group is delighted to announce that they have joined the Talentmark Group, an international specialist and executive recruitment group for the life sciences industry.

Talentmark has more than 50 years of purpose-led commitment to helping life science organisations transform human health. Since 1971, they have filled thousands of critical positions, shaping the life science industry today. Their vision for the future is to contribute to the ongoing innovation and development of important therapies and technologies that will improve quality of life and help people live longer. Talentmark has offices in the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and the USA.

Joining the Talentmark group is a particularly exciting move for CK as it enables the company to move into a global position, invest in new systems, take a data-led approach, create closer working practices and provide a fully comprehensive recruitment service that includes executive search.

Not only is this a fantastic commercial move but most importantly CK is very pleased to integrate into a group who are very passionate about making a positive difference in the world which aligns exactly with CK values.

“We are very proud of our heritage here at CK Group and are very excited about being part of the wider Talentmark Group. Collectively, with the spread of services, the geographical coverage and the broad range of clients that we have between us, the Talentmark Group will continue to grow and be a major player in the world of life science recruitment” Jonathan Hart-Smith, Managing Director of CK Group.

CK will continue to trade as CK Group and our business relationships with our candidates and clients will continue to be the same.

If you have any questions please get in touch with Jonathan Hart-Smith below.

This year we are delighted to say that we have three nominees shortlisted for the REC Awards. We have been shortlisted in three categories, Newcomer of the Year, Recruitment Team of the Year, and Temp Recruiter of the Year. To get to know our nominees a little better, we interviewed Karen Kangley who is nominated as Newcomer of the Year. Karen is a relative newcomer to recruitment having worked in another sector for 16 years however since taking on her role at CK, she has been fantastic, making over one hundred placements in a year!

Tell us a little bit about your background before recruitment and how you have gravitated to this role?

My background is largely in catering and hospitality. I gravitated towards ‘back of house’ and have been everything from a pot washer to a sous chef of a 3 AA rosette restaurant and, later in life, a catering manager. I was a bit late to the game embarking on my degree and did this part-time over six years (while getting married and having a baby in between, resulting in many grey hairs!)

After this I dipped my toes very briefly in sales, I realized that enjoyed it but wanted something more rewarding which led me to pursue a career in recruitment.

Tell us a bit about your role.

I work in a team of five here at CK Group which handles temporary and contract clinical recruitment. We handle a variety of roles within the clinical space (Clinical Project Managers, Research Nurses, Pharmacovigilance professionals, and Medical Writers to name a few) which keeps things fresh and interesting. I love working as part of a supportive team at CK Group – I feel really lucky to enjoy coming to work every day.

What have been your challenges in the past year?

A massive career change from around 16 years in a different industry was definitely daunting, there was a lot to learn- at times it could feel a little overwhelming and I’d naturally doubt myself but I’m really glad I stuck with it.

What has been your proudest moment at CK this past year?

My proudest moment has been working on the GRAIL project which involved recruiting over 120 clinical research professionals nationwide to roll out a pioneering early-cancer detection study. It was definitely a big challenge but feels great to know our team played a small part in such important clinical research which hopefully one day may become commonplace in the way the healthcare system detects early cancer development.

What has been your career highlight so far?

Being nominated for the Best Newcomer of the Year and as part of the Team of the Year at this year’s REC awards.

How does it feel to have been nominated?

Surreal and exciting in equal measures. I didn’t expect it but feel honoured!

A word from Karen’s Manager

“Karen has done a fantastic job since she started here at CK over a year ago, not only taking on a new role in recruitment having worked in a completely different industry, but sourcing staff for a very important outsourced recruitment project early cancer detection study.” Russell Oakley, Associate Director

Good luck to Karen for the awards on the 24th of November.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our recruiters have been shortlisted for the REC Awards in three different categories. The REC Awards is a prestigious annual event that is hosted by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and celebrates the best in UK recruitment.

