Apprentice Laboratory Technician

Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Wakefield laboratory where we are looking to appoint enthusiastic and dedicated individuals with a passion for science. As part of the ALS team, you'll be involved in a wide range of analytical areas which include the testing of drinking and wastewater for various customers, including utility customers.

Wage

£17,758.52 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Year 1 - £9.23 per hour based upon 37 hours per week

Training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Hours

4 days per week at the workplace (flexibility is necessary due to some departments operating shifts) and 1 day at college in the academic terms. Shift patterns to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 8 September 2025

Duration

2 years 5 months

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

As an apprentice analyst, you will be trained in various analytical techniques including instrumentation.

Year 1 will place the apprentice in several departments at the Wakefield site to include both Microbiology and Chemistry analysis
Year 2 will see the apprentice placed in a single department to consolidate their skills and knowledge in preparation for the end point assessment
You will be expected to manage your apprenticeship studies alongside your work commitments with support from the ALS Apprentice Management Team and Kirklees College

Where you’ll work

Unit 11 Silkwood Park
Janes Hill
Wakefield
WF5 9TP

Training

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

College or training organisation

KIRKLEES COLLEGE

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

Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship Standard qualification.

1 day per week in college, at Kirklees College, Waterfront Centre in Huddersfield.

You will complete an End Point Assessment. This will involve the following:

Knowledge test
Observation with questioning
An interview

Where an apprentice has not already achieved Level 2 English and maths, they must do so before taking the end-point assessment.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English, maths and science and at least 2 others (grade 5 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
Initiative
Aptitude for learning
Ability to work to deadlines
Ability to work under pressure

Other requirements

Will be working with chemicals and waste waters.

About this company

ALS Environmental is one of the UK’s leading providers of testing and analytical services to a wide variety of customers enabling them to meet their environmental regulatory requirements. We offer an extensive range of UKAS, MCERTS and DWTS accredited analytical services for Water, Land and Waste monitoring. We have developed a range of analytical services that meet our customers’ specific needs, including standard industry, regulatory and bespoke analytical suites. We can respond to customers’ analytical and sampling requirements via our network of laboratories and service centres across the UK and Ireland. We continue to remain at the forefront of the testing services industry, building an enviable reputation.

After this apprenticeship

Role of Laboratory Analyst

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

KIRKLEES COLLEGE

Agata Walon

awalon@kirkleescollege.ac.uk

07929075137

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000314834.

Apply now

Closes in 9 days (Monday 5 May 2025 at 11:59pm)

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