Application Support Lead Apprentice – STADