The UK life sciences sector enters 2026 with renewed momentum, driven by a national ambition to become Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030 and the world’s third-largest by 2035.  

This is reinforced through the Government’s Life Sciences Sector Plan, which commits more than £2bn of funding to accelerate R&D, strengthen advanced manufacturing, streamline regulatory pathways and boost health‑innovation adoption. 

For chemicals professionals, this is the signal for exciting times and opportunities ahead. With chemical sciences underpinning every stage of the life sciences value chain, the continued growth of life sciences will create impactful, future-proofed careers for those who are central to the UK’s scientific sector.  

Why chemicals roles are so vital to life sciences innovation 

Chemicals professionals, their expertise and experience are at the heart of the composition, development and quality of medicines, diagnostics, materials and medical technologies.  

The UK continues to demonstrate exceptional scientific strength in platform technologies, translational research and TechBio, underpinned by a world‑class university base and thriving biotech clusters across the Golden Triangle. 

Key areas where chemistry talent makes measurable impact: 

  • Drug Discovery & Design: medicinal and synthetic chemists create and optimise new molecules, radioligands and advanced modalities. 

  • Scalable Manufacturing: process chemists and chemical engineers develop greener, more efficient, often continuous processes, core to the UK’s manufacturing transformation. 

  • Quality & Compliance: analytical chemists ensure product quality and support the MHRA’s high-volume regulatory environment, which assessed 5,000+ trial applications and issued 2,000+ authorisations in 2024-25 alone.  

  • Sustainability: green chemistry initiatives are expanding through national circularity and low‑impact manufacturing programmes.  

What are the top Chemicals career paths in Life Sciences? 

Medicinal & Discovery Chemistry 

Medicinal chemists drive molecular innovation, designing, synthesising and optimising compounds in multi‑disciplinary teams.

Why it’s growing: Advanced therapies, AI‑assisted design and UK strengths in platform technologies continue to stimulate discovery hiring. 

Analytical Chemistry & Bioanalysis 

Analytical chemists develop and validate methods vital for product release, stability, and regulatory approval.

Why it’s growing: The MHRA’s agile regulatory pathways increase demand for method robustness, data integrity and high‑throughput QC expertise. 

Process Chemistry & Chemical Engineering 

Professionals here convert lab chemistry into commercially viable, scalable, and sustainable manufacturing processes.

Why it’s growing: National manufacturing centres, including the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, are accelerating continuous manufacturing adoption, creating strong demand for process talent.  

Formulation & Materials Chemistry 

Formulation scientists develop solid dose, sterile, inhalation, and advanced delivery systems while balancing stability, usability, and sustainability.

Why it’s growing: UK investment into cleaner packaging, propellant transitions and eco‑design significantly expands opportunities. 

Sustainable & Green Chemistry 

Chemists focusing on greener solvents, biocatalysis, low-waste processes, and circular chemistry are increasingly in demand.

Why it’s growing: Sustainability is becoming a regulated and funded priority across UK medicines manufacturing. 

Regulatory CMC & Quality Roles 

Chemistry‑led regulatory professionals oversee Module 3 authoring, control strategies and change control across clinical and commercial products.

Why it’s growing: Evolving reliance pathways and increased MHRA compliance oversight heighten the need for CMC‑savvy chemists. 

Computational & TechBio Chemistry 

Hybrid chemist data scientists deploy ML, docking, QSAR and molecular modelling to accelerate R&D.

Why it’s growing: The UK’s innovation economy is converging with AI and advanced materials, broadening TechBio‑driven opportunities. 

Chemicals skills outlook - what UK employers want 

The UK chemical sciences workforce is currently several-hundred-thousand strong, with over a million people employed in chemistry‑based industries.  

With job growth projected to rise at 6.5% over the coming years, a statistic that is outpacing the wider labour market, Chemicals talent with the skills and expertise needed to continue driving science forward will be highly-sought after.  

In‑demand skills include: 

  • Analytical method development & validation 

  • GMP, Annex 1 and data integrity compliance 

  • Green chemistry & biocatalysis 

  • Continuous/flow chemistry, PAT and QbD 

  • Computational chemistry, Python and ML 

  • Systems-thinking, digital literacy and sustainability  

Build your chemicals career with SRG 

Whether you’re seeking your first role in which to start your Chemicals career, continue your Life Sciences journey in a new position, or transition your skillset into this rapidly-evolving, exciting sector, SRG, proud members of Chemicals Northwest and recognised as Supplier of the Year in the Chemicals Industry for 2025 by the CIA – are here to support you.  

Explore live opportunities on our Life Sciences Jobs page and stay informed through the latest news and updates via our blogs and specialist industry insights.