Scientific Temps: Your Competitive Advantage
In today’s diverse and fast-paced scientific industries, agility is everything. Whether you’re operating a pharmaceutical testing lab, running a biotech startup, or a university research centre, the ability to scale your team quickly and efficiently can make the difference between meeting a deadline, missing a breakthrough, or in some cases, making payroll!
Yet many organisations overlook one of the most powerful tools at their disposal: scientific temps.
What Are Scientific Temps?
Scientific temps are qualified professionals; often highly educated with many years of experience, who are hired on a short-term basis through scientific recruitment agencies. These individuals can fill a wide range of positions, from lab technicians and research assistants to regulatory affairs specialists and production operators.
They’re not just “extra hands.” They’re skilled contributors who can help you meet project goals, mitigate staffing ‘gaps’, and bring fresh expertise and ideas to your team.
The Benefits of Scientific Temps
Flexibility Without Compromise
Scientific projects often come with fluctuating demands. Whether you’re ramping up for a clinical trial, covering maternity or sick leave, or responding to seasonal testing needs, temps allow you to scale your workforce up or down without the long-term commitment of permanent hires.
Access to Specialised Skills
Need someone with experience in HPLC, microbiology, or CRISPR techniques? Scientific temps often bring niche expertise that can be difficult to justify hiring for on a permanent contract. Many are career contractors who thrive in project-based environments and bring a wealth of experience and networks.
Cost-Effective Resourcing
Hiring a permanent employee comes with significant overheads: PAYE, pensions, benefits, training, and redundancy risks. Temps are typically billed hourly, and you only pay for the time you need. This is especially beneficial for grant-funded or time-limited projects.
Speed and Simplicity
Recruitment agencies specialising in science have prequalified talent pools, meaning you can fill roles in days, not weeks. This is crucial when, for example; you’re facing tight deadlines or unexpected absences.
Try Before You Hire
Many employers are now using temps as a lower-risk way to assess fit before offering a permanent position. The “temp-to-perm” model reduces hiring risk and improves long-term retention
“All of our lab staff are initially hired on a temp-to-perm basis. Given the fast-paced, client-focused nature of our business, it’s essential for us to evaluate cultural alignment before making permanent appointments.”
Common Misconceptions
“Temps aren’t as skilled.”
Many scientific temporary workers and contractors hold BScs, MScs, and even PhDs, and have worked across a diverse range of labs and companies. They can bring valuable knowledge and experience to your business.
“They won’t be committed.”
On the contrary, many temps are highly motivated professionals who enjoy the variety and challenge that short-term employment contracts offer.
“Temps are too expensive.”
When you factor in the total cost of employment, scientific temps can be much more economical than permanent hires, especially for short-term needs.
What about Compliance?
For laboratories considering a temporary staffing solution, compliance is a valid concern; but one that can be effectively managed with the right agency partnership. Reputable scientific recruitment agencies ensure that all temporary workers meet compliance requirements, including, for example, right-to-work checks, health and safety training, and they hold the relevant required certifications and experience, such as GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) or COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health). Employers should verify that the agency is a member of a recognised industry body, such as the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), and that it adheres to UK employment law, including the Agency Workers Regulations 2010. By working with compliant agencies, laboratories can confidently access skilled talent while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and compliance.
Real-World Impact
A UK-based biotech firm recently used our scientific temps to assist with the relocation of close to half a million samples as part of a laboratory relocation project they were undertaking. The organisation are involved in global clinical research and trials related to the development of vaccines and therapies for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The five laboratory based workers, and one administrative that were hired all had previous experience relevant to biobanking, cold chain storage and clinical research. They played a vital role in the project and provided the flexibility required to ensure it was a success. The workers were so valuable to the project that their temporary contracts were successfully extended twice through to completion.
Don’t Know Where to Start?
If you’ve never used scientific temps before, here’s some initial pointers:
Define your brief: What skills, duration, and outcomes are required?
Choose a specialist scientific recruitment agency: Look for one with a strong track record in your sector that has the knowledge and networks to support your campaign.
Prepare your team: Onboard your temporary workers like you would any new hire; train them, set out clear expectations, provide access to tools required to perform their roles effectively, and ensure their inclusion in your team culture.
Remember, scientific temps aren’t just a stopgap; they’re a valuable strategic asset. They bring flexibility, expertise, and efficiency to your lab, helping you stay competitive in a diverse and rapidly evolving industry.
If you’ve never considered using temporary scientific staff, now might be the perfect time to explore how they can support your next project, boost your team’s capabilities, and drive innovation forward.
Our team of friendly consultants are always happy to discuss your hiring options with you. Contact us to discuss whether scientific temps could be the best solution for your business.