We have been shortlisted in the following categories:

Recruitment Team of the Year – Clinical Contracts Team

This team has been nominated for their wonderful work this year alongside supporting a special project that was to provide over 100 research staff to the world’s largest randomised trial of Galleri™ by GRAIL, a pioneering multi-cancer early detection test that can detect over 50 types of cancers. Not only have this team supported this study but they also have also become the benchmark for team working within CK. Their new approach to teamwork enabled them to source for the study and also fulfill their other duties.

Temporary Recruiter of the Year – Jade Stirk

Jade returned back from maternity at the beginning of 2021 and is a powerhouse for placing contract staff and helping those workers achieve their career goals. Jade was instrumental in a recent project that CK Group took on with an occupational health organisation that works within the film industry. During COVID19 the whole industry shut down and in order to reopen again and get the industry moving, they needed a COVID Testing facility. A household brand name movie production company asked our client to help them with this but with a time-critical deadline.

The client was very impressed as it was a 100% fill rate in a short period of time and they did not have to involve another agency. The client was able to fulfill their contract with the movie production company.

This meant that hundreds if not thousands of people were able to return to work in the film industry because of the COVID19 Laboratory.

Newcomer of the Year – Karen Kangley

Karen was completely new to the recruitment industry when she joined CK in 2021, in her career previously she had worked in the catering and hospitality sector, her last role being a Catering Manager. She decided she wanted to move on so she did a degree part-time which she had to juggle with children and a fulltime role.

Since joining CK, initially as a trainee Recruitment Consultant, she has fully embraced the role and has also achieved the most placements ever in the 30-plus years of the history of CK Group in her first 12 months of the job, which is a great feat!

She was also instrumental in the GRAIL project, the pioneering multi-cancer early detection test that can detect over 50 types of cancers and the contract research teams were particularly impressed with her efforts.

We are very pleased to be able to celebrate the efforts of our recruiters and the supporting teams, we will be able to do this in person at the awards event, which will be held on the 24th of November 2022 at the Royal Lancaster London in Hyde Park, which boasts breathtaking views of the famous London skyline. Neil Carberry, CEO of REC, will host this event alongside renowned comedian, Kerry Godliman to recognise everyone’s outstanding achievements.

“We are delighted to receive the encouraging news that we have not one but three finalists taking part in this years annual REC Awards. The awards recognise the best recruitment consultants in their fields, so to have representatives from a number of teams here at CK reaching the final, is testament to their hard work and dedication to their roles, and the support of their colleagues and the wider CK business. We are really looking forward to joining the other finalists in November to celebrate the best the recruitment industry has to offer and hopefully we will be able to return with a win! Good luck to everyone that has made the final.” Ben Traies, Chief Operating Officer.

The Royal Society of Chemistry hosts monthly webinars as part of their Chem Careers program and this month our own Recruitment Manager Victoria Walker will join the panel to discuss common job searching pitfalls, how to avoid them and how to work with a recruitment agency.

CK Group sponsors ChemCareers which is a monthly webinar series providing advice, access to experts, and inspiration for your career, the webinars run for approximately 60 minutes once a month and provide an opportunity to hear from a wide range of experts, and to put your own questions to them.

This year’s ChemCareers includes advice from employers and individuals from across the chemical sciences including topics such as how to network, careers in the energy sector, and how to present your academic research. Previous years have covered topics such as careers in the water industry, transitioning from Academia or what is CPD.

This webinar with Victoria will be held on the 12th of May 2022 from 12.30 – 13.30.

Victoria is an Award-winning recruiter, she has been awarded Recruitment Consultant of the Year by REC, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and she has a wealth of experience in the chemical sector, having worked in this sector for over ten years and even holds an MChem.

If you would like to attend this webinar, follow the links below:

We are looking for professionals within the UK clinical arena, who are currently working within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, CRO, NHS, Medical devices, or other related industries to take part in our survey. We would like to gain clearly defined insights into current salaries, bonus structures, and benefits for those in the clinical field.

