LifeSciences BC and BioTalent Canada Enhance Industry's Ability to Attract and Retain Talent

OTTAWA, Nov. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - LifeSciences BC and BioTalent Canada today announced a new partnership that grants British Columbia's life sciences sector access to new human resource services to help B.C. businesses retain and attract talent that is crucial for economic growth.

The partnership allows members of LifeSciences BC access to BioTalent Canada's suite of HR services, including The PetriDish^TM, Canada's only bilingual biotechnology job board. The agreement follows the release of recent industry labour market studies: "British Columbia's Life Sciences Industry: An Economic Overview" and "Sequencing the Data: People Driving Canada's Bio-economy." These reports identified the growth and opportunities in B.C.'s life sciences industry and the skills shortages within Canada's bio-economy. Bringing the organizations together is the next step in ensuring B.C.'s life sciences sector is equipped with the talent to maximize its growth.

Key HR factors like skills shortages and outsourcing job vacancies to contractual workers outside the company have increased in B.C. over the past several years. "British Columbia and Alberta respondents to our recent study have indicated that outsourcing has increased by 14% since 2008," said Rob Henderson, President & CEO of BioTalent Canada. "Almost 70% of biotech businesses in these provinces, which are major Canadian biotech clusters, stated they currently compensate for skills shortages by outsourcing for talent," he said.

"Our members have told us that recruiting, training and retaining the right people globally are crucial factors to attracting investors," said Paul V. Drohan, President & CEO of LifeSciences BC. "Over 1.1 million job openings are expected in B.C in the next decade, with many requiring science and technology skills, and these new, national tools and products from BioTalent Canada will broaden our members' reach so they can draw the talent they need, brand themselves as employers of choice across Canada and enhance their abilities to attract investment."

Through the suite of products and services, as well as access to reciprocal marketing opportunities, the agreement will allow LifeSciences BC's members access to online and in-person training, professional development opportunities, research and tools to support and enhance their HR efforts.

LifeSciences BC joins the ranks of other BioTalent Canada partners, including organizations such as Rx&D (Canada's Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies), BIOTECanada, Scotiabank StartRight and Porter Airlines.

About LifeSciences BC

LifeSciences BC is a not-for-profit industry association with a mission to build a world-class life sciences community in British Columbia that contributes to the economic and societal wellbeing of the Province through a collaborative effort between industry, academia and government. LifeSciences BC works to broaden the representation of B.C.'s converging "bio" community by building a forum for complementary technologies, and supporting the Province's life sciences industry through advocacy, facilitation and promotion.

About BioTalent Canada:
BioTalent Canada is the HR hub of Canada's bio-economy. A national non-profit organization, BioTalent Canada connects employers with job seekers, delivers human resource information and skills development tools to the bio-economy to ensure the industry has access to job-ready people.  For more information please visit www.biotalent.ca.

SOURCE: BioTalent Canada

Media inquiries: 
BioTalent Canada
Siobhan Williams
Director, Marketing and Communications
613-235-1402 ext. 229
[email protected] 

LifeSciences BC
Jason LesageManager, Communications & Public Relations 
604.602.5227
[email protected]