10 Biotechnology Recruitment Agencies in the UK You Should Know (2025 Job‑Seeker Guide)
The UK’s biotech boom—fueled by the £650 million Life Sciences Vision Fund and rapid mRNA, cell & gene‑therapy adoption—continues to outpace talent supply. Lightcast reported +45 % year‑on‑year growth in UK adverts mentioning “CRISPR”, “GMP bioprocess” or “cell therapy” during Q1 2025. Yet only about 25,000 specialised biotech professionals work nationwide, while monthly live vacancies average 1,800–2,100.
All data verified 22 July 2025; re‑audit quarterly for freshness.. Specialist recruiters remain critical for tapping stealth roles, benchmarking salaries and streamlining the lab‑tour interview gauntlet.
We reviewed 60 + consultancies and kept only agencies with:
A registered UK head office (Companies House).
A dedicated Biotechnology / Life‑Sciences practice.
At least five UK biotech roles advertised between March and June 2025.
Below you’ll find a hiring‑landscape snapshot, a quick directory of 10 vetted agencies, salary medians, in‑demand skills, interview expectations, FAQs and next steps—mirroring our AI and quantum guides.
1. The 2025 UK Biotech‑Hiring Landscape
Vacancy Growth & Geography
+45 % YoY ad growth – Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024.
Regional hotspots – Cambridge‑Oxford‑London “Golden Triangle” still hosts 63 % of roles, but Stevenage (Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult), Alderley Park and Scotland’s BioQuarter now claim 22 % combined.
Hybrid work – 70 % of roles remain on‑site due to lab work; bio‑informatics and regulatory‑affairs roles offer >40 % hybrid/remote.
Salary Benchmarks (mid‑level)
• Upstream Bioprocess Scientist: £46 k median base (+8 % YoY)
• CRISPR/Cas9 Research Scientist: £52 k (+9 %)
• GMP Production Manager: £60 k (+10 %)
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist: £57 k (+7 %)
Tip: Series‑A therapeutics start‑ups often offer 0.2–0.8 % equity to senior scientists and 1–2 % to early‑stage directors.
Visa & Sponsorship Snapshot
Skilled‑Worker visas – 7 of the 10 recruiters below regularly place non‑UK nationals and track licence‑holding employers.
ATAS certificates – Some gene‑editing roles require ATAS clearance; SRG and CK Science pre‑screen for this.
2. Quick‑Reference Directory: Top 10 UK Biotech‑Recruitment Agencies
• SRG – Science, Clinical & Engineering — Manchester M15 4GB — +44 (0)161 868 2200 — enquiries@srg.co.uk — https://www.srg.co.uk
• CK Science (CK Group) — Chesterfield S41 7XD — +44 (0)1246 457700 — info@ckscience.co.uk — https://www.ckscience.co.uk
• CY Partners — Newcastle NE1 3NG — +44 (0)191 477 4733 — info@cypartners.co.uk — https://www.cypartners.co.uk
• Hobson Prior – Life Sciences — London EC4N 4SA — +44 (0)20 7405 3232 — info@hobsonprior.com — https://www.hobsonprior.com
• Proclinical – Life Sciences Staffing — London EC2M 1RQ — +44 (0)20 3319 3100 — clientservices@proclinical.com — https://www.proclinical.com
• Barrington James – Biotech & Pharma — Crawley RH10 1DQ — +44 (0)1293 776 644 — Use website contact form — https://www.barringtonjames.com
• Compass Life Sciences — Chichester PO19 7DN — +44 (0)239 268 9322 — Use website contact form — https://www.compasslsciences.com
• Meet Life Sciences– Clinical & Biometrics — London EC1V 4PW — +44 (0)20 3019 5970 — hello@meet‑recruitment.com — https://www.meetlifesciences.com/
• Pop Science – Biotech & Med‑Tech — London WC2H 9JQ — +44 (0)20 7846 2927 — info@pop‑science.co.uk — https://www.pop-science.co.uk/
• Hyper Recruitment Solutions (HRS) — Loughton IG10 3TR — +44 (0)20 8256 2540 — info@hyperec.com — https://www.hyperec.com
All e‑mails above are verified public addresses; where none is published, use the agency’s web contact form.
3. Choosing—and Maximising—Your Recruiter Partnership
Match by Modality
Cell‑therapy scientists should prioritise Hobson Prior or CY Partners; bioinformatics experts might lean toward Proclinical or SRG.
Quantify Your Impact
Highlight titres, yields, IND submissions or successful audits—metrics recruiters can pitch instantly.
Insist on Prep
Top recruiters provide GMP knowledge quizzes, regulatory‑scenario questions or technical‑presentation tips. Lack of prep = red flag.
Negotiate Holistically
Look beyond base pay: bonus triggers tied to clinical milestones, stock options, relocation allowances, and professional‑development budgets.
4. In‑Demand Biotech Skills for 2025 (Explained)
CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing – Mastery of gRNA design & off‑target analysis remains premium.
Upstream & Downstream cGMP Bioprocessing – Scaling from 2 L to 2,000 L without productivity loss is golden.
Single‑Cell Omics & Bioinformatics – Data scientists who can parse scRNA‑seq for biomarker discovery are scarce.
Regulatory Strategy for ATMPs – Familiarity with EU/UK clinical trial regs for cell & gene therapies.
Automation & Digital QC – Use of robotics, MES, and digital batch records to cut deviation rates.
Pro‑move: Pair each skill with a metric—“Increased viral‑vector yield 1.8 × in 200 L bioreactor via perfusion optimisation.”
5. Interview Prep: What Lab & Office Panels Expect
Technical deep‑dive – Present data on titre, purity or sequence accuracy; expect whiteboard calculations.
GMP scenario – Walk through deviation CAPA or batch‑record discrepancies.
Reg affairs case – Outline a CTA or IND timeline with risk mitigations.
Cultural fit – Demonstrate cross‑functional teamwork between QC, manufacturing and regulatory.
Record your mock presentations with recruiter feedback to tighten delivery.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do recruiters charge candidates?
No—client‑paid. Reject any fee request.
Is a PhD required?
For R&D yes (~60 % of hires). GMP & QA roles often accept BSc/MSc plus experience.
How long from CV to offer?
Lab‑based roles: 4–6 weeks. Regulatory or QC: 3–5 weeks.
Can I work with multiple agencies?
Yes, but tell them where you’re already submitted to avoid duplication.
7. Next Steps
Short‑list two or three agencies above.
Update your CV with quantified achievements.
Book intro calls this week to ride hiring momentum.
Track each application stage in a spreadsheet.
Upload Your CV
Share your CV on BiotechnologyJobs.co.uk—it’s visible to every recruiter in this directory and hundreds of biotech employers.
8. Final Word: Your Biotech Career Starts Now
From mRNA vaccine scale‑up to CRISPR‑based gene therapy, UK biotech is expanding fast. Specialised recruiters can surface hidden roles, polish your interview story and negotiate total‑reward packages that reflect your scientific impact. Make the calls, showcase your data, and let your next offer advance both your career and human health.
