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Welcome to UCB in the United Kingdom

Working at UCB UK

 

“Our people are curious, bold, smart and inspired – that’s how they innovate.”

At UCB, you will be a part of an inclusive employee community that brings together the brightest and most innovative minds to solve the challenges facing patients and caregivers to help them live the best life that they can, as free as possible from the challenges and uncertainty of severe diseases.

We inspire a culture of inclusion by providing opportunities to all current and prospective employees, embracing unique talents and leveraging variety of thought and experience.

 

As a core innovation hub, we are uniquely positioned to offer career opportunities throughout various aspects and teams across Country, Regional and Global roles to all existing and future employees. 

Through our extensive training programmes, we offer the space and resources needed to develop through individual’s own curiosity and experience, helping them to upskill and grow.

 

Meet our people! Find out more about the work they are doing are doing, their stories and important topics of conversation.

UCB Stories

At UCB, we believe Inclusion is central to innovation. This is reflected in our surroundings, with working environments that help break down departmental silos, welcome people to work in spaces and teams that achieve the best outputs and ensure that everyone feels truly connected to our purpose. 

In the UK, we have a number of local initiatives driving this agenda, supported by our Employee Resource Groups. 

Supporting Careers in STEM

We believe that we can also make a difference in the world through targeted philanthropic contributions and focusing on supporting and elevating education on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Work in Science Week

Our Work in Science Week, which has been running since 2012, highlights the wide range of scientific careers available in industry to inspire the next generation of scientists to consider a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Students are able to talk and learn from UCB employees, apprentices and those who have been through the programme before. Students leave this week having learnt about the breadth of careers available to them, and how they can pursue these careers aside from the traditional university route.

For career inspiration, watch the stories of a few of our colleagues, who took bold chances in their career journeys and didn't follow traditional routes into the pharmaceutical industry. 

Talent Spaces Collaboration

Social enterprise Talent Spaces supports young people from underrepresented backgrounds to connect with employers, get work experience, and attend employability programmes. Their mission is to help young people shape their future through real-world learning and a network of employers, which includes UCB. Through our partnership there are two programmes available: a 6-month programme for Year 12 girls and a 1-day insight day for students that have a passion for STEM.

We were the first pharmaceutical company to partner with Talent Spaces to support under-represented and less advantaged young people, helping them to build the skills, connections, and knowledge they need to thrive in the future.

 

Find out more information about the work Talent Spaces are doing.

Visit Talent Spaces

Apprenticeships at UCB UK

UCB are committed to the development of early talent, investing in both Apprenticeship, Industrial Placements and Graduates. Over the years, we have developed and grown these initiatives providing opportunities for students and graduates across many business functions such as laboratory roles in both biology and chemistry, HR and statistics. Our apprenticeship schemes range from level 4 to level 7 and last between 12 months and 5 years.

We partner with Cogent skills to recruit, manage and deliver the early talent programme, and roles open up periodically throughout the year across a range of science and business disciplines.

Watch the videos below to hear from some of our current apprentices on why they chose an apprenticeship in the pharmaceutical industry, what their typical day looks like and their future career aspirations:

 

If you are interested in a similar opportunity at UCB, head to Cogent Skills’ website to find out more.

Visit Cogent Skills

Benefits

At UCB, the personal development of our employees is important, so you'll be empowered to take ownership of your own performance, training and development by setting "SMART" objectives, taking into account company goals and your aspirations. We consider leadership throughout the company to be an important enabler of our priorities and culture, and offer various programmes to develop your leadership skills, understand your personal strengths, manage change and lead teams. Additional support is provided through mentoring, coaching, and international assignments. 

We recognise and reward the impactful work our people are doing with competitive salaries, bonuses and comprehensive health, wellness and retirement benefits. Through our Global Recognition Programme, we enable UCB employees to recognise, acknowledge and celebrate colleagues who consistently demonstrate and uphold our company values, drive company goals, and go above and beyond in their contributions to the company’s success. 

Our other benefits include a Group Personal Pension Plan with competitive contributions, comprehensive healthcare, life and disability insurance, and flexible options such as dental cover, travel insurance and the Cycle to Work scheme. 

UCB employees can share in the company’s long-term success through the granting of stock awards for eligible employees and the opportunity for all employees to become shareholders through our UK Share Incentive Plan.

Wellbeing

Employee wellbeing is extremely important to us. Through our UK Employee Wellbeing Strategy we aim to create and sustain a working environment and culture in which people are happy, healthy, safe and enabled to thrive.

We provide a flexible work environment for all employees, with opportunities to work from home, flexible working and up to five additional days annual leave which can be purchased if desired, through our flexible benefits scheme.

We offer support for parents through enhanced maternity and shared parental leave, and a mentoring scheme to support parents at various stages of leave.

The Employee Assistance Programme provides a 24-hour telephone helpdesk service, and face-to-face counselling where needed, offering information, support and counselling on work and personal matters.

Join our team - Applying to UCB UK

We are always interested to hear from talented individuals who think they can make a positive contribution to the UCB UK team. To review our current vacancies list and to apply online, please click here.

We periodically have vacancies in the following areas so please visit the website again if there are currently no vacancies in your field.

careers.ucb.com

Research and development:

  • Chemistry
  • Computer Aided Drug Design (CADD)
  • NBE biology
  • Analytical research and development
  • Exploratory development
  • Clinical research
  • Regulatory affairs
  • Quality assurance

Corporate services:

  • Finance
  • Human resources
  • Health, safety and environment
  • Legal and IP
  • IT
  • Business development and licensing

Technical operations and quality:

  • Bioprocess research
  • Bioprocess development and industrialisation

 

 

 

 

IE-DA-2400191 | October 2025 

Roles within our commercial affiliate:

  • Healthcare and access partners (field-based)
  • Marketing
  • Medical information
  • Pharmacovigilance
  • Market Access

© 2025 UCB Pharma Ltd. Registered Office: 208 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 3WE. No. 1472269.