About Workforce Skills and Training

Our beginnings

Supporting workforce growth in advanced therapies

The Life Sciences Learner Hub was originally launched in 2020 as the Online Training Platform, part of the Advanced Therapies Skills Training Network (ATSTN). Supported by £4.7 million in government funding, ATSTN was a national skills initiative designed to boost workforce capabilities in cell and gene therapy, biomanufacturing, and vaccine production.

With industry demand for skilled professionals rapidly increasing, the platform was rebranded in 2025 to the Life Sciences Learner Hub, expanding beyond cell and gene therapy to support other complex medicine modalities and wider life sciences.

Today, we provide training, skills development, and career support to both industry professionals and organisations, ensuring the UK remains a global leader in advanced therapies and complex medicines innovation and manufacturing.

Why workforce development matters in advanced therapies

The UK’s cell and gene therapy industry is growing exponentially, with employment in advanced therapies and bioprocessing increasing by 100% since 2019.

According to the Cell and Gene Therapy UK Skills Demand Report (2023):

• There were 6,232 roles in cell and gene therapy in 2023, projected to increase by 63% to 10,161 by 2028.
• Key workforce challenges include a shortage of skilled workers, salary competition, and limited graduate pipelines.
• Skills gaps exist in biomanufacturing, GMP compliance, quality and regulatory expertise, digital automation, and project management.

To tackle these challenges, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult coordinates UK-wide Skills programmes, including the Life Sciences Learner Hub, the Advanced Therapies Apprenticeship Community (ATAC), Industry Skills Accelerator, and Skills & Training Laboratories. Driven by industry needs, our Skills programmes deliver specialised training to upskill professionals and equip businesses with a highly skilled workforce.

What are advanced therapies and why do they matter?

Driving the future of medicine with cell and gene therapy

Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)—including cell and gene therapies—represent a revolution in modern medicine, offering potential cures for genetic disorders, cancers, and rare diseases.

• The UK is a global leader in ATMP research and manufacturing, backed by world-class universities, biotech start-ups, and major pharmaceutical investments.
• Scaling up ATMP manufacturing is crucial to bringing cutting-edge treatments to patients worldwide.
• The Advanced Therapies Manufacturing Action Plan (2018) outlined the urgent need for a highly skilled workforce to secure the UK’s global leadership in biomanufacturing.

The Life Sciences Learner Hub plays a vital role in supporting talent development across cell and gene therapy, complex medicines, bioprocessing, and GMP manufacturing, ensuring the UK has the skills and expertise to remain at the forefront of this fast-growing industry.