After taking a roundabout route to higher education, Harry Smith has been able to successfully combine hands-on experience with part-time study to open doors to a future-proof career.
And, having completed the first two years of a degree in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Product Manufacturing with the University of South Wales (USW), the 27-year-old, who has developed a successful career in the pharmaceutical and medical device sector, says the unconventional route has offered a number of benefits.
Now a Senior Process Engineer at Boston Scientific – a company which develops medical solutions – Harry’s career began not with a traditional university degree, but through an apprenticeship. After completing A-levels in economics, business, and maths – subjects he admits ‘didn’t particularly go well’ – he decided university wasn’t the right route for him at the time.
Instead, he pursued a supply chain project management apprenticeship straight out of college, joining a company later acquired by Boston Scientific.
“I’ve always been quite good at managing things,” Harry explains. “The apprenticeship gave me a really good introduction to both the industry and working life.”
Over the next few years, Harry built experience in supply chain roles, gradually learning the complexities of pharmaceutical manufacturing.
His move into engineering came during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when global supply chains were under intense pressure. With engineering teams stretched, he began supporting technical assessments from the supply chain side – evaluating alternative materials and PPE.
“I was able to deliver what was required during a high-pressure time,” he said. “So the technical manager brought me over into a project engineering role.”
From there, Harry progressed to his current position as a Senior Process Engineer, a role with a range of responsibilities – from troubleshooting process issues and ensuring product quality, to leading investigations and driving continuous improvement.
Despite the success in his career, Harry recognised a gap in his knowledge.
“I knew the engineering principles for our product and how we manufactured it,” he said. “But I wanted that broader industry understanding to underpin what I’d learned on the job.”
This led him to enrol in a part-time Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Product Manufacturing course, delivered through USW and GetReskilled. He has completed Levels 4 and 5 over the past two years, studying alongside his full-time role.
Combining a demanding job with academic study is no small task – but Harry found a rhythm that worked.
“It was quite intense, but it was manageable. I’d get up early and study before work, and just keep a steady pace,” he said.
The flexibility of the online, self-paced learning provided by the course proved key. Weekly lectures, assignments, and ordered content gave him structure, while access to tutors and workplace colleagues – who he said were a key support network – helped him on the road to success.
“I like learning at my own pace,” he said. “There was never a point where I didn’t know what I was meant to be doing.”
For Harry, the biggest benefit of the course was the breadth of knowledge it provided.
“It’s bridged the gap between being very confident in one specific area to understanding things at an industry level,” he said. “The course deepened my understanding of regulatory frameworks, global standards, and best practice.
“If I moved to a different company or product, before this course a lot of my knowledge might not have been transferable,” he said. “Now, I feel like I understand the bigger picture.”
Harry is quick to recommend the course to others – particularly those who have followed similar non-traditional routes.
“I’ve already recommended it to my team,” he said. “Especially those who came through apprenticeships or have moved into roles without formal qualifications, which can be valuable in today’s job market.”
With Levels 4 and 5 completed, Harry has the option to progress to Level 6 and complete a full degree. While he hasn’t yet committed, he is clear about the role his studies play in his future.
“Having that formal university qualification alongside experience will really support me with whatever may come next in my career. It’s been so good. I honestly can’t sing its praises enough,” he said.
Harry completed his studies through a partnership between USW and GetReskilled, a specialist online training provider for the pharmaceutical industry, which delivers a series of bite-sized CPD courses for adult learners looking to retrain or gain extra skills to work in the pharmaceutical industry. GetReskilled has educated more than 5,000 students over the past 20 years.
