The West Midlands is set to play a leading role in addressing the UK’s growing medtech and life sciences workforce challenges, as new nationally aligned qualifications and regional talent programmes come together to strengthen the pipeline of future talent for the sector.
In December 2025, the UK Government announced a new suite of higher technical qualifications designed to help address a projected shortage of around 145,000 roles across the medtech sector by 2035. The initiative forms part of a wider national effort to support NHS productivity, accelerate healthcare innovation and ensure the UK has the skilled workforce needed to sustain growth in health and life sciences.
The West Midlands, home to the UK’s largest medical technology cluster, is central to this ambition. With more than 700 medtech businesses operating across the region, employers continue to report difficulties in accessing sufficient work-ready talent across clinical, technical, digital and commercial roles.
The Future Talent Laboratory (FTL), delivered by Medilink Midlands in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the West Midlands Health Technology Cluster (WMHTC), is expanding following a successful pilot phase.
Launched in January 2026, the programme builds on two pilot initiatives delivered with the University of Warwick and Anglia Ruskin University. These pilots highlighted strong demand from both students and employers for more structured, industry-connected pathways into the sector, particularly at early career level.
Backed by £150,000 in public investment, the expanded programme will extend beyond higher education to include 16+ learners, alongside university students and adult career changers, supporting wider access across the regional talent pipeline.
A key development is the introduction of a dedicated medtech Higher National Certificate (HNC), delivered in partnership with BMet College. The qualification will equip learners with technical knowledge, sector understanding and employability skills needed for roles across medtech, healthcare innovation and the wider life sciences ecosystem.
Alongside the HNC, the programme will deliver employer engagement activity, mentoring, sector workshops and networking opportunities with clinicians, innovators, universities and healthcare organisations. These activities are designed to strengthen links between education and industry and improve visibility of career pathways across the sector.
The programme aims to improve job readiness, reduce talent leakage from the region and support employers in accessing a more consistent pipeline of skilled, work-ready candidates. It also supports wider efforts to strengthen workforce resilience across medtech and life sciences.
Dr Lucy Alexander, Skills Lead at Medilink Midlands, said:
“The medtech and life sciences sectors continue to face significant challenges in accessing enough skilled, work-ready talent to meet employer demand across clinical, technical and commercial roles. Programmes like the Future Talent Laboratory help strengthen the pipeline by connecting education more directly with industry, and by creating clearer and more accessible routes into the sector for a wider range of learners. Building these pathways is essential if we are to address workforce shortages and ensure the UK can continue to grow its healthcare innovation capability and support the future needs of the NHS.”
The expansion of the Future Talent Laboratory reflects the need for closer alignment between industry, education providers, healthcare organisations and regional innovation ecosystems in addressing long-term workforce challenges.
Industry partners interested in contributing to mentoring or wider programme engagement, and learners wishing to explore the medtech HNC, are encouraged to contact Dr Lucy Alexander, Skills Lead, Medilink Midlands at lucya@medilinkmidlands.com.
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