Student profile – Professional Placement Year 

Graduating year: 2027
Course studied: BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science with PPY

Connor completed a placement within the PPD Functional Service Provider (FSP) division at , where he worked as an FSP Resource Analyst.

My role involved supporting multiple pharmaceutical clients across global regions, including Asia-Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the Americas. As my placement progressed, I became a main point of contact for resourcing activities relating to GSK (GlaxoSmithKline).

Why did you choose to undertake a PPY? 

I chose to undertake a Professional Placement Year because I wanted to gain experience within the pharmaceutical industry and understand how the knowledge I had developed throughout my Biomedical Science degree could be applied in a professional setting. I was particularly interested in exploring the different career opportunities available within the industry, whilst developing my confidence and professional skills outside of an academic environment.

I also recognised that a placement would give me the opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals, take on new responsibilities and develop skills that would be valuable throughout my future career. Ultimately, I wanted to use the experience to gain a clearer understanding of my career aspirations and return to my final year of university with greater confidence and industry knowledge.

What did your role entail? 

As an FSP Resource Analyst, my role involved supporting workforce planning and resourcing activities across multiple pharmaceutical clients and global regions. My responsibilities included managing resourcing enquiries, monitoring staffing requirements, analysing workforce data and maintaining trackers to provide accurate information on outstanding resource demands and open vacancies.

A typical day involved reviewing resourcing requests, extracting and analysing data using internal systems and Excel, and communicating with colleagues across different teams and regions to support ongoing staffing requirements.

I was also responsible for preparing and maintaining resourcing agendas, coordinating discussions and leading regular resourcing calls, particularly for GSK, where I became a main point of contact. This required effective communication, organisation and problem-solving to ensure resourcing enquiries were appropriately managed and followed up.

How did you find and secure your placements? 

I initially came across the placement opportunity through LinkedIn, where I identified the FSP Resource Associate position at Thermo Fisher Scientific. After researching the organisation and the role, I submitted my application and successfully progressed through the interview process. I was subsequently offered the position within the PPD Functional Service Provider (FSP) division, providing me with the opportunity to gain practical experience within the pharmaceutical and clinical research industry.

What have been the best and most challenging aspects of your placement? 

One of the most rewarding aspects of my placement was seeing how much my confidence and independence developed throughout the year. I particularly enjoyed being given greater responsibility, progressing from initially observing resourcing discussions to independently leading calls and becoming a main point of contact for GSK.

Working alongside experienced professionals across different regions also provided valuable insight into the pharmaceutical industry and helped me develop both personally and professionally.

One of the biggest challenges was initially adapting to an unfamiliar working environment and developing the confidence to communicate with experienced colleagues and stakeholders. Managing multiple resourcing enquiries and balancing competing priorities also required me to become more organised and adaptable. However, overcoming these challenges was an important part of my development, allowing me to become more confident in my abilities and take greater ownership of my responsibilities.

How did the PPY support your career aspirations?

My placement has played a significant role in shaping my career aspirations and developing my understanding of the pharmaceutical and clinical research industries. Before undertaking my placement, I was primarily interested in laboratory-based careers. However, gaining exposure to the operational side of clinical research has encouraged me to explore alternative career pathways, particularly the role of a Clinical Research Associate (CRA).

Working within a global organisation has provided me with a greater appreciation of the collaboration, communication and planning required to support clinical trial delivery.

I have also developed valuable transferable skills, including data analysis, problem-solving, time management and professional communication. The experience has strengthened my confidence and independence, whilst giving me a clearer understanding of the direction I would like to pursue following graduation. I believe these skills and experiences will be particularly beneficial as I return to my final year of university and prepare for my future career.

Do you have any advice for students considering a PPY? 

My main advice would be to take the opportunity if it is available, even if the role is not directly related to the career you initially had in mind. Before starting my placement, I had a greater interest in laboratory-based work, but exploring a different area of the pharmaceutical industry has helped me identify career opportunities I may not have otherwise considered.

I would also encourage students to be proactive, ask questions and make the most of the opportunities presented to them. It can initially feel daunting entering a professional environment, particularly when working alongside experienced colleagues, but becoming more comfortable with taking on responsibilities is an important part of the learning process.

A placement is not only an opportunity to gain industry experience, but also to develop personally, build professional relationships and gain a better understanding of your strengths and future aspirations.