On 9 July 2025, Cardiff City Stadium buzzed with excitement as the RESILIENCE: Wales programme launched in style, marking the first step in a transformative rollout across Wales.
Gareth Healey
Head of Economic Development
This landmark event, titled RESILIENCE Wales: Advancing Skills in Medicines Manufacturing, brought together a vibrant mix of industry leaders, educators, policymakers, and innovators to kickstart a skills revolution in the life sciences sector.
With Wales already a powerhouse in this field, employing over 13,000 people and generating £2.8 billion annually, this initiative is set to supercharge its growth and global impact.
A Gathering of Visionaries
The event was a melting pot of expertise, with representatives from industry, Further Education, Higher Education, Careers Wales, Welsh Government, Life Sciences Hub Wales, and more. They came together to dive into the RESILIENCE programme’s ambitious goals and take the first steps towards its implementation. From MediWales to Cardiff and Vale College and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the room was alive with collaboration, all united by a shared mission: to build a world-class talent pipeline for Wales’ life sciences sector.
Setting the Scene
Ivan, the event’s host, kicked things off with a warm welcome, setting an inspiring tone. Jonathan Hughes then took the stage, passionately outlining why skills development is the key to making Wales a global leader for life sciences businesses. Backed by UK Research and Innovation, the RESILIENCE programme is designed to tackle pressing challenges:
- a lack of diversity
- a need for 70,000 new roles and 15,000 replacements in the coming years
- the demand for cutting-edge regulatory and quality skills.
It’s about equipping a new generation with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector.
The RESILIENCE Vision
Ivan delved into the heart of RESILIENCE, highlighting its partnerships with heavyweights like Cell and Gene Catapult, CPI, Life Arc, ATAL, Cogent Skills, and others. The programme isn’t just about filling gaps, it’s about sparking radical change. It aims to attract diverse STEM talent, ensure workplace readiness, and roll out innovative teaching tools across Welsh colleges and universities, with the RESILIENCE website offering a one-stop-shop for courses and accelerator programmes available across the UK.
Dynamic Discussions
Two lively panel discussions brought the event to life. The first, chaired by Erica Cassin (Chair of Careers Wales and NED for Life Sciences Hub Wales), featured Laura Porcza, Emma Maun, Safwan Akram, and Tony Bradshaw. They shared success stories, from hands-on activities and school events to apprenticeships and extended reality (XR) training that prepares graduates for real-world challenges. They tackled big questions, like how to boost industry engagement and make the sector’s story resonate with young people, and the importance of early engagement and outreach to promote medicines manufacturing as an exciting field for a future career. Emma highlighted the critical role of equality, diversity, and inclusion, while Safwan noted how XR reduces risks and costs by allowing trainees to learn from mistakes in a safe environment.
The second panel, featuring Gwyn Tudor (MediWales), Leanne Wearing (CU College), Andy Jones (High Value Manufacturing Catapult), and Jonathan Hughes (Welsh Government), zoomed in on Wales’ skills landscape. They pinpointed gaps in digital skills, automation, robotics, data, sustainability, and softer skills like collaboration and communication. The panel stressed that young people often don’t know about the exciting opportunities in life sciences—or the chance to make a real difference. They called for sector-specific training and better storytelling to inspire the next generation.
Why It Matters
Wales’ life sciences sector is booming, with a 12.1% rise in turnover to £2.62 billion in 2021, outpacing the UK’s 9% growth. RESILIENCE is poised to fuel this momentum by creating a skilled, diverse workforce ready to drive innovation. The event wrapped up with networking drinks, where attendees forged connections to turn this vision into reality.
Join the Movement!
The launch of RESILIENCE: Wales on 9 July 2025 was a game-changer, setting the stage for a brighter, bolder future for life sciences in Wales. Want to be part of this exciting journey? Visit the RESILIENCE Skills website to explore how you can get involved, whether you’re a student, educator, or industry leader. Let’s work together to shape a world-class workforce and make Wales a global hub for life sciences innovation!