Skip to content
collaborate on skills and development
Collaborate for Skills & Development at Lab Innovations
Skills & Development
AI & Automation
Quality & Compliance
Applied innovation
Sustainability
What skills will your laboratory need next?
Who is supporting your next generation of scientists?
-
Laboratory and scientific leaders Laboratory Directors, Scientific Directors, R&D Directors and Heads of Laboratory Operations developing workforce plans, building team capability and retaining the people needed to deliver future science.
-
Learning, training and people-development teams Heads of Learning and Development, Training Managers and Technical Training Managers designing practical development programmes, supporting career progression and improving technical confidence.
-
Quality, technical and operational managers Quality Managers, Laboratory Managers and Technical Managers maintaining competence, strengthening training records and ensuring teams can meet changing laboratory and regulatory requirements.
-
Early-career scientists and emerging talent Laboratory Technicians, Graduate Scientists, Postdoctoral Researchers and early-career researchers seeking technical development, career insight and connections across the laboratory community.
-
Education, professional bodies and talent partners Universities, training providers, professional bodies and scientific recruitment organisations helping laboratories access learning, share expertise and build a stronger future workforce.
Why should you attend if sustainability and greener laboratory practices matter to you?
-
For your organisation Connect with training providers, education partners, professional bodies and employers.
-
Identify approaches that support recruitment, capability building, retention and knowledge sharing across your organisation.
-
Take part in cross-sector conversations, including the co-located Advanced Engineering "Mind the Skills Gap" campaign, linking laboratory and wider STEM workforce challenges.
-
For your team Explore practical approaches to technical training, leadership development and continuous learning.
-
Share ideas on building confidence, supporting career progression and developing the skills needed for changing laboratory requirements.
-
Collaborate with laboratory, quality, technical and people-development colleagues and share priorities.
-
For you Hear expert talks and panel discussions on upskilling, diversity in laboratories, scientific career paths and workforce development.
-
Access CPD-accredited content that contributes towards personal accreditation and professional development.
-
Meet peers, partners and emerging talent through networking spaces, industry discussions and the Lab Awards.
What people say
How are your peers collaborating to make an impact?
How do we tackle the growing skills gap?
Download the industry report to read Laurence Dawkins-Hall from the University of Leicester explain the many changes required for a strong future workforce.
You are (not) a fraud!
Hear Dr Marc Reid, Scientist and Author, explain how to overcome imposter syndrome in science.
How will you collaborate in-person this November?
Collaborating to close the talent gap
From relaxed meetups in the dedicated networking lounges to celebrating excellence at the Lab Awards, you’ll have countless chances to engage with peers, partners and pioneers.
Plus, co-location with Advanced Engineering means even more cross-industry collaboration – especially around the ‘Mind the Skills Gap’ campaign, uniting STEM leaders to tackle the talent shortage together. This and the UK MEtals show all included in your free ticket.
Without people, there is no science
The conference features expert talks and panel discussions on upskilling, diversity in labs, career paths for scientists and offer opportunities to practice skills on the spot. Perfect for both early‑career professionals and lab leaders seeking to build and retain top talent.
What’s more, the programme is fully CPD-accredited so you’ll get to use your points towards personal accreditation and development.
What's new in skills & development?
Hear the latest news and opinions from industry leaders, all looking to develop scientific talent through shared expertise.
Step into the future of biomedical science with the University of Essex’s new £3 million BioSTAR-Lab, where cutting-edge research meets
See the Skills & Development conference content so far...
FAQs
Common questions
What does the Skills and Development track at Lab Innovations cover?
The Skills and Development track explores how scientific and quality professionals can share knowledge, close skills gaps and prepare the laboratory workforce for future demands. Content covers technical training, leadership development, diversity, career pathways and practical approaches to supporting the next generation of laboratory professionals.
Who should attend the skills and development content at Lab Innovations?
The content is relevant to laboratory leaders, learning and development teams, training managers, technical managers, quality professionals, scientists, technicians and early-career researchers. It also supports universities, training providers, professional bodies and organisations responsible for recruiting, developing and retaining laboratory talent.
Is this track relevant to organisations addressing the laboratory skills gap in the UK?
The track provides a space for organisations responding to the laboratory skills gap UK to exchange ideas with scientific, quality, education and training professionals. It explores the changes needed to build a stronger future workforce, supported by industry insight, peer discussion and cross-sector collaboration.
Where can I find sessions on training, career pathways and leadership development?
View the Lab Innovations conference agenda for Skills and Development sessions. The programme includes expert talks and panel discussions on upskilling, diversity in laboratories, scientific career paths and leadership, with opportunities to practise skills in a practical event setting.
Where can I meet laboratory training providers and professional bodies?
Lab Innovations brings together laboratory professionals, education providers, training organisations and professional bodies through conference sessions, networking spaces and wider event activity. Visitors can use these settings to discuss learning needs, career development and partnerships that support laboratory workforce development.
What skills and development opportunities can visitors explore at Lab Innovations?
Visitors can explore technical training, leadership development, career pathways, diversity and practical learning opportunities. The programme supports both early-career professionals building confidence and laboratory leaders developing teams, while industry content and peer discussion offer perspectives on how to upskill laboratory staff.
How can Lab Innovations help laboratories strengthen and retain their workforce?
Lab Innovations connects employers, training providers, educators and laboratory professionals to share approaches to skills, development and career progression. Its CPD-accredited conference content, networking activity and cross-sector conversations help teams identify practical ways to build capability, support engagement and retain scientific talent.
How do I register for CPD-accredited lab training at Lab Innovations?
Register for a free Lab Innovations visitor ticket to attend the CPD-accredited conference programme. Visitors can access Skills and Development sessions, panel discussions and networking opportunities on 4 and 5 November 2026 at NEC Birmingham, with CPD points available for relevant sessions.
When and where does Lab Innovations take place?
-
Venue details - NEC Birmingham, UKVenue details - NEC Birmingham, UK
4th & 5th November 2026
4th & 5th November 2026 -
Getting there - Train, car, bus, airport
-
Parking - On-site, nearby, costs, pre-booking links
-
Hotels nearby - Partner hotels
-
Accessibility - Wheelchair access, assistance, dietary info
Collaborate in-person at Lab Innovations 2026
Meet suppliers, hear from experts and discover practical solutions