LABORATORY TECHNICIAN APPRENTICE

Summary

Ready to fuel the success of Procter & Gamble’s (P&G) globally renowned brands like Gillette, Venus, Olay, Head & Shoulders and Oral-B? Do you want to be part of the innovation and technological advancement of products used every day by millions of the world’s consumers?

Wage

£22,000 a year

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Start salary of £22,000 per year with salary reviews annually and increases awarded in line with strong performance.

Training course

Technician scientist (level 5)

Hours

Monday to Friday 8 hours per day including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break. Hours to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

3 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

You will join the team as a Laboratory Technician Apprentice and will be part of one or a couple of different project teams working across the lab, having ownership and accountability for delivering data and scientific insights for your project.

Your role will be varied and will include:

Working in regulated laboratory environments and systems to the highest quality & safety standards
Learning scientific techniques to measure our products performance (in-vitro and in-vivo), stability and safety
Undertaking data analysis from this testing; identifying trends and any errors and reporting this data back to your supervisors, and applying scientific methods to identify causes and achieve solutions
Creating and formulating chemistries for use during grooming / beauty care routines
Learning how Measurement laboratory science supports full scope of the R&D lifecycle, from new product innovation, through product development and launch readiness
Learning how to plan and perform laboratory-based scientific investigations and experiments using specialised techniques, following specified methodologies, and quality standards, and in accordance with relevant H&S procedures and wider regulation/ legislation
Collaborating with stakeholders and communicating scientific information

Where you’ll work

460 Basingstoke Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG2 0QE

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

Technician scientist (level 5)

Equal to higher national diploma (HND)

Course contents

Identify potential scientific techniques to meet defined objectives.
Review and select appropriate scientific techniques to undertake required tasks (consider risk management, safe working practices, equipment availability, quality standards, the environment, and sustainability).
Source and calibrate specified instrumentation and laboratory equipment.
Plan and perform laboratory-based investigations and scientific experimentation using scientific techniques, procedures, and methods relevant to the role.
Systematically obtain information when conducting scientific experiments.
Record and store data in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Contribute to the development or improvement of processes and methodologies and support their implementation into the business as part of a wider team.
Use data analysis tools and software packages to process or produce reliable, accurate data or information.
Interpret scientific data to inform actions or recommendations and escalate where required.
Present the results of scientific work to scientific and non-scientific audiences in written and oral form.
Plan and prioritise own tasks and complete work to schedule whilst maintaining compliance with internal and external requirements.
Contribute to recommendations, improvements, or scientific solutions to meet the requirements of internal or external customers.
Identify, develop or contribute to solutions to technical problems.
Collaborate with stakeholders and identify results requiring further investigation or escalation.
Keeps up to date with advances in scientific and sector working practices and technologies. Shares best practice across the team.
Identify potential scientific techniques to meet defined objectives.
Review and select appropriate scientific techniques to undertake required tasks (consider risk management, safe working practices, equipment availability, quality standards, the environment, and sustainability).
Source and calibrate specified instrumentation and laboratory equipment.
Plan and perform laboratory-based investigations and scientific experimentation using scientific techniques, procedures, and methods relevant to the role.
Systematically obtain information when conducting scientific experiments.
Record and store data in accordance with regulatory requirements.
Contribute to the development or improvement of processes and methodologies and support their implementation into the business as part of a wider team.
Use data analysis tools and software packages to process or produce reliable, accurate data or information.
Interpret scientific data to inform actions or recommendations and escalate where required.
Present the results of scientific work to scientific and non-scientific audiences in written and oral form.
Plan and prioritise own tasks and complete work to schedule whilst maintaining compliance with internal and external requirements.
Contribute to recommendations, improvements, or scientific solutions to meet the requirements of internal or external customers.
Identify, develop or contribute to solutions to technical problems.
Collaborate with stakeholders and identify results requiring further investigation or escalation.
Keeps up to date with advances in scientific and sector working practices and technologies. Shares best practice across the team.

Your training plan

You will be expected to be on site at our R&D centre in Reading 4 days a week for the practical elements of your learning.

The vocational learning towards your BTEC Level 5 HND in Applied Science (Chemistry or Biology pathway) will take place online one day per week, with some practical elements taking place in Sutton Coldfield throughout the duration of the 3 year apprenticeship. Expenses associated with this travel will be covered by P&G in line with our UK Travel & Expenses Policy.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Any / Other Subject (grade Grade 4 / C or above)
Any / Other Subject (grade Grade 4 / C or above)
English (grade Grade 4 / C or above)
Mathematics (grade Grade 4 / C or above)
Science (grade Grade 4 / C or above)

A Level in:

Any Science Subject (grade Grade C 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
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

Please note we are not accepting applications from university students or graduates for this opportunity. We have alternative opportunities targeted at university students and graduates through internships and direct hire roles that are advertised on our careers website across the year. We welcome applications from candidates living in all parts of the country, but accommodation and travel requirements need to be considered and arranged by the successful applicants.

About this company

Our 3 year Laboratory Technician Scientist Apprenticeship (Level 5) will provide first class training within a global fast moving consumer goods company, working within our Research & Development (R&D) function. This role is delivered in partnership with CSR Scientific Training as a Further Education provider. We welcome applications from candidates who have completed A level or equivalent in a Science subject (Grade C or above). This opportunity is not open to degree holders as we offer other opportunities within our Research & Development function for university students or graduates. The Laboratory Technician Apprentice will be part of one or several project teams working across the lab, having ownership and accountability for delivering data and scientific insights for your project. Reading Innovation Centre is home to over 200+ scientists and engineers responsible for innovating consumer products in several business areas including Personal Health Care (Vicks) Oral Care (Oral-B), Grooming (Gillette) and Beauty Care (Olay). The site is a specialist Healthcare & Grooming Research & Development Hub in Europe and supports our European Beauty Franchise business. The site is friendly, diverse and has a rich history in innovation in multiple business areas.

https://www.pgcareers.com/global/en/locations/united-kingdom (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Our benefits include pension, private healthcare, 25 days paid holiday (plus bank holidays), and other benefits. To find more information about our benefits package take a look here: https://www.pgcareers.com/benefits

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Successful apprentices will be considered for permanent roles in line with business needs at the time the apprenticeship finishes

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CSR SCIENTIFIC TRAINING LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000311351.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Monday 21 April 2025)

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.

Company’s application instructions

Submit a CV/covering letter via the P&G careers website link. Next complete the online assessments, and if successful you will be invited to an initial interview (virtual). An assessment day will be held at P&G in Reading during on Thursday 29th May 2025. It will provide the opportunity for applicants to see the site, meet the P&G team, and partake in individual and team tasks as well as a final interview. We expect to fill all available positions from this assessment day on 29th May.

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