Minister for Skills visits University of Birmingham during MedTech skills launch

Baroness Jacqui Smith, the Minister of State for Skills, visited the University of Birmingham to learn about health and life sciences growth during the launch of a new MedTech skills qualification at the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) based on the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus. This event marked the introduction of a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) intended to address the projected 145,000-person skills gap in the UK MedTech sector by 2035.

During the visit, the Minister met researchers, innovators and industry partners who helped shape the qualification. The aim of the HTQ is to support development of a trained workforce capable of meeting employer needs in the health and life sciences sector.

Professor Gino Martini, Chief Executive Officer of PHTA, said: “Skills are the backbone of every effective innovation ecosystem. Birmingham’s health and life sciences district is home to world-class institutions, scientists and industry, but we only unlock its full potential if we have a workforce trained to deliver. That’s why qualifications like this matter: they create the talent pipeline our region needs, they widen access to high-value careers, and they ensure the breakthroughs being developed here can be translated into real-world impact for patients and the NHS.”

Baroness Smith saw first-hand the facilities at the medtech Makerspace, including prototyping and 3D-printing capabilities, and spoke with representatives from several local spinout companies working across diagnostics, digital health and therapeutics. She also toured the University’s Clinical Immunology Services where clinical scientists demonstrated their diagnostic work.

Launching the qualification, Baroness Smith said: “Medtech is transforming healthcare and these new qualifications will make sure people have the skills they need for the jobs of the future. I’m proud to see the West Midlands leading the way – working directly with employers to deliver opportunities that meet real business needs. By closing critical skills gaps, we’re not only opening careers for thousands of people – we’re helping the NHS cut waiting lists and deliver better care through innovation.”

The visit underscored national attention on the Birmingham health and life sciences district, which is described by PHTA leadership as becoming the UK’s largest integrated health and life sciences campus, with potential to support job creation and economic value growth over the next decade.

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