2025 Life-Sciences Recruitment Trends: What’s on the Horizon in the UK & Ireland
The life-sciences world is moving fast, and hiring is racing to keep up.
At SEDA Talent, we’re seeing a wave of change in how companies across the UK and Ireland attract, engage, and retain top-tier talent. Candidate expectations are higher, workforce models are evolving, and the competition for skills has never been fiercer.
Whether you’re scaling a new facility, staffing a time-critical clinical trial, or locking in high-impact regulatory talent, now’s the time to future-proof your hiring strategy.
Here are the key trends that will shape life-sciences recruitment in 2025, and how to stay ahead of the curve.
- Regional talent concentration is accelerating
Ireland’s MedTech powerhouse, the north-west’s buzzing biotech corridor, and London’s life-sciences epicentre are all surging, but with that momentum comes a talent war.
Everyone’s hiring, and the race for top local candidates is heating up fast.
What we’re seeing:
- Candidates are becoming more selective, particularly in areas with multiple employers
- Remote or hybrid models are being extended to tap cross-border talent
- Startups and SMEs are struggling to compete with MNC salaries
Pro tip: Blend local knowledge with wider reach. Explore contract-first hiring or team up with leading universities to tap into fresh, high-potential talent beyond your postcode.
- Contract and project-based roles are rising fast
To flexible, contract-first teams to keep pace, particularly across manufacturing, quality, and clinical operations.
Agility isn’t a nice-to-have anymore, it’s a competitive advantage.
What we’re seeing:
- Surge in demand for QA, RA, and validation contractors
- Sites running multiple product lines hiring flexibly to match demand
- Increased use of temp-to-perm arrangements for niche roles
Pro tip: Don’t wait until it’s urgent, build your contractor pipeline now. The best interim talent moves fast, and many are snapped up through referrals before they even hit the market.
- Regulatory expertise remains in short supply
With shifting MDR requirements, post-Brexit regulatory shakeups, and growing ESG demands, today’s regulatory teams are feeling the heat like never before.
What we’re seeing:
- High demand for regulatory writers, compliance leads, and QA specialists
- Cross-training between RA and quality becoming more common
- Candidates with ISO 13485, 21 CFR Part 11, and GxP experience getting multiple offers
Pro tip: Work with recruiters who know how to spot transferable skills, not just tick-box experience, and back it up with upskilling to keep top talent growing (and staying).
- Candidates want clarity, speed, and purpose
Big brands and big salaries aren’t enough anymore. Today’s candidates want speed, clarity, and purpose, fast feedback, real communication, and roles that align with their values.
What we’re seeing:
- Drop-offs due to delayed interviews and unclear job specs
- Surge in candidate interest around ESG, DE&I, and mission-driven roles
- Preference for structured onboarding and growth plans
Pro tip: Pressure-test your hiring process for speed, clarity, and purpose, because top talent won’t wait around for a broken system.
- The war for scientific talent is now a branding challenge
Scientific talent, especially in early-stage R&D and data-heavy roles, is in high demand, with both established life-sciences companies and disruptive tech players battling for their attention in the healthcare space.
What we’re seeing:
- Crossover hiring between biotech and healthtech/AI
- Candidates increasingly assessing employer reputation and team culture online
- Stronger interest in brand purpose, leadership visibility, and flexibility
Pro tip: Your employer brand should be as authentic as your team. Nail this from your job ads to agency briefs and candidate conversations to attract the right people.
Make 2025 the year you hire smarter
Whether you’re ramping up operations, launching breakthrough products, or gearing up for inspections, your hiring strategy needs to move as fast, and as smart, as your business.
At SEDA Talent, we partner with life-sciences companies across the UK and Ireland to hire quickly, precisely, and with total confidence.
Talk to us about your 2025 hiring plans