This will enable us to create salary benchmarks to guide our clients and job hunters in the future to ensure that pay and reward expectations are met.

If you do take part in the survey, we will send you the results and enter you into a prize draw to win a John Lewis voucher or voucher of your choice worth £250.00

If you are active in the above-mentioned areas then we would really value your input into our survey. To ensure that our data is accurate we have split the survey into seven areas, to start the survey please pick the area that suits your role and experience most, from the list below:

Clinical Development

Clinical Operations

Regulatory Affairs

Medical Affairs

PV and Drug Safety

Quality Assurance

Regulatory Affairs

We are looking forward to sharing the results with you, so if you do take part, do keep an eye on your emails in the coming months.

If you would like to discuss the survey then please get in touch with Marketing Manager, Lauren, here.

Each month, we publish monthly market information regarding vacancy numbers, and highlight information that may interest our network.

MassBio’s recent report on employment trends in Massachusetts has showed some interesting results. It found that:

• There were almost 90,000 people employed within life sciences in Massachusetts in 2020
• Between 2017 and 2020, Massachusetts consistently had a higher percentage share of life science job postings than the US national average
• The life science industry in Massachusetts employs an estimated 58% of the STEM roles in the area, versus 45% for the national average
• Over the last four years, for job postings stipulating an educational requirement, 90% of those in the Massachusetts life science sector needed a Bachelors degree or higher in comparison to 79% nationally

• The largest group of employment in STEM in Massachusetts are the medical sciences (this includes several subsets including pharmacokinetics, immunology, toxicology and neuroscience)
• The biggest change in demand has been the need for project managers – demand has increased by 160% over the last four years
• Within the engineering space, the largest employed group is industrial engineers. This has seen a 29% growth since 2017, followed by mechanical engineers (although this is a shrinking sector)
• The increase in demand for industrial engineers is thought to be a leading indicator of an increase in manufacturing to come, which is also backed by the MassTech Centre for Advanced Manufacture, who recently announced a grant fund to support SME manufacturers in the STEM sector in Massachusetts

• Another area that has grown a lot and is expected to continue is the biologist technical support function, which has expanded by 13% from 2017
• The data science space is currently underserved, with the third most advertised jobs in life science since 2017
• The bulk of jobs advertised between 2017 and 2020 were for candidates with between two and six years of experience (45% of jobs)

In addition to the MassBio report, there have been a multitude of other articles published over the last month. Some that are particularly interesting include the below:

The life sciences talent squeeze and foreign-born workers – MassBio

Former South Station WeWork could become what else? – Boston Business Journal

In a highly vaccinated field, life sciences leaders weigh mandates – Boston Business Journal

The legislative update, August 9th – MassBio

Boston’s biotechs pull out all the stops in hiring boom ‘on steroids’ – Bloomberg

Improving clinical trial diversity in the life sciences – MassBio

The latest KPMG/REC UK Report on Jobs highlights the sharpest growth in permanent placements in 23 years, and the fastest growth in temporary recruitment in over six years.

This dramatic change in hiring patterns requires hiring managers to change their recruitment processes to adapt to the situation and ensure they are able to source and recruit required staff.

So what advice can I give to make the process work as effectively as possible during these competitive times?

1. Have a very clear job brief so that you know what you are looking for.
2. Use social media to source your applicants.
3. Draw up your shortlist and arrange interviews quickly, as candidates are getting jobs very rapidly.
4. Keep the recruitment process as short as possible. Do not have big gaps between first and second interviews, and do you really need a third interview stage?
5. Stay in touch with your candidates throughout the process.
6. Make your offers as competitive as possible, as good candidates are likely to have multiple offers.
7. Be flexible and willing to negotiate. Offer training to candidates who do not have a complete skillset.

The other major highlight that has come from this report is that candidate availability has decreased dramatically as applicants are able to get roles quickly. This has been a very dramatic shift over the last two months, which once again emphasises the need for hiring managers to change their recruitment methodology to meet these changing market conditions.

