Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Summary

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly motivated individual, who approaches work with a positive attitude and is able to take on a high level of responsibility, to contribute to the forensic science process by maintaining the laboratory and maintaining the equipment and stock required to progress casework.

Wage

£23,111 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Further pay review on 1st April 2025

Training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Hours

Mon – Fri either 9am-5pm or 8am-4pm. Apprenticeship duration is between 18-24 months depending on if an academic qualification is being included.

37 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 7 April

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

Work alone or as part of a team to strict standard operating procedures in accordance with international standards, including ISO17025
Be responsible for ensuring the tidiness and cleanliness of working spaces is maintained
Maintain and manage stock levels of required consumables and ensure quality of purchased stock
Calibrate pipettes, balances and thermometers
Undertake temperature monitoring and environmental monitoring of laboratories
Ensure equipment is serviced and calibrated and maintain associated records
Prepare reagents in accordance with strict expiry dates
Maintain COSHH and health and safety standards throughout the department
Assist with destruction, returns and correct storage of exhibits
Assist with archiving / retrieval of case files
Maintain reference standard collection and associated records of receipt, storage and expiry.

Where you’ll work

Sir William Lyons Road

Coventry

CV4 7EZ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

CSR SCIENTIFIC TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
Complete documentation proficiently
Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
Contribute to the preparation of reports.
Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results
Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
Complete documentation proficiently
Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
Contribute to the preparation of reports.
Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results

Your training plan

Through the training provider, CSR Scientific Training, you will undertake a Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship which will include:

Fully recognised apprenticeship qualification - Level 3 Laboratory Technician
On-the-job competency training
Theoretical knowledge - BTEC Level 3 Applied Science (if required)

The majority of your learning will be completed online once a week with some face-to-face practical sessions/exams in Sutton Coldfield.

Upon successful completion, apprentices can apply for professional registration as a Registered Science Technician, RSciTech, with either the Royal Society of Chemistry or Royal Society of Biology

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

2 more GCSEs (grade 4)
English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)
Science (grade 4)

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

Science (grade C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Number skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

IN ORDER TO PASS OUR STRINGENT SECURITY VETTING, YOU MUST HAVE RESIDED IN THE UK FOR THE PREVIOUS 5 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF YOUR APPLICATION. WE CANNOT CONSIDER APPLICANTS THAT HAVE NOT LIVED IN THE UK FOR THE PREVIOUS 5 YEARS AND YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REJECTED. PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE A VALID RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK DOCUMENT BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION

About this company

Key Forensic Services has the best people in place to provide a range of quality forensic testing services, many designed by our forensic scientists to support forensic professionals around the world. Assessed by UKAS, many of the methods are ISO17025 and FSR Codes of Practice accredited.

https://keyforensic.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you may be able to apply for a permanent position.

Ask a question

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