Talent and skills have been recognised at the second UK Life Science Skills Awards.

Organised by Cogent, the strategic skills body for the science industries, the event saw 28 finalists and 10 winners take to the stage to receive awards across nine categories; plus an extra, special Award for Excellence in Skills.

GlaxoSmithKline picked up three awards – Advanced Apprentice of the Year going to Nathan McGee, Placement of the Year going to Katie Haylor and GSK taking the top award for Excellence in Skills. (See below for all winners).

The awards recognise scientific talent within the UK life sciences industry, which is important to support jobs and economic growth, said Malcolm Skingle, director at GSK. 

“And of course we need to attract and retain the best apprentices, graduates and post-graduates to maintain the industry’s leading position. We need to create a climate for them to flourish by giving them the support to develop their skills, to home grow our talent.”

Joanna Woolf, Cogent’s chief executive added: “This second celebration of talent and skills development across the life sciences community – including individual learners, companies and educators – exceeded all our expectations. Cogent is delighted to be able to provide a platform for such fantastic achievements and we congratulate both the nominees and the winners. It was truly an inspirational evening.”

The winners are:

Advanced Apprentice of the year Award 

(Award sponsored by Biocatalysts)

Nathan McGee, GlaxoSmithKline 

Higher Apprentice of the year Award 

(Award sponsored by Johnson and Johnson)

Alex Burr, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Ltd

Employer (small) of the year 

(Award sponsored by Amgen Ltd) 

SelectScience

Employer (global) of the year Award 

(Award sponsored by Technical Apprenticeship Service) 

UCB

Postgraduate of the year Award 

(Award sponsored by British Pharmacological Society) 

Caroline Pritchard, LGC Limited

Healthcare Science Award 

(Award sponsored by NHS)

The POCT Team, West Middlesex University Hospital

Outstanding Leadership in Skills Award 

(Award sponsored by UCB)

Hillary Jeffreys, Actavis UK

Placement of the year Award 

(Award sponsored by Actavis Biologics Ltd) 

Katie Haylor, GlaxoSmithKline

Provider of the year Award 

(Award Sponsored by The Science Council)

Wirral Metropolitan College 

Excellence in Skills 

(Cogent Award)

GlaxoSmithKline