Tracking down talented scientists

Recruitment rapidly became one of BioAscent’s biggest challenges. Having exhausted existing networks in Scotland, BioAscent needed to engage with a wider group of potential recruits, and further highlight their status as an attractive employer for scientists looking to develop their career. This meant looking further afield for candidates across the UK and from overseas.

V Formation came up with the idea to launch a recruitment awareness campaign on social media to strengthen their search for talented scientists. Pulling the team together, we worked on a number of possible campaign ideas and themes, focusing on the compelling career opportunities BioAscent has to offer, along with the attraction of living in Scotland, where there is an alternative and more attractive work-life balance to other areas of the UK.

Delivering two creative campaigns

Our ideas culminated in two campaigns. The first used the slogan ‘the only thing missing is you’ and used a series of images of the BioAscent laboratories and Scottish scenery with a silhouette person. These ran as a standalone campaign on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The second recruitment campaign used a carousel around the theme of Live-Work-Grow, pulling together the aspects of working in a progressive and dynamic CRO on a variety of projects, living within reach of breath-taking countryside, and developing as an individual, having the best of both worlds.

The campaigns ran for four months, during which time there was a 283% increase in LinkedIn followers, with a number of individuals contacting BioAscent directly to find out more about career opportunities.

These campaigns have been supported by a series of ‘Meet the team’ blogs where BioAscent employees share their career journeys and experiences, as well as more people-focused content including social and charitable activities, helping to highlight BioAscent as a great place to work and develop a career.

“We have worked with Sue and the team at V Formation since 2018, and they have provided us with consistent support, strategic input, and creative campaigns. Due to the increased demand for our integrated drug discovery services, our most recent focus has been on recruitment. The team at V Formation worked quickly to develop and launch two campaigns for social media to help raise awareness of BioAscent as a potential employer, as well as positioning the benefits of living and working in Scotland, which has helped us to attract talent from across the globe.”

• Mike Piper, Chief Commercial Officer at BioAscent

The V Formation team is passionate about working with businesses in the life sciences sector that have a goal of improving the health and wellbeing of patients’ lives – whether that be directly, or as a small (but important) cog in the drug discovery and development machine. From launching a recruitment campaign to advising on strategy, V Formation can help your business to fly.

Contact us for a friendly chat on 0115 667 0131 or drop us a line here.