My advice to hiring managers is to:

1. Be clear on what you want, and be prepared to be flexible
2. Ensure you have a speedy recruitment and selection process
3. Offer very competitive packages

For more assistance or advice on recruitment methodologies, get in touch with Jonathan Hart-Smith.

On May 26th, we’re attending the MassBio Virtual Career Fair hosted by MassBioEd.

The event is open to anybody working or interested in careers in biotechnology in Massachusetts, and will give attendees access to current opportunities as well as a wealth of information and advice on careers in science.

CK Group will be hosting a virtual booth for drop ins or confidential meetings, where you will be able to:

• Discuss current biotechnology opportunities in Massachusetts
• Talk to us about your job searching strategy
• Get hints and tips on standing out from the competition and job applications to support you during your search

The event has been highly popular so far, so be sure to book in advance to ensure you get a spot with us on the day.

World Health Day is held and celebrated annually on the 7th April, organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

This year, World Health Day is aiming to highlight inequalities in health and welfare within and between countries, and build a world that is fairer and healthier post Covid-19.

The global pandemic has exacerbated issues with poverty, gender inequality and discrimination. There is convincing evidence that women have exited the workforce in far greater numbers than men, and those who are living in low-income households or countries have significantly lower life expectancies. An estimated 119 to 124 million people have been driven into extreme poverty within the last 12 months as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Therefore, WHO has issued five calls for action this World Health Day in an effort to close the gaps within societies and their healthcare systems, which are:

1. Accelerate access to Covid-19 technologies
   Many countries are already benefitting from the safe and effective vaccines that have been developed, as well as commodities such as PPE and medical devices. The challenge now is to ensure that they are available to everybody who needs them across the world, and that nobody misses out on live-saving treatment.
   
2. Invest in primary healthcare
   Whilst we in the UK have access to the NHS, half of the world’s population still don’t have access to essential health services.
   
3. Prioritise health and social protection
   In many countries, job losses, disruption to education and threats to nutrition have far exceeded the public health impact of the Covid-19 virus.
   
4. Build safe, healthy and inclusive neighbourhoods
   City leaders are often champions in creating excellent places for people to live, with effective transport systems, clean water and safe housing. However, many communities across the world (especially those in rural areas) are living in poverty with no access to any of these amenities.
   
5. Strengthen data and health information systems
   Increasing access to high-quality data on subjects from race to gender, and education to ethnicity, will be key to highlighting where inequalities exist and what can be done to address them. Ensuring that everybody is represented and included will enable countries to ensure that time and resources are distributed fairly.

Throughout the pandemic, CK Group has supported Covid-19 relief projects through the recruitment of science and clinical staff. We have worked with global pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to help develop diagnostic equipment, medical devices and vaccines, as well as undertake essential clinical trials and provide support to those who need it the most.

Find out how we can support your recruitment activities here.

Or, search our latest jobs here.

While many businesses closed their doors last March and office workers adapted to new ways of working, those in the science sectors have continued on the frontline to keep things moving safely – including many CK contractors.

To mark the fact that is has now been one full year since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK and the country was told to stay at home, we interviewed one of our contractors who has been working as Warehouse Operative.

He gave us an insight into his role at a global pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, including what he enjoys the most about his job and how he works through daily challenges.

What is it like working as a Warehouse Operative?

I enjoy the environment in the warehouse as it is always busy, which can be challenging but is also so rewarding.

What is a typical day like for you?

Each shift starts with a group meeting known as a ‘huddle’, where the shift leader updates us on what work is to be done and assigns tasks to the relevant people. We then sanitise our equipment and workstations before we begin.

I drive a VNA forklift truck so I carry out a pre-inspection check to make sure everything is in working order, or report any concerns. Once this is complete, the stock controller will help me prioritise my workload for the evening – although this can change during the shit depending on the quantity of picking being done and how much stock replenishment is required.

How do you deal with shift work?

