Think Bigger Series

Mark Downs, Chief Executive at the Royal Society of Biology, joins Jacob and Philippa to discuss the potential benefits and challenges of a four day working week. What could a four day working week mean for businesses, employees, and the environment?

We are thrilled to welcome back Jacob Midwinter, Operations Director and Philippa Clark, Sector Head of Discovery Science, for the second instalment of their mini series Beyond the Golden Triangle. Joining them for this episode is Jane Kennedy, Chief Business Officer at Discovery Park, leading the discussion on what it takes to make a success of a career outside the golden triangle and the challenges that come with it.

Jacob Midwinter, Operations Director and Philippa Clark, Sector Head of Discovery Science, are back, and this time joined by Andrew Shortt, Senior Growth and Innovation Specialist at Innovate UK EDGE. In the first episode of our new mini-series, exploring the UK Life Sciences landscape, they discuss topics such as the evolution of the life science sector in the West Midlands, the importance of collaboration in driving innovation, and the potential for growth in the region. It will also look at the current trends in life science, and what the sector can do to stay ahead of the competition.

Liam Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at Axol Bioscience Ltd, joins Jacob and Philippa to discuss how to successfully supercharge your workforce and organisation’s culture through embedding the right values in the correct way.

Jacob Midwinter, Operations Director and Philippa Clark, Sector Head of Discovery Science, are back, and this time joined by Marc Rothera, Strategic Lead for Science and Engineering Apprenticeships at Anglia Ruskin University. They discuss the stigma surrounding apprenticeships, as well as the importance of choosing the right academic path for you.

In this episode of the Think Bigger series Georgia Whitton, Senior Data Scientist for Sanger Institute's Genomic Surveillance Unit, joins Jacob and Philippa to discuss balancing the gender gap in STEM, the cruciality of representation within industry, and provides tips on how women and girls can begin their career. 

Chris Blackburn, Head of CSR for Impellam STEM Portfolio, joins Jacob and Philippa to discuss how the scientific industries can future-proof their workforce and skills needs by building a sustainable pipeline of talent. They assess the need for both education and industry to come together and work harder to highlight the wide variety of careers within science, to enthuse, educate and ultimately guide more people into the industry.

Jacob and Philippa are back with a bang! Attracting and retaining skilled scientific professionals is no longer just about how much you pay and what benefits you offer. Therefore, it is crucial your business adapts and evolves to provide what the workforce wants in the modern hiring landscape. Using the SRG 2022 Candidate Attraction and Retention Guide Jacob and Philippa discuss what makes individuals tick and how to make sure the top talent is in your workforce.

In this episode the tables are turned on Jacob and Philippa, by returning guest Ted Smith, who leads the debate to tease out insights from the STEM recruitment experts for both candidates and clients in an ever-changing marketplace for STEM talent.

A recent poll showed that Imposter Syndrome is something the market wants to discuss more openly, and to learn more about. In this episode Jacob and Philippa invite Chris Vowles, our Head of Client Services, to explore Imposter Syndrome and the impacts it can have on career progression, work performance and mental health. 

The last year has seen a monumental shift in the way we have all had to work, presenting new and unprecedented challenges. However, it also proved the resilience, flexibility, and adaptability of the workforce. In this episode, Jacob and Philippa discuss what the future of the workplace will look like as the UK continues to emerge from the latest COVID-19 lockdown.

Jacob and Philippa link up with Ted Smith on the subject of hidden conditions and disabilities within the workplace and beyond. Ted is an HR Consultant and Author of "Human Resources A to Z: A Practical Field Guide for People Managers", "The Train Blog: Odd and Weird People Watching" and "Willie and the Hippo" series for kids. All supporting the NHS, Save the Children, and Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Michelle Reid, People Director for the Institute of Occupational Medicine talks to Jacob and Philippa about hiring in a virtual world. Michelle talks about how she has embraced technology and creative thinking to enhance the candidate experience for the IOM. Learn from Michelle and your hosts on how they have adapted processes to create blended approaches that really help engage candidates throughout the candidate journey. 

In this episode Jacob and Philippa discuss the nuances of managing up, why it is crucial for your own and your team's growth, ways to tackle it and the types of positive results you can expect when done well. 

The Think Bigger Series is hosted by Jacob Midwinter and Philippa Clark. It is a series of transformational conversations focused around the workplace, people and growth. In their first episode Jacob and Philippa discuss growth mindset and how this plays out in the workplace as well as how it can impact your personal life.