Microbiologist - Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Cadburys

Birmingham (B30 2HP)

Closes in 14 days (Monday 31 March)

Posted on 13 March 2025

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Summary

This Apprenticeship will prepare you to deliver microbiological and food quality project programmes within a lab environment. Based at the home of Cadburys, Bournville, you will work with our QA microbiology lab which serves our Bournville, Chirk and Marlbrook manufacturing plants. Every day will bring new challenges and opportunities.

Wage
£18,000 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£18,000-£21,000 depending on experience.

Training course
Laboratory technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8.00am - 4.00pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Possible start date

Monday 12 May

Duration

2 years

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you’ll do at work

Some of your key duties will include:

  • Media preparation, be involved in equipment calibration daily, general laboratory house keeping 
  • Sample preparation  
  • Environmental Swabbing 
  • Ensure compliance to the Mondelez GLP standard
  • Basic maintenance of laboratory equipment
  • Admin and revision of existing documents  
  • Waste management 
  • Stock Control  
  • Carry out routine microbiological analysis of raw materials, WIP, and finished product to the agreed specifications and sampling rates
  • PCR analysis
  • Data analysis, results reporting and interpretation

Where you’ll work

Bournville Lane
Birmingham
B30 2HP

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

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/Birmingham City Centre. Travel expenses will be covered for these sessions. 

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:

  • 5 GCSEs including English, Maths and Science (grade C/4 or above)

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
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Non judgemental

Other requirements

There will be an Interview Assessment Centre Day on Thursday 10th April.

About this company

Mondelēz International empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. We're leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar and Tate's Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate. We are one of the largest snack companies in the world with global net revenues of approximately $36 billion in 2024. We hold the #1 global position in biscuits (cookies and crackers) and #2 in chocolate, while we’re growing rapidly in baked snacks. We also make and sell gum & candy as well as various cheese & grocery and powdered beverage products in certain markets. We have operations in more than 80 countries and employ approximately 91,000 diverse and talented employees in our factories, offices, research & development facilities and distribution activities around the world.

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

After this apprenticeship

  • Upon successful completion, there may be the opportunity to progress onto a higher level apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CSR SCIENTIFIC TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000309400.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Monday 31 March)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.