22/09/2026
A new apprenticeship programme, launched by Minister James Lawless at TU Dublin’s Tallaght Campus earlier this month, is helping to address the growing skills needs of Ireland’s rapidly expanding biopharmaceutical industry.
The Higher Certificate in Science Bio Process, Chemical Process Technician Apprenticeship has been developed by BioPharmaChem Ireland, in partnership with the School of Chemical and BioPharmaceutical Sciences at TU Dublin.
The need for skilled talent is clear. Employment in Ireland’s biopharmaceutical sector grew by more than 60% between 2016 and 2022, creating sustained demand for people with the right scientific, technical and practical skills.
The two-year, Level 6 apprenticeship combines academic learning with structured, paid workplace experience, giving apprentices the opportunity to develop the expertise needed to build careers in highly regulated biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
What makes this particularly valuable is the industry-led approach behind the programme. Developed over the past two years with employers and education partners, it is designed around the evolving needs of the sector while supporting Ireland’s ambition to remain a global leader in life sciences.
This is a great example of industry, education and government working together to build the talent pipeline Ireland needs for the future of life sciences.
