The results of our comprehensive Career Survey have been tallied up, with the findings offering a unique insight into what UK pharma employees see as the best and worst of working life in the industry.

Over 1,000 respondents from all sectors of the industry, from R&D to marketing to regulatory affairs and senior management have taken part, and we rev eal what they’ve told us this month and in our next issue.

The survey revealed that UK pharma voted overwhelmingly for a challenging job and responsibility as their top priority for a fulfilling job.

Over 70% of respondents viewed this as their foremost priority - more than 20% ahead of competing priorities. Interestingly, the two groups who gave this the highest rating as a priority were those in pre-clinical drug discovery and production and manufacturing. In contrast, those in sales and marketing were not so emphatic on this question, with other areas mentioned.

Basic pay, atmosphere/corporate culture and values, and the recognition of one’s contribution all scored over 40% - a clear confirmation that employees within the industry are driven by more than a single-minded pursuit of a high salary.

One significant factor arising from this particular question was the diversity of responses, with respondents rating holiday time (13%) as highly as commuting distance (14%) and according pensions (11%) equal merit to international travel (11%).

Boehringer Ingelheim UK is one of the country’s most successful pharmaceutical companies in terms of providing an excellent working environment for its employees – and proving it, too.

The company has been placed in the Sunday Time’s best 100 companies to work for four consecutive years (coming 19th in 2005) -  the only pharma business ranked in last year’s results.

Human Resources director Chris Chugg says he’s not surprised the survey showed a challenge was the biggest motivating factor for our respondents.

He says much of Boehringer’s success has stemmed from offering its employees fulfilling and rewarding work.

This has been achieved by fostering a belief that employees are making a genuine contribution to healthcare, combined with a wider feeling of common purpose within the company.

“We are one of the few family owned large businesses, and we treat people as if they are part of a community.  The staff are not treated like numbers, but like people.”

Chugg says recognising the contribution of employees is a vital factor but one which he says can be easily overlooked.

Boehringer has taken a proactive stance in this area, issuing employees with a monthly update of individual’s work-related achievements and hosting a ‘value through innovation day’ which Chugg says is like the company’s ‘mini Oscars’.

It is measures like these, he reasons, which introduce a light-hearted competitive element to work and, moreover, ensure that employee’s contributions are not ignored.

Chugg also acknowledged the importance of a positive atmosphere within a company and said Boehringer Ingelheim’s new in-house coffee shop was symbolic of the social heart of the organisation and helped to maintain company morale.

The survey confirmed the importance of atmosphere/ corporate culture and values, which was placed at number three among the top priorities.