Laboratory Science (Chemistry) Level 6/Degree Apprenticeship

Summary

We are looking for highly motivated people with a real passion for science and determined to learn. No prior experience is needed as we’ll give you all the training you need to succeed. You’ll need to be able to work well in a team, as well as independently and have excellent communication skills.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

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Competitive salary and annual bonus based on performance

Training course

Scientist (level 6)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9-5pm.

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

4 years

Positions available

1

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

What will you do?

The Laboratory Scientist role is a 4 year programme, which will require balancing work with learning. Your day-to-day work and training will be supported by studying towards a BSc Chemical Science degree with Manchester Metropolitan University (more information can be found here). The main learning will be completed once a week online, with a residential week once a year.

You will spend the first 24 months of the apprenticeship moving around different departments, and learning more about the specialisms of each team, to learn and carry out lab work. After 24 months, you’ll join a specific department where you’ll continue to grow and develop your skills. To support your education, you will be eligible to utilise 20% of your time towards your studies. This could be one day a week, or you can save them up to use for revision and exams.

We have been recruiting apprentices since 2013, many of whom are still with the business. Each year we are recruit multiple apprentices, so you’ll get the chance to work and study together, across different functions and previous year groups.

Where you’ll work

Reading Science Centre
Whiteknights Campus
Pepper Lane
Reading
RG6 6LA

Training

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

College or training organisation

MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Scientist (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
Recommend synthetic pathways to target-compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
Design, develop and carry out biological investigations
Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
Use of laboratory automation systems.
Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.

Your training plan

Degree:

BSc Chemical Science degree

University:

Manchester Metropolitan University

Education / Certifications:

You’ll need a good academic background to qualify for our apprentice program, including:

104 UCAS points at A-Level (grade BCC), one of which must be chemistry (or an equivalent scientific discipline).
A minimum of 5 GCSE’s (or equivalent) at grades 9-5, including a Science, Maths and English Language (not Literature)
As part of the requirement for this role you will need to apply and be accepted on to the University course after an offer has been made by RSSL

More training information

You will spend the first 24 months of the apprenticeship moving around different departments, and learning more about the specialisms of each team, to learn and carry out lab work. After 24 months, you’ll join a specific department where you’ll continue to grow and develop your skills. To support your education, you will be eligible to utilise 20% of your time towards your studies. This could be one day a week, or you can save them up to use for revision and exams.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English language (grade 9-5)
Maths (grade 9-5)
Minimum of 5 GCSEs (grade Grades 9-5)
Science (grade 9-5)

A Level in:

x3 A Levels - one of which must be chemistry (grade BCC or 104 UCAS points)

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
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Team working

About this company

At Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), where this role will be based, we lead the way in scientific analysis, research, consultancy, and training. We provide services to the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries, as well as our parent company, Mondelez International. RSSL is dedicated to delivering world-class scientific solutions andoutstanding customer service. Recognised for our excellence, we were awarded CRO of the Year at the 2023 OBN Awards, and our apprentices have also received awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry and been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at the Thames Valley Awards.If you are passionate about driving innovation and making a real impact, RSSL is the place for you!

https://www.mondelezinternational.com/careers/jobs/job?jobid=R-133191&jobtitle=Laboratory+Science+(C (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

35 days annual leave (including bank holidays) Access to world class scientific equipment. Eligible for NUS Extra card . Contributory pension and flexible benefits programme. Access to employee health and well-being programmes.

After this apprenticeship

After the apprenticeship the business will help to identify a suitable permenant position

Ask a question

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