Last week we bid a fond farewell to our intern, Callum Bates. We asked him to share his thoughts on his time at PHTA...
Over the past three months, I have had the privilege of working with the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator (PHTA) as a Business Support Intern. The role itself was refreshingly open-ended, allowing me to explore a wide variety of tasks across different departments and gain a truly holistic understanding of the organisation.
The PHTA is the anchor tenant in the brand-new Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, a hub designed to bring together clinicians, academics, and global businesses to accelerate innovation within the life sciences industry.
As a Biomedical Science Master’s student at the University of Birmingham, this internship provided me with a unique opportunity to see the real-world application of concepts I have studied, and to appreciate how innovation in healthcare transitions from the lab bench to commercial impact.
One of my particular areas of interest is the commercialisation of medical devices and therapeutics – the journey these products take from early research stages through to entering the global market. During my time at the PHTA, I was able to deepen my knowledge of this process, which has been both exciting and invaluable for shaping my future career aspirations.
A key part of my internship was supporting the set-up of the Makerspace facility. This state-of-the-art prototyping lab houses advanced 3D printers, power tools, and electrical equipment designed to enable the rapid development of new medical technologies. My contributions focused largely on the business and operational side of the set-up, including drafting consultancy packages, assisting with software integration, conducting market research, and developing marketing materials. Each of these tasks gave me practical insight into how a facility like the Makerspace can support innovators in turning their ideas into viable products.
Through this experience, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the challenges and rewards of business development within the healthcare sector. I have learned how vital it is to balance scientific creativity with commercial awareness, and how effective teamwork can accelerate progress in such a dynamic field.
Beyond the technical and business skills, the highlight of this internship has been working alongside the dedicated and inspiring team at the PHTA. Their openness to share knowledge and involve me in meaningful projects made this experience not only professionally rewarding but also personally enriching.
Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had over these past three months. The experience has strengthened my interest in healthcare innovation, broadened my understanding of business strategy, and confirmed my aspiration to pursue a career that bridges science and business. I leave this internship with new skills, valuable connections, and an even greater enthusiasm for contributing to the future of biomedical innovation.
