Navigating talent challenges in the ATMP space

The Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) sector has risen from its niche status to emerge as one of the fastest-growing areas of the life sciences. With an estimated market value of $34.9 billion by 2030, ATMP development represents the new frontier of medicine through pioneering treatments with the potential for remission for previously incurable diseases.

CAR-T cell therapy is one such example, a type of immunotherapy used to treat certain types of blood cancer by genetically engineering the patient’s T cells to become CAR-T cells. That said, myriad pitfalls have hindered ATMP development across Europe, largely a result of increasing regulatory burdens, and when combined with the sector’s natural complexity, ATMP organisations struggle to recruit the talent required to support their operations.

Fierce competition

Skill shortages have prevailed as one of the critical areas of concern in ATMP, resulting in fierce competition for qualified candidates. Hiring candidates without previous ATMP experience under the pretext of offering the right training is one option, but it’s intrinsically linked to the organisation’s ability to retain its staff — low retention rates are a great way to lose promising candidates to a competitor.

Retention tips

As specialist life sciences recruiters, we’ve noticed a few key trends in what candidates are looking for and what great employers are doing to bridge the skills gap:

• Creating new channels for professional and personal development is critical — graduate programmes, mentoring initiatives, and partnerships with educators (such as the London Advanced Therapies Network, Accelerated Access Collaborative, and the UK Clinical Research Facility Network).
• Candidates are searching for a robust employer value proposition (EVP) — flexible, family-focused benefits, transparent pay structures, hybrid work, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and a commitment to mobility are amongst the most attractive prospects.
• Employers are prioritising transferable skills — scientific peer-to-peer communication, teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and analytical skills are all prime examples, given how far advancements often outpace regulatory red tape.

Specialist recruitment solutions

At BioTalent, we understand the call for innovation, not just in the life sciences but in recruitment alongside it. We take a community-led approach to recruitment, underpinned by our diversity-focused hiring methodology, creating access to opportunities for underrepresented talent even in a turbulent market.

How BioTalent can help

If you’d like to know more about how our specialist recruitment services can support your organisation, get in touch with the team below.