P.E.I.'s bioscience sector launches new HR strategy

P.E.I.'s bioscience sector has launched a new human resources strategy that it hopes will grow the industry by 2020.

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There are more than 40 bioscience companies on Prince Edward Island, employing more than 1,500 people, with a target of adding another 100 annually over the next five years. 

The industry also hopes to double revenues by 2020. The goal of the HR strategy is to help make that happen.

"That kind of growth in a brain power business like the biosector requires people," said Rory Francis, executive director of the P.E.I. BioAlliance.

"So one of the things we pay a lot of attention to in growing the sector is how do we make sure we can recruit, retain, train the kind of high quality individuals both here and people coming into P.E.I. that we need."

I want to make sure that their access to talent is not holding them back— Vivian Beer, HR strategy manager

Work-life balance

The breakdown of jobs within the bioscience companies includes 30% scientists, 20% quality control and assurance, 40% production and 10% business administration.

The industry has an average employee retention rate of 94%.

"We found out that if there is opportunity here, people would like to stay here because they know they get the work-life balance and they want an interesting career and this sector is providing that for them," said Vivian Beer, HR strategy manager for the BioAlliance.

Beer uses social media and the bioscience website to spread the recruiting message around the world. She says she hears almost daily from someone interested in the sector, both locally but also from people "working away" who want to come back to the Island.

"LinkedIn is huge in terms of connecting with the community," said Beer. "With Facebook, I can get the Holland College and UPEI students."

"When you know where your audiences are, that's very important and social media gives you that."

Beer also emphasizes the importance of networking events put on by the P.E.I. BioAlliance.

She gives the example of curling event in March where some new graduates ended up curling against senior management of one of the bioscience companies.

"Within a month, five of them were working for that company," said Beer. "So we want to provide more opportunities for people."

Helping employees settle in

There are challenges in recruiting people to come work in the bioscience sector on P.E.I., Beer admits, including offering competitive salaries, finding jobs for spouses or partners and helping families to integrate into the community. 

"It's something we give a lot of attention to," she said. 

"What can happen is they can send us the resume of the spouse and then we can work our network and say, okay, is there an opportunity for this person?"

She says P.E.I. companies, especially the larger ones, offer salary and benefits that are comparable with what's offered elsewhere in Canada.

"Companies are surprised, we're more competitive than we thought we were," said Beer.

Raising awareness

Francis admits the bioscience industry on Prince Edward Island is not yet fully on the radar.

"We're still a bit of an unknown quantity, nationally and internationally, so it's creating that awareness that this is a great place if you're looking for a career in science or technology, in a sophisticated cluster, Prince Edward Island is it," said Francis. 

"And that's news to a lot of people still."

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