Diversity and Inclusion in UK Biotech

The first of its kind sector report on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across innovative life sciences and biotech in the UK is intended to serve as a benchmark for the broader industry and has provided individual member companies taking part with their specific diversity and inclusion data for their organisation.

By publication, the BIA aims to encourage other organisations in the sector to begin tracking their diversity and inclusion objectives as they innovate and scale. The bigger picture can be seen by bringing companies together across the sector and working collaboratively on sustained change. It is only through ongoing measurement and goal-setting that the sector can begin to sustainably move the needle and meaningfully advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Based on a research study with over 1,200 employees across 30 self-selected organisations that took part in the data collection effort last year, the report demonstrates strong inclusivity and an overall level of diversity in talent working within the UK innovative life sciences and biotech sector.

It also reveals significant diversity gaps across disciplines, management levels and demographic traits which require action at both a company and sector level. Representation of women drops significantly from senior leadership to C-suite and CEO positions and is far from parity across biomanufacturing, engineering and computational roles. There is also a lack of black employees and even fewer black leaders within the sector.

The companies that participated represent a core BIA membership and a variety of sizes, investment stages and locations across the UK. While the data collected through this effort is not a complete census of the entire UK biotech industry, it is a robust, statistically meaningful reflection of the state of our sector.

It is also the most comprehensive effort of its kind completed to date. Carried out in partnership with Diversio and supported by Cooley, the research study provided individual member companies taking part with the specific diversity and inclusion data for their organisation, while allowing employees anonymously share their identities and experiences. Altogether, Diversio collected more than 20,000 data points across demographics, workplace experience metrics and social mobility.

The report offers key recommendations for the UK life sciences and biotech sector to improve diversity and inclusion as well as guidance to support individual organisations in attracting diverse talent, accessing investment and retaining the skills needed to start, grow and deliver world-changing innovation.

For the innovative life sciences and biotech sector in the UK to thrive it needs to attract the most talented innovators from a diverse range of backgrounds, access investment to start, scale and grow businesses, and retain talent in a highly competitive market.

The Diversity and Inclusion in UK Biotech report aims to encourage other organisations in the sector to begin tracking their diversity and inclusion objectives as they innovate and scale. The bigger picture can be seen by bringing companies together across the sector and working collaboratively on sustained change. Only through ongoing measurement and goal-setting can the sector begin to sustainably move the needle and meaningfully advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.