Official Statistics

Bioscience and health technology sector statistics 2020 – accessible infographics

Updated 7 February 2022

1. UK Life Sciences Infographic

At the top of the graphic is a section marked ‘Headlines’. Within a drawn image of high-rise buildings is text saying ‘6,330 businesses’. To the right of this image are three circular bubbles containing the following information:

• The first contains the text ‘£88.9bn turnover’ and a stylised image of a high-rise building.
• The second contains the text ‘268,000 employees’ and a stylised image of three people.
• The third contains the text ‘7,180 sites’ and stylised map location pin.

Underneath the headlines is a section marked ‘What is the Life Sciences Industry?”. This contains a block of text that states:

• Businesses involved in developing and/or producing pharmaceutical or med tech products, including digital health, for human health purposes. Includes supply chain and specialist service sector.

To the left of this is a section titled ‘Industry characteristics’. Two arrows lead from the text ‘2 sectors’ to the top of two columns of text.

• The first column is headed ‘Biopharmaceuticals’, under which is written 48% industry employment and 69% industry turnover.
• The second column is headed ‘Medical Technology’, under which is written 52% industry employment and 31% industry turnover

Note: These figures refer to the share of total employment and turnover accounted for by the two sectors.

Under the columns are two speech bubbles leading from a stylised 2D image of the globe. One bubble states ‘Global top 25 Bio’, and the other states ‘Global top 30 Med Tech’. Under this image the text explains that the companies in the global top 25 Bio and/or top 30 Med Tech that operate in the UK account for 22% of industry employment and for 36% of turnover.

Under this text are two pie charts:

• The left pie chart is titled ‘Industry employment’, and shows 76% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 24% attributed to SMEs
• The right pie chart is titled ‘Industry turnover’, and shows 90% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 10% attributed to SMEs.

Beneath the pie charts is a note with the following text: ‘For a small number of records (<1% of employment and turnover for the Life Science industry) it is not possible to classify businesses as SMEs or non-SMEs. These ‘unclassified’ businesses are excluded from both the SME and non-SME totals’.

To the right is a section titled ‘Distribution of employment across UK’. This contains an image of a map of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the constituent regions demarcated.

Each region’s share of life science industry employment is written on the map, with a line connecting the figure to the region. The figures are as follows:

• Scotland, 6%
• North East, 3%
• Yorkshire and Humber, 7%
• East Midlands, 6%
• East of England, 15%
• South East, 24%
• London, 11%
• South West, 5%
• West Midlands, 7%
• Wales, 5%
• North West, 11%
• Northern Ireland, 2%

A note on the map reads ‘Total greater than 100% due to rounding’.

In the lower left corner of the document, a section titled ‘Largest core segments by employment’ is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Small Molecules
2. Digital Health
3. Single Use Technology

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 43% of all employment in the core life science industry’.

Immediately underneath is a similar section titled ‘Largest core segments by turnover’, which again is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Small Molecules
2. Single Use Technology
3. Therapeutic Proteins

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 62% of all turnover in the core life science industry’.

To the right is a section marked ‘Employment and turnover 2011 to 2020’. Within it is the following text:

• up 13% employment
• up 1% turnover
• Overall the life science industry employment increased by 31,500 and turnover increased by £1.1bn.

Numerical values and the words ‘employment’ and ‘turnover’ are highlighted in a contrasting colour.

Underneath is the final section, marked ‘Service and Supply chain’, which contains the following text:

• An essential cluster of specialist suppliers supports the Life Science Industry in the UK. Does not include non-life science businesses.

Under this text are the following figures:

• 2,780 businesses, accompanied by a stylised image of two large buildings
• 95,500 employees, accompanied by a stylised image of two people
• £26.2bn turnover, accompanied by a stylised image of two piles of coins.

Immediately underneath these figures is the following text, displayed side by side:

• 36% of industry employment
• 29% of industry turnover

Note: These percentages refer to the share of total industry employment and turnover accounted for by the service and supply sectors.

At the bottom of the infographic is the text ‘For more information’ with a link to the main publication page.

2. UK Biopharmaceutical Sector Infographic

At the top of the graphic is a section marked ‘Headlines’. Within a drawn image of high-rise buildings is text saying ‘2,270 businesses’. To the right of this image are three circular bubbles containing the following information:

• The first contains the text ‘£61.3bn turnover’ and a stylised image of a high-rise building.
• The second contains the text ‘129,900 employees’ and a stylised image of three people.
• The third contains the text ‘2,630 sites’ and stylised map location pin. Underneath the headlines is a section marked ‘What is the Biopharmaceutical sector?”. This contains a block of text that states:
• Businesses involved in developing and/or producing pharmaceutical products, from small R&D-focused biotechs to multinational Big Pharma. Includes supply chain and specialist service sector.

To the left of this is a section titled ‘Sector characteristics’ with the following text beneath it: ‘36% life science industry businesses operate in the Biopharmaceutical sector. These businesses account for:’

• ’48% of life science industry employment’
• ‘69% of life science industry turnover’

Note: These figures refer to the share of total Life Science industry businesses, employment and turnover accounted for by the Biopharmaceutical sector.

