It was a real pleasure to talk with the year 12 students from our local schools and colleges. I explained my journey to where I am now in my career, and I think it resonated well with the students to know that career paths can often be a zigzag with plenty of hurdles and challenges.
Professor Kawal Rhode, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Head of Education, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s.
10 March 2025
Unlocking growth sector careers for young Londoners
A unique new programme is opening up job opportunities in the health and life science sectors.
A pioneering work experience project, My Life SC1ence, is helping make jobs in London’s life sciences and MedTech sector more accessible and understandable for the next generation of young talent. This high growth sector encompasses industries dedicated to the science of all living things, extending from biology and genetics to healthcare and medical devices.
The doors of King’s College London’s London Institute for Healthcare Engineering (LIHE) – a global leader in medical device development – opened to local school pupils and young people not in education, employment or training from London’s underserved communities.
The two groups joined a month-long work experience programme run by youth engagement experts We Rise supported by Lambeth Council. Working with technicians, academics, students and entrepreneurs from LIHE, King’s School of Biomedical & Engineering & Imaging Sciences and St Thomas’ Hospital, the young people developed, scripted and filmed videos and social media content to demystify jobs and break down barriers to life sciences opportunities.
Created by young people for young people, the groups produced shareable content that would answer their questions and appeal to their interests and networks. They brought fresh perspectives and new ideas to the content they created, bringing to life the varied and exciting roles the MedTech and healthcare sectors have to offer.
The innovative programme run within the SC1 Life Sciences Innovation District has been supported by Mayor of London and London Borough of Lambeth, and funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The funding is helping to support local economic regeneration, with £38.1million of London’s UKSPF allocated to the Mayor’s People and Skills investment priority.
‘Careers… are a path, and you learn as you grow’
The films What is Life Science? and Job Roles in Life Science have been launched during British Science Week—a celebration of science, engineering, technology, and maths— with the aim of inspiring individuals to explore emerging opportunities in the city's rapidly expanding life sciences sector.
‘My Life SC1ence helped us think outside of the box and network with people in different job roles,’ said Safia, one of the participants. ‘I enjoyed the creative process of making the film and understanding the job roles in life sciences and how diverse they can be.’
The work experience has also benefitted the participants, with the programme focused on developing work ready skills. These included business and customer awareness, teamwork, project planning, leadership skills, creativity and problem solving.
Reflecting on the My Life SC1ence programme, Jessica, one of the participants, said ‘I learnt valuable skills and lessons that go beyond what is typically taught in school. I also learnt how to work effectively in a team and share my ideas more confidently. This experience helped me become less anxious about speaking in front of an audience and to embrace new opportunities.’
Another participant, Ilora, added that the programme was ‘a big help in boosting confidence and gaining lifelong skills’, while Angel said that she was encouraged to explore career opportunities she never thought she was capable of.
The work experience programme was co-designed by King’s and We Rise, an award-winning Brixton-based community business with a mission to empower young people to create successful futures.
We Rise offers a unique approach by creating ‘real’ and accessible work experience for young people from underrepresented communities. This creates win-win situations where valuable outputs are delivered and young people gain work ready skills and the step up they deserve.
Polly Waterworth, Chief Operating Officer, We Rise
The next phase of the programme will bring together people of all ages and backgrounds who are facing barriers that mean they are not currently looking for work. Delivered by The Brixton Project, an organisation that brings the positive power of creativity to the heart of local communities, alongside the Bureau of Silly Ideas, the group will co-create an interactive, mobile engagement tool to inspire curiosity about career pathways in MedTech and healthcare.
Life Sciences: ‘London’s new superpower’
New technologies and discoveries mean that the life sciences industry is considered a high growth sector for London, with plenty of career opportunities. My Life SC1ence directly supports the Mayor and London Councils’ London Growth Plan, which identifies life sciences as a key technology of the 21st century.
The plan is set to drive an inclusive talent strategy to grow the capital’s skilled workforce and support Londoners who are excluded from the labour market through increased investment in skills and training.
In this story
Professor in Biomedical Engineering and the Head of Education at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences