The BTS Skills Gap Initiative

Background to the Initiative

Many in our profession have become aware of the increasing importance of expertise in regulatory toxicology, both in government and industry (including consultancies and CROs).

This is being driven by the need for more innovation in the design of safe and sustainable chemicals, increased regulatory demands following the UK’s exit from the EU, and the growth in development and regulatory use of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). There has been a decrease in the number of skilled applicants for toxicology roles, especially in regulatory toxicology that supports human health and environmental risk assessment.

In response to this need, the BTS launched its Skills Gap Initiative, with input from stakeholders from industry, government and academia.

Phase 1

Phase 1 of the Skills Gap Initiative focused on the skills and training needed in regulatory toxicology, identified by a wide range of stakeholders, and also on the education and skills training available to current and future UK regulatory toxicologists. The report from Phase 1 identified a number of gaps in the availability of training. One recommendation from this report was for the BTS to host a listing of training courses available to support members in their development and which would complement the offering from the Skills Gap Initiative.

Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Skills Gap Initiative involved the preparation of a plan to meet the training gaps identified in Phase 1, to include options for academic and multi-stakeholder investment plans in education and skills provision. This phase of the project involved key stakeholders (the ‘Steering Committee’) from academia, industry and government.  A number of recommendations were made, including the creation of a Hub and Spoke model to support the provision of education and training in toxicology.

Phase 3

In Phase 3 of the Initiative, an Advisory Board was established to provide strategic oversight and support the Steering Committee to prioritise key elements of the training and education strategy. The Advisory Board represents all relevant industrial sectors, academia and government departments.

The initial focus of Phase 3 is on the provision of training for regulatory toxicologists. The first module ‘An introduction to the principles of regulatory toxicology: present and future’ is being delivered to registrants between June and December 2024, with final in‑person workshops planned for January and February 2025. This module, primarily aimed at early-career regulatory toxicologists, will also be repeated in 2025.

The development of the Skills Gap Initiative has been planned up until 2029, after which time it is intended to be an established and recognised programme of training and education.

Proposed Module Timetable

Further training modules are being developed, with six modules planned for 2025 and a further six modules for 2026. These modules will provide more in-depth coverage of specific areas, following on from the introductory module, but will also be relevant for more established toxicologists.

Skills Gap training modules

We are currently seeking permission for names of members to be published and this will be done asap

We are currently seeking permission for names of members to be published and this will be done asap