Dr Tony Bradshaw
Following my degree and PhD at Heriot Watt University, in Edinburgh, I was lucky enough to join British Sugar in 1988. This was an amazingly diverse job, with really dedicated people, exploring how biotechnologies could add value to the Company’s food ingredient portfolio.
After 5 years I joined the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering at University College London. We developed industry leading training (MBI Training) as a vehicle for engagement with industry. It’s still going strong after 30 years, Mike Hoare was the driving force and inspiration.
After four years as a leading recruiter of biotechnology leadership teams, with Ruston Poole International and Harvey Nash, I joined the BioIndustry Association’s leadership team in 2004.
At the BIA I was privileged to be working with the UK’s leading biotech entrepreneurs, under the leadership of Aisling Burnand. My particular contribution was establishing one of the UK’s Knowledge Transfer Networks, bioProcessUK - which continues > 20 years later, and supporting the national strategy around biological medicines development, manufacturing and skills - which played an important role in the UK based development of covid vaccines. I was awarded the inaugural Richard Wilson Impact Award in 2016.
These roles enabled me to develop into be a leading professional in the area of biotechnology talent management, synthesising my skills into a unique offer. The BIA sponsored me to train as a coach leading to the establishment of my own talent consultancy - Biosocius Ltd in 2015 with MyFuturePlan in 2018. I helped initiate the Advanced Therapies Apprenticeship Community with Kate Barclay, Netty England and Laura Bennett and established the Resilience Centre of Excellence Leadership Accelerator.
Why Biosocius?
Biosocius combines bio — life and bioscience — with the Latin socius, meaning a companion, partner or ally.
That captures something important about how I see my role.
After nearly 40 years in bioscience, I bring experience, coaching and behavioural insight to help people understand themselves better, make more of where they are and work out where they want to go next.
But I don't believe a coach should tell someone what their career ought to become. My role is to be a partner in their development — asking good questions, providing insight and creating the space to explore possibilities and make their own decisions.
The name also reflects another theme that has run through my work: science is rarely an individual endeavour. Progress depends on people with different strengths and ways of thinking being able to connect, collaborate and contribute.
Biosocius: a partner in bioscience people development.
You can see more detail on my LinkedIn profile