I find the best way to deal with shifts is through routine, so I try to keep my eating and sleeping patterns as close to a normal day as possible. This seems to work for me.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I would say it’s the people I work with who really make the job enjoyable. I am lucky enough to work with a very friendly group and every single person works hard and is always willing to help their colleagues if needed.

What is the hardest part of your job?

There isn’t one thing I’d say I find the hardest at work. Different days provide different challenges but because I work with such a great team these are easier to deal with.

How does it feel to be part of an industry that is helping to fight Covid-19?

It is good to feel like what we are doing is helping make a difference, however I find it easier to just focus on the job in front of me and doing it well. Thinking about Covid all the time both inside and outside work hours can become overwhelming.

How have you found working through an agency? Are there any benefits you have found helpful?

I cannot speak highly enough of the people I deal with at the agency, from helping me through the application process to sorting out any issues I have had, they have all been amazing. Always professional and friendly.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your job?

This job has made such a difference in these challenging times and really helped keep some form of normality during the lockdowns through a routine.

Search contract roles

Read more ‘day in the life’ interviews

LinkedIn last week released a special edition of its Emerging Jobs Report for 2021, taking a closer look at how Covid-19 has affected the jobs landscape in the UK and, specifically, the roles that have experienced the highest growth over the last several months.

The report found that specialised medical professionals has been one of the fastest growing job categories throughout last year, continuing into 2021.

The demand for laboratory scientists and those working behind-the-scenes on the all important vaccines and medicines used to treat patients grew by 68% in 2020, with the sector growing by 58% overall. Medicine has come out as one of the top skills required by employers with London, Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham providing the most opportunities for medical science professionals.

Those working in pharmaceuticals have played a significant role during the Covid-19 pandemic, working to keep delivering supplies and finding innovative solutions for those who need them the most – with predictions that this demand will remain high for some time longer.

CK Science specialise in recruitment for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemical sectors, and we help find roles for high-calibre science professionals. We have secured positions for thousands talented scientists since 1991, and have continued to do so throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

Search the latest science roles we have on offer

Alternatively, find out how we can help your business find science talent

Business in the Community (BTIC) in partnership with the government is pleased to announce that the CK Group has signed up to the Race at Work Charter, an initiative designed to improve outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) employees in the UK.

The charter builds on the work of the 2017 McGregor-Smith Review, ‘Race in the workplace’, a wake-up call for UK employers, which found that people from BAME backgrounds were still underemployed, underpromoted and under-represented at senior levels. So far more than 200 public, private and charitable organisations have signed up to the charter.

The Race at Work Charter is designed to foster a public commitment to improving outcomes of BAME employees in the workplace. It consists of five principles to ensure organisations address the barriers to BAME recruitment and progression. Organisations that sign up to the charter such as CK Group are publicly committing to:

• Appointing an Executive Sponsor for race
• Capturing data and publicising progress
• Ensuring zero tolerance of harassment and bullying
• Making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers
• Taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression

The 2018 Race at Work Scorecard report by BITC showed that there is still a need for concerted and consistent action from employers across the UK to improve outcomes for BAME employees. The report showed:

• There has been an increase in the number of workers from BAME background who report that they have witnessed or experienced racist harassment or bullying from customers or service users.
• Despite being ambitious, over half of BAME employees still believe they will have to leave their current organisation to progress their career.
• The proportion of managers who report that they have a performance objective to promote equality at work has fallen from 41% in 2015 to 32% in 2018.
• Most significantly, employees have not reported any increase in the number of leaders demonstrating commitment and taking action since 2015.

Sandra Kerr CBE, race equality director at Business in the Community, said:

“We would like to thank CK Group for setting out their commitment to being an inclusive and responsible employer. By signing up to the charter they are showing that they aspire to have one of the most inclusive workplaces in the country. Together we can break down barriers in the workplace, raise the aspirations and achievements of talented individuals, and deliver an enormous boost to the long-term economic position of the UK.”

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