The city of London is home to over 12 million people, and it is a global centre for education, science and research. Its pharmaceutical industry is strong, and a number of multinational drug companies have business premises or production facilities in the area.According to official government statistics, over 70,000 people in the UK were employed in the pharmaceutical sector, and the majority of them were based in or around London. This is an industry that contributes over £8 billion per year to the economy, so its influence in London is great. Roles in London include research staff, manufacturing personnel, account managers, project leaders and sales executives.
Recruitment agencies are always looking for bright and educated people to work in the sector, as the industry relies on keen and ambitious minds to further its range of products. There are dozens of smaller pharmaceutical companies in London, including A1 Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Aspar Pharmaceutical. However, Britain's large multinational drug manufacturers are GlaxoSmithKline and Astra Zeneca, and both have a major presence in the capital. Staff working in London's pharmaceutical industry can expect to earn attractive salaries. Research operatives can earn anything between £25,000 and £100,000 per year, depending on their salary. Those in marketing, sales and account management can earn basic salaries of between £25,000 and £50,000, but there are often significant bonuses to be earned as well.