The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT) today held its inaugural ‘Careers in Biopharma’ job fair with 15 companies, recruiting for over 750 open positions, from across the biopharma sector taking part. The oversubscribed event matched up over 450 prospective candidates with bluechip biopharma companies.
Dr Reg Shaw, CEO of NIBRT said, “The Irish biopharma industry continues to go from strength-to-strength including recent expansion announcements from companies such as Regeneron, Biomarin, Alexion, Jazz Pharmaceuticals. NIBRT is delighted to support this growth by holding a Careers in Biopharma event at our facility to match industry with appropriately qualified people.
“The skills required to work in bioprocessing manufacturing are technically highly complex and NIBRT’s mission is to address that skillsgap. In addition to training upwards of 2,000 people employed in the industry each year, NIBRT is actively involved in upskilling people with manufacturing experience who are out of work. As part of the Springboard initiative, NIBRT provides training support to over 300 people each year to help develop the expertise required to work in the sector.”
The Careers in Biopharma event included:
An overview of the biopharma careers market, skill sets required and current opportunities.
Presentations from blue-chip biopharma companies including Eli Lilly, Johnson and Johnson, Biomarin, Allergan and others about available positions.
Opportunities for 1-1 meetings between employers and prospective candidates.
Details on training and education programmes, including an opportunity to enrol on free Springboard programmes.
A tour of NIBRT’s state-of-the-art training pilot plant facilities.
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, said: “Biopharma plays a key role in the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. Given the difficulties that the traditional pharmaceutical sector is facing, we have taken a decision to target the fast-growing biopharma area and put in place measures to support expansions in this sector. In recent months we have seen some significant jobs announcements in this area, including Biomarin, Regeneron and Alexion. Today’s event shows clearly the major opportunities that are available in this area, and I commend all involved.”
Barry O’Leary CEO, IDA Ireland, said: “Ireland is recognised internationally as a leading location for biopharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Regeneron and Alexion. The main reason that any biopharma company would choose to locate in Ireland is because of the excellent talent available here – made possible by NIBRT. NIBRT is at the forefront of training for the biopharma sector in Ireland – it is a vital cog in the Irish pharma scene.”
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