Under the industry share details are two speech bubbles leading from a stylised 2D image of the globe. One bubble states ‘Global top 25’, and the other states ‘51% of employment in sector excluding services and supply chain’.

Under this text are two pie charts:

• The left pie chart is titled ‘Sector employment’, and shows 84% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 16% attributed to SMEs
• The right pie chart is titled ‘Sector turnover’, and shows 95% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 5% attributed to SMEs.

Beneath the pie charts is a note with the following text: ‘For a small number of records (<1% of employment and turnover for the Biopharmaceutical sector) it is not possible to classify businesses as SMEs or non-SMEs. These ‘unclassified’ businesses are excluded from both the SME and non-SME totals’.

To the right is a section titled Distribution of Employment across UK. This contains an image of a map of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the constituent regions demarcated. Each region’s share of Biopharmaceutical Sector employment is written on the map, with a line connecting the figure to the region. The figures are as follows:

• Scotland, 6%
• North East, 4%
• Yorkshire and Humber, 4%
• East Midlands, 3%
• East of England, 20%
• South East, 25%
• London, 13%
• South West, 3%
• West Midlands, 5%
• Wales, 4%
• North West, 11%
• Northern Ireland, 2%

In the lower left corner of the document, a section titled ‘Largest core segments by employment’ is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Small molecules
2. Therapeutic Proteins
3. Antibodies

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 88% of all employment in the core Biopharmaceutical sector’.

Immediately underneath is a similar section titled ‘Largest core segments by turnover’, which again is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Small Molecules
2. Therapeutic Proteins
3. Vaccines

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 94% of all turnover in the core Biopharmaceutical sector’.

To the right is a section titled ‘Employment and turnover 2011 to 2020’. Within it is the following text:

• down 5% employment
• down 17% turnover
• The Core Biopharma sector decreased employment by 3,500 and turnover decreased by £8.1bn

Numerical values and the words ‘employment’ and ‘turnover’ are highlighted in a contrasting colour.

Underneath is the final section, marked ‘Service and Supply chain’, which contains the following text:

• An essential cluster of specialist suppliers supports the Biopharmaceutical sector in the UK. Does not include non-life science businesses.

Under this text are the following figures:

• 1,530 businesses, accompanied by a stylised image of two large buildings
• 63,900 employees, accompanied by a stylised image of two people
• £20.6bn turnover, accompanied by a stylised image of two piles of coins.

Immediately underneath these figures is the following text, displayed side by side:

• 49% of sector employment
• 34% of sector turnover

Note: These percentages refer to the share of total sector employment and turnover accounted for by the service and supply sector.

At the bottom of the infographic is the text ‘For more information’ with a link to the main publication page.

3. UK Medical Technology Sector Infographic

At the top of the graphic is a section marked ‘Headlines’. Within a drawn image of high-rise buildings is text saying ‘4,140 businesses’. To the right of this image are three circular bubbles containing the following information:

• The first contains the text ‘£27.6bn turnover’ and a stylised image of a high-rise building.
• The second contains the text ‘138,100 employees’ and a stylised image of three people.
• The third contains the text ‘4,560 sites’ and stylised map location pin.

Underneath the headlines is a section marked ‘What is the Medical Technology sector?”. This contains a block of text that states:

• Businesses involved in developing and/or producing Med Tech products, from single-use consumables, such as syringes, to complex hospital equipment and digital health. Includes supply chain and specialist service sector.

To the left of this is a section titled ‘Sector characteristics’ with the following text beneath it: ‘65% life science industry businesses operate in the Med Tech sector. These businesses account for:’

• ‘52% of life science industry employment’
• ‘31% of life science industry turnover’

Note: These figures refer to the share of total Life Science Industry businesses, employment and turnover accounted for by the Medical Technology sector.

Underneath the industry share details are two speech bubbles leading from a stylised 2D image of the globe. One bubble states ‘Global top 30’, and the other states ‘17% of employment in sector excluding services and supply chain’. Under this text are two pie charts:

• The left pie chart is titled ‘Sector employment’, and shows 68% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 32% attributed to SMEs
• The right pie chart is titled Sector turnover’, and shows 79% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 21% attributed to SMEs.

Beneath the pie charts is a note with the following text: ‘For a small number of records (<1% of employment and turnover for the Med Tech sector) it is not possible to classify businesses as SMEs or non-SMEs. These ‘unclassified’ businesses are excluded from both the SME and non-SME totals’.

To the right is a section titled ‘Distribution of employment across UK’. This contains an image of a map of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the constituent regions demarcated. Each region’s share of Medical Technology Sector employment is written on the map, with a line connecting the figure to the region. The figures are as follows:

• Scotland, 6%
• North East, 3%
• Yorkshire and Humber, 10%
• East Midlands, 8%
• East of England, 9%
• South East, 23%
• London, 8%
• South West, 7%
• West Midlands, 8%
• Wales, 6%
• North West, 10%
• Northern Ireland, 2%

In the lower left corner of the document, a section titled ‘Largest core segments by employment’ is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Digital Health
2. Single Use Technology
3. In vitro diagnostics

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 32% of all employment in the core Medical Technology sector’.

