The young ones

Pharma’s new leaders – attracting and empowering young talent

Young people are our future workforce, so it’s important that companies have a youth-positive culture.

To be competitive, companies need to attract talented young people, retain them and create an environment in which they can flourish.

To attract young people, companies should leverage social media and digital platforms, be as flexible with working arrangements as the business model allows and create a culture that emphasises growth, purpose and inclusivity.

Highlighting a strong vision, providing clear career paths, offering fair compensation and ensuring a positive and authentic work environment are also crucial strategies to future-proof a company.

This is no different for the pharmaceutical industry, where younger employees bring innovation, fresh perspectives and technological skills that can help drive growth.

It’s also important to harness opportunities for potential employees from other industries by leveraging digital and data skills, exploring contract and consulting roles, and highlighting high-demand areas like pharmacovigilance, regulatory affairs and clinical research associates.

Aspire Pharma Ltd is a global life sciences business, based in the UK, devoted to delivering true value to patients, healthcare professionals and the NHS.

The company’s mission is to make a difference in the lives of patients through the development and supply of innovative products and medicines.

The company has grown significantly in recent years, from 51 in 2019 to around 244 team members in 2025, representing over 21 nationalities.

Around 65 percent of our workforce are Gen Z and Y, who emphasise the importance of aligning company values with their own. Our values inspire integrity, putting patients and employees first while driving collaboration, inclusivity and innovation to enhance well-being.

This year, updating our employee values has been a major project, involving company-wide surveys, executive interviews and workshops with representatives from Employee Interest Groups and the CSR Committee. Equality, diversity and inclusion are essential for attracting and retaining top talent.

By embracing different perspectives, we better understand the needs of diverse patient populations and develop more inclusive solutions. Creating an inclusive environment at Aspire where people feel they belong is the catalyst for great change, both internally and externally.

We encourage employees to bring their own perspectives and strengths to work, confident that their contributions matter. Guided by their core values, Aspire creates a workplace where everyone feels seen, heard and empowered to thrive.

We back this up with a commitment to providing a dynamic and enriching learning environment that empowers employees to achieve their full potential.

We offer meaningful job opportunities that align with individual aspirations and foster continuous professional growth. Through structured training, development initiatives and mentorship, we ensure learning remains integral to the employee experience.

The competition for talent is fierce and retaining it in such a highly networked sector is a constant challenge.

Flexibility in the working environment is important, but it can blur boundaries, leading to stress and burnout. Balancing career and family are a significant challenge and it’s crucial to listen and support everyone’s unique situation.

Many organisations, like Aspire, are investing in innovative research and development to address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. This value proposition makes it a compelling reason for individuals passionate about making a meaningful difference in healthcare to join the sector.

Looking ahead, the potential of AI in pharma is massive. Research shows AI and generative AI are changing how we work, necessitating reskilling for many roles. At Aspire, we are already considering this in our talent and workforce planning.

We are also exploring how digital tools and automation can streamline processes, enhance efficiency and provide deeper insights.

As we navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, it’s crucial to maintain our human values.

We must proceed with empathy, ensure diversity in its broadest sense and maintain transparency so that people, not technology, remain in control. Leadership plays a critical role in preparing us for what lies ahead.

Carolyne Malizia is Chief People Officer at Aspire Pharma.
Go to aspirepharma.co.uk