We want our people to get the most out of their time at the Crick helping us to achieve our ambitious goals.

We aim to nurture talent, both in research and in the range of other roles needed to support that research effectively. We aim to ensure that high-quality, comprehensive training, together with appropriate support for career progression and development, is available to all staff across all career stages.

This includes research staff following an academic career path, staff working in technical and specialist support roles in labs and science technology platforms, and those in operational support functions.

We’re creating a unique learning environment where we provide our people with the tools to:

  • excel in their role
  • develop new skills
  • and pursue their own career aims.

Everyone shares in the responsibility for learning and Crick staff are encouraged to keep their technological, personal and professional skills up to date.

Junior researcher career development

Our training programmes for early career researchers are designed to offer a broad perspective of biomedical research, including exposure to careers outside science.

The Crick provides an exceptional training environment for graduate students and postdoctoral training fellows, who benefit from our stimulating multidisciplinary environment and links to multiple partners and collaborators across academia and industry. We’re small enough for trainees to feel part of a community but large enough to provide diverse research training and development opportunities.

We take a flexible approach to career development support which is informed by our junior researchers’ career goals, and involves our alumni, our partner institutions and others. In particular we work with our university partners, who award the degrees and provide additional student supervision and further training opportunities.

We give considerable support to junior researchers to help them prepare for their future careers, striving to place emphasis and value on careers both within and beyond academia.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job with an accompanying skills development programme. They can be open to new recruits or existing staff. 

Apprentices gain the technical knowledge, practical experience and wider skills they need for their immediate job and future career. This happens through a mix of learning in the workplace, formal off-the-job training and the opportunity to practice new skills in a real work environment. 

When suitable job roles become available, the Crick endeavours to offer apprenticeship opportunities and we encourage a wide range of people to apply, especially from the local area.

We advertise new apprenticeships alongside other Crick vacancies, and we encourage existing staff to consider if a Professional Apprenticeship Programme would be appropriate for them as a development opportunity. Opportunities include management programmes for those with no formal management qualifications, and our laboratory technician apprenticeship programme.

Leadership development

Early career group leaders participate in a science leader development programme, which equips them with management and leadership skills to complement their technical skills and scientific achievements. This programme is also available to senior operational staff who lead teams.

We surround each early career group leader with a mentoring team, led by a dedicated mentor chosen from amongst the senior group leaders, to support the development of their science programme, and their laboratory and people management skills.

Additional management and leadership training and opportunities are also available to senior group leaders. For example, we have established assistant research director positions within the institute’s management structure, providing opportunities to develop senior management experience.

The first group of Crick staff taking part in the new leadership and management programme.

The first group of senior Crick staff taking part in the new leadership and management programme.