Immediately underneath is a similar section titled ‘Largest segments by turnover’, which again is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Single Use Technology
2. Digital Health
3. In vitro diagnostics

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 27% of all turnover in the core Medical Technology sector’.

To the right is a section titled ‘Employment and turnover 2011 to 2020’. Within it is the following text:

• up 14% employment
• up 3% turnover
• The Core Med Tech sector increased employment by 13,100 and turnover by £0.7bn Numerical values and the words ‘employment’ and ‘turnover’ are highlighted in a contrasting colour.

Underneath is the final section, marked ‘Service and Supply chain’, which contains the following text:

• An essential cluster of specialist suppliers supports the Medical Technology sector in the UK. Does not include non-life science businesses.

Under this text are the following figures:

• 1,290 businesses, accompanied by a stylised image of two large buildings
• 31,600 employees, accompanied by a stylised image of two people
• £5.6bn turnover, accompanied by a stylised image of two piles of coins.

Immediately underneath these figures is the following text, displayed side by side:

• 23% of sector employment
• 20% of sector turnover

Note: These percentages refer to the share of total sector employment and turnover accounted for by the service and supply sector.

At the bottom of the infographic is the text ‘For more information’ with a link to the main publication page.

4. UK Digital Health Segment Infographic

At the top of the graphic is a section marked ‘Headlines’. This contains the text ‘Largest segment in Med Tech by employment’.

To the right of this image are three circular bubbles containing the following information:

• The first contains text saying ‘£1.9bn turnover’ and a stylised image of a high-rise building.
• The second contains text saying ‘14,400 employees’ and a stylised image of three people.
• The third contains text saying ‘690 sites’ and stylised map location pin.

Underneath the headlines is a section marked ‘What is the Digital Health segment?”. This contains a block of text that states:

• Businesses involved in making products for hospitals and consumers with both a digital and medical element, from mobile medical devices and apps to hospital information systems.

To the left of this is a section titled ‘Segment characteristics’, with the following text beneath it:

• 11% life science industry businesses operate in the Digital Health segment. These businesses account for: 5% life science industry employment and 2% life science industry turnover

Note: These figures refer to the share of total Life Science industry businesses, employment and turnover accounted for by the Digital Health segment.

Under this text are the following figures:

• An enlarged ‘4th’ and the following text ‘largest segment by employment for all of the life science industry’, accompanied by a stylised image of eight people.
• An enlarged ‘60%’ followed with ‘of businesses formed in the last 10 years.’
• A stylised image of two large buildings followed by an enlarged ‘2nd’ and the following text ‘largest segment by count of businesses for all of life science industry’.

Under this text are two pie charts:

• The left pie chart is titled ‘Segment employment’, and shows 64% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 36% attributed to SMEs
• The right pie chart is titled ‘Segment turnover’, and shows 78% of employment is attributed to large companies, and 22% attributed to SMEs.

Beneath the pie charts is a note with the following text: ‘For a small number of records (<1% of employment and turnover for the Digital Health segment) it is not possible to classify businesses as SMEs or non-SMEs. These ‘unclassified’ businesses are excluded from both the SME and non-SME totals’.

To the right is a section titled ‘Distribution of employment across UK’. This contains an image of a map of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the constituent regions demarcated. Each region’s share of Digital Health Segment employment is written on the map, with a line connecting the figure to the region. The figures are as follows:

• Scotland, 7%
• North East, 1%
• Yorkshire and Humber, 13%
• East Midlands, 8%
• East of England, 8%
• South East, 13%
• London, 30%
• South West, 6%
• West Midlands, 3%
• Wales, 1%
• North West, 8%
• Northern Ireland, 2%

Underneath the map is the following text:

• London, South East and Yorkshire & The Humber (the largest 3 regions by employment) account for:

Beneath this are the following figures:

• 57% of employees, accompanied by a stylised image of two people
• 59% of turnover, accompanied by a stylised image of two piles of coins.
• 50% of sites, accompanied by a stylised image of two large buildings

Note: These percentages refer to the share each region has of total Digital Health Segment by employment, turnover and sites.

In the lower left corner of the document, a section titled ‘Largest sub-segments by employment’ is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three sub-segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Hospital Information Systems
2. E-Health – data analytics
3. Telemedicine/Telediagnostics

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 60% of all employment in the Digital Health segment’.

Immediately underneath is a similar section titled ‘Largest sub-segments by turnover’, which again is separated into two columns.

The left column lists the top three segments on a vertical number line. The order is:

1. Hospital Information Systems
2. Professional mobile apps
3. E-health - data analytics

In the right column is the text ‘Top 3 segments account for 69% of all turnover in the Digital Health segment’.

To the right is a final section titled ‘Employment and turnover 2011 to 2020’. Within this section is the following text:

• up 45% employment
• up 48% turnover
• Overall, the Digital Health segment increased employment by 4,500 and turnover by £0.6bn

Numerical values and the words ‘employment’ and ‘turnover’ are highlighted in a contrasting colour.

At the bottom of the infographic is the text ‘For more information’ with a link to the main publication page.