New qualifications in MedTech to tackle 145,000 skills shortage

• New Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) in MedTech will help fill critical skills gaps, with estimated 145,000 jobs needed by 2035 across the sector^[i]
• Qualifications will train technicians and regulatory advisors to work on cutting-edge AI-enabled health devices, wearable tech, imaging and diagnostic tools
• They have been developed through innovative partnership between Skills England, lifelong learning company, Pearson, West Midlands Combined Authority, and MedTech businesses across the region
• Rollout of the new HTQs will support the government ambition for two-thirds of young people to be participating in higher-level learning (level 4+) – academic, technical or apprenticeships – by age 25

Pioneering new qualifications will help plug skills gaps in the UK’s booming medical technology (MedTech) sector – easing NHS pressures by boosting productivity.

The Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) – which can be taught by colleges, private training providers, and universities - will support people into in-demand jobs ranging from technicians working on AI-enabled health devices like wearable tech, imaging or diagnostic tools, to regulatory advisors.

They were developed through an innovative partnership between government, via Skills England; lifelong learning company, Pearson; the West Midlands Combined Authority; and employers across that region, which is a MedTech powerhouse with over 700 businesses.

The qualifications are being launched in the wake of the government calling for more cutting-edge medical technology in the NHS to boost productivity and help cut waiting lists.  The Association of British HealthTech Industries has estimated^[ii] that an extra 70,000 jobs will be needed by 2035 to meet demand across the sector, alongside 75,000 replacements for those leaving the workforce.

Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, said: “MedTech is transforming healthcare and these new qualifications will make sure people have the skills they need for the jobs of the future. I’m proud to see the West Midlands leading the way - working directly with employers to deliver opportunities that meet real business needs. By closing critical skills gaps, we’re not only opening careers for thousands of people - we’re helping the NHS cut waiting lists and deliver better care through innovation.”

Health Innovation Minister, Dr Zubir Ahmed, said: “I'm excited to see these new qualifications help thousands of people into rewarding careers, supporting our UK MedTech sector to strengthen the NHS and cut waiting lists. Our Life Science Sector Plan set out the importance of supporting MedTech as an engine for growth, and skills development is fundamental to this. These qualifications demonstrate exactly the kind of innovative thinking we need to equip people with cutting-edge skills – addressing critical workforce shortages and supporting the future of NHS care and productivity.”

The West Midlands has considerable strengths in medical devices, diagnostics and associated digital healthcare, with the largest medical devices cluster in the UK, employing over 14,000 people and generating a combined turnover of £6bn.

The region is home to world leading innovation hubs including Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, Arden Cross and West Midlands Health-Tech Accelerator.

To ensure that the two new qualifications support the growing skills needs of the employers who develop and produce medical technology products, West Midlands Combined Authority, Pearson and Skills England engaged with stakeholders drawn from business and enterprise communities; academia and educational providers; plus, representatives from the NHS. 

The qualifications will support the government’s Industrial Strategy, which identifies life sciences as a cornerstone for long-term investment and innovation, and the West Midlands Growth Plan. They are being piloted with funding from the West Midlands Investment Zone.

They are designed to strengthen healthcare teams with in-demand technical expertise, equipping workers with an understanding of how digital systems, regulation and testing combine in practice. They cover levels 4 and 5 – sitting between A Levels and T Levels, (level 3), and degrees (levels 6 and 7).

The Government’s national skills agency, Skills England, was set up to make sure that the skills system is more responsive to changing economic demands at a local and national level, using data and intelligence to help shape provision. Its analysis of skills needs up to 2030 found that around two thirds of projected additional employment demand in priority occupations will require workers with a qualification at level 4 or above^[iii].

Phil Smith, chair of Skills England, said: “MedTech is the future. Filling skills gaps for this fast-growing sector, through these new qualifications, will be a really practical way of supporting the NHS through boosting productivity. It’s a fantastic example of how national and regional government can work with employers and the education sector to rapidly respond to skills needs in growth sectors. I would like to say a special thanks to businesses in the West Midlands for all their support on this vital project.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “MedTech is one of the fastest growing sectors in the West Midlands economy, which is why it plays a big role in my Growth Plan. We’ve got the UK’s largest MedTech cluster, plus even more high-quality jobs coming to Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, so it’s essential that we ensure local people can gain the skills they need to work in this sector, and the opportunities to get a foot in the door.”

Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications, said: “Our new qualifications equip learners with the skills and confidence to succeed in the MedTech industry. They go beyond theory, delivering practical, sector-specific knowledge and skills that reflect real job roles, new technologies, and employers' needs. Created in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority and local businesses, these qualifications provide clear progression pathways, helping learners plan their next steps while gaining the knowledge and expertise to adapt and thrive in one of the UK’s fastest-growing sectors.”

Jan Myatt, Vice Principal at BMet, said: “We are delighted to be part of this pioneering initiative, which will open up exciting new career pathways for our BMet students in the fast-growing MedTech sector. The new Higher Technical Qualifications offer a unique opportunity for learners to develop practical, industry-relevant skills and gain a real understanding of cutting-edge technologies that are transforming healthcare. We look forward to promoting these qualifications to our students and delivering them from September 2026, helping to equip the next generation of talent for roles that will make a real difference to the NHS and the wider region.”

Jean-Louis Duprey, Head of R&D at startup ExGenDx, said: “As a Birmingham-based life sciences company, ExGenDx has been delighted to have supported the new, locally developed, MedTech HTQ. As a startup, we have long had the need for new employees to have a wide range of skills, from basic lab skills through to an understanding of the complex regulatory path required for medical devices. We believe that these new qualifications will greatly facilitate the expansion of health and medical technology research and development work here in the West Midlands, by providing a highly trained workface with ready-to-go experience.”

Melanie Davidson, Executive Lead for West Midlands Health Tech Cluster and CEO of Medilink Midlands, the organisation leading the cluster, said: “The West Midlands Health Tech Cluster is helping employers address one of the sector’s biggest challenges: the skills gap. By connecting academia and industry through this new MedTech pathway, we’re supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce that can stay and grow in the region, strengthening the Midlands’ MedTech ecosystem and driving innovation across the sector.”

Notes

1. The qualifications follow a modular format and are aligned to relevant occupational standards which contain cutting edge digital skills set in the context of life sciences. 
2. The government views life sciences (including MedTech) as central to both national economic renewal and healthcare transformation.  According to a recent government sector report^[iv], MedTech is the largest subsector in UK life sciences with 196,000 workers (55% of total life sciences workforce) who are employed by 4,360 companies (60% of all life sciences companies).