What is the Industry Skills Accelerator?

The Industry Skills Accelerator (ISA) is a national initiative designed to strengthen the UK’s medicines manufacturing workforce. Launched in August 2024, the ISA is funded by Innovate UK and delivered through a partnership between Cogent Skills, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT Catapult), and CPI (part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult).

Focused on advanced therapies and complex medicines – including cell, gene, vaccines, biologics, and other high potential modalities such as mRNA and Oligonucleotides. The ISA is building targeted training solutions to meet the evolving needs of this fast-moving sector.

Why was the Industry Skills Accelerator created?

Through its leadership of the Advanced Therapies Apprenticeship Community (ATAC), CGT Catapult supports a UK-wide network of training providers and employers. Based on insights from the 2023 Skills Demand Survey and 2025 Workforce Foresighting research, CGT Catapult identified urgent skills gaps across:

  • Manufacturing
  • Quality
  • Digital
  • Automation

In response, the ISA brings together key industry stakeholders and leading education providers to co-develop apprenticeship pathways and specialist training programmes (including a new route in Complex Medicines such as mRNA and Oligonucleotides), ensuring the sector is equipped for future growth.

What the ISA aims to achieve

Addressing Skills Gaps
The Industry Skills Accelerator is tackling workforce shortages by creating targeted programmes that help employers build the talent needed for emerging and complex medicine modalities.

Supporting lifelong learning
From school leavers to experienced professionals, the ISA supports learners at all stages with opportunities for upskilling and career progression in medicines manufacturing.

Sector collaboration
This initiative aligns with the UK Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence (RESILIENCE) and other industry partners to deliver sustainable, future-ready skills infrastructure.

Programme pathways

The Industry Skills Accelerator is developing a suite of apprenticeship programmes designed to meet the skills needs of the medicines manufacturing sector, with particular relevance to advanced, complex and emerging therapies such as cell, gene, mRNA, and oligonucleotide-based medicines, as well as more traditional biologics. The programmes have been selected in collaboration with industry to reflect high-priority areas including data, process optimisation, and quality control and assurance.

The diagram here shows the pathways for these programmes. Clicking on a programme name will take you to the full information for that programme. A short overview of each can also be found further on this page.

Production and Manufacturing
Level 5
No current programme
Quality and Improvement
Level 3
No current programme
Data, Digital and Automation

Available programmes

Programmes in development are listed here. In addition to core training, learners will benefit from a schedule of enrichment activities and networking opportunities. These will be tailored
to the specific challenges and innovations within each medicine modality, supporting real-world context, collaboration, and sector awareness.

10 results Clear filters
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Explore all available programmes

Output updates from our partners

  • CGT Catapult

    • As part of the ISA programme, CGT Catapult is creating new apprenticeship routes into Medicines Manufacturing by expanding the ATAC network. ATAC has already worked with 60+ organisations, supporting almost 400 apprentices across over 20 different apprenticeship programmes delivered by a range of approved training providers.

    Based on insights from the 2023 Skills Demand Survey and 2025 Workforce Foresighting research, CGT Catapult identified urgent skills gaps and is focusing on both early talent and upskilling in; production and manufacturing; quality; digital and Automation; and new medicine modalities. In response, the ISA continues to bring together key industry stakeholders and leading education providers to co-develop apprenticeship pathways and specialist training programmes, including a new route in complex medicines such as mRNA and oligonucleotides. Ensuring the sector is equipped for future growth.

    Visit the CGT Catapult website
  • CPI

    • As part of the Industry Skills Accelerator Programme, CPI is developing three new specialist training courses: RNA Design and Optimisation, An Introduction to Oligonucleotide Therapeutics, and Manufacturing of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics. Delivered through CPI’s RNA Centre of Excellence and RNA Training Academy, these courses will combine hosted and self-paced learning packages, making advanced skills more accessible across the sector.

    Alongside course development, CPI is supporting STEM outreach and promoting wider RESILIENCE resources to strengthen workforce capability in emerging therapeutics. By advancing industry-focused training, CPI is helping to equip the next generation of scientists and manufacturers to address global health challenges and unlock the potential of RNA innovation.

    Find out more about RNA Centre of Excellence

    Visit the CPI website
  • Cogent Skills

    • As part of the Industry Skills Accelerator Programme, Cogent Skills is engaging with SMEs across the medicines manufacturing ecosystem to identify the critical skills needed for growth. This insight informs the promotion of targeted support available through RESILIENCE for the development and manufacture of future and emerging therapies. By connecting employers to tailored training opportunities, we’re helping to build a strong, sustainable medicines manufacturing sector—one that is equipped to innovate, adapt, and thrive in the face of evolving technologies, therapies, and workforce demands.

    Visit the Cogent Skills website
  • CGT Catapult
    Responsible for: Apprenticeships
  • Responsible for: Development
  • Responsible for: Outreach

Interested in learning more about the Industry Skills Accelerator?

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