The UK is a power performer when it comes to the tech sector. Not only is it Europe’s leading ecosystem, globally it comes third only to the huge markets of the US and China.
The government says that there are already more than three million tech workers in the UK, and it is home to more high-growth companies than its European peers. In fact, the nation can boast 144 unicorns, aka a company with a billion-pound valuation.
Then there are the 237 futurecorns the government has predicted, too. You guessed it: these are companies which are expected to reach that key billion-pound value in the near future.
The UK’s tech dominance doesn’t end there.
With 85,000 startups and scale-ups operating here, the UK receives more venture capital investment than other Euro countries, and has a forward-thinking approach to regulation, designed to encourage digital innovation and competition.
It is fair to say that the tech sector is in rude health.
London is the epicentre of tech activity thanks to its long-term dominance as a global financial services hub. This has led to a slew of innovative FinTech companies setting up shop in the capital, for example.
But London is just part of the picture: centres of tech innovation and excellence are growing nationwide with Cambridge now known for cutting-edge AI research, and tech clusters emerging in Bristol and Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as Manchester and Birmingham.
Rise of HealthTech
Another feather in UK tech’s cap is the stellar rise of its HealthTech sector. Some experts are calling it the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’s healthcare sector’ thanks to the fact that investment levels rose from £345.48million in 2016 to £2.98billion in 2021.
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So what exactly is HealthTech? In a nutshell, it is all about technology solutions that are designed to help with the challenges faced by modern healthcare providers, and can include things like diagnostic tools, robotic surgery, telemedicine, mobile health apps, and remote monitoring devices.
Just as tech has revolutionised shopping or banking services, the aim is to make it easier for people to access healthcare and take more control over their own health, as well as make the jobs of healthcare workers easier.
For example, during the pandemic, the NHS Covid app was downloaded more than 29million times in England and Wales as of December 2021, pushing the adoption and awareness of this type of technology into the mainstream.
As a leading light in the global HealthTech sector, the UK is home to a host of innovative companies creating solutions to address a range of health-related problems.
There is Birdie, an online tool and mobile app that allows users to schedule and manage at-home care services for the elderly, as well as Numan, designed to give men control over their health, and Unmind, an app for mental health well-being within the workplace.
Progress leading to more jobs
With the sector still maturing and plenty more yet to come, this progress means job growth. As HealthTech becomes enmeshed with traditional medicine, existing roles will be redefined, and new jobs will begin to emerge across areas such as telemedicine, data analytics, nursing, mental health, leadership, and more.
Telemedicine is just one area of growth where doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals have promising career prospects. But you don’t necessarily have to be a healthcare professional to work in a HeathTech company, as opportunities abound across areas such as software engineering, data analytics, business functions such as sales and marketing, and increasingly, in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI).
That’s because generative AI algorithms can be used for a range of things from generating personalised treatment recommendations to helping with patient diagnoses, to transcribing medical documents.
It is an exciting time to explore a career in HealthTech, and if you’re already working in the area, or would like to make a move into this growing sector, then the Metro Job Board should be your first port of call. It contains thousands of jobs across traditional healthcare roles like nursing and midwifery, as well as plenty of interesting jobs in tech firms.
Oracle is looking for a Healthcare Cloud Growth Executive in London who will leverage existing Oracle Cloud capabilities to build further and shape opportunities across its healthcare vertical. Insurer Axa is seeking a Portfolio Manager – Healthcare, also in the city. You’ll be managing investment funds across Global Healthcare and Global Biotech, for example.
In Sheffield a part time role for a Healthcare Technician is available at Clinical. You should have ward or theatre experience, ideally gained in Ophthalmology, and will join a supportive team in the new Sheffield Eye Hospital.
Discover thousands more healthcare jobs now on the Metro Job Board
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