IQVIA volunteers spread the word on Paddington life science careers

The Paddington Partnership is proud to be a founding member of Paddington Life Sciences, a new life sciences cluster bringing together communities, the NHS, research and industry to promote improved health and wellbeing locally, whilst broadening awareness of the range of careers in life sciences.

Located in the heart of Paddington Basin, IQVIA have been working closely with our Community Programme to raise aspirations of local young people, engaging with a number of local schools to broaden awareness of the diverse range of careers available here in Paddington within life sciences.

IQVIA colleagues have committed to leading 3 life science careers carousel sessions with Year 9 students at Westminster Academy, enabling every student in the year group to speak to colleagues about their roles, their path into life sciences and their experience working in the industry. During these sessions, groups of students spend 15 minutes chatting to volunteers about their job and how it benefits IQVIA’s mission and life sciences more generally, before moving on to the next colleague to hear about a different area of work. Each student speaks to 4 IQVIA colleagues over the course of an hour, learning about diverse roles and pathways into life sciences. By the end of March 2023, this initiative will have reached 200 students in the process of choosing their GCSE subject options.

In February 2023, IQVIA’s Women Inspired Network hosted 26 Year 8 students from St Marylebone CE School for Girls. This afternoon formed part of the school’s Behind the Brand initiative to lift the lid on local companies and find out what it’s like to work there. Students heard from 4 women in diverse clinical and non-clinical roles across the organisation, and enjoyed a tour of the office. This gave the pupils a real taste of the diversity of careers available in life sciences, and an insight of modern office life, complete with soundproof meeting pods, a roof terrace and a particularly popular sparkling water tap!

Over the past year, we have worked with IQVIA to deliver in-person work experience programmes for students from Westminster Academy, St Marylebone CE School for Girls and Marylebone Boys’ School, with more placements planned for the year ahead.

We’re looking forward to more projects in 2023 working with our local life science companies to further support Paddington careers education. If you’d like to learn more about working with us to engage with local schools, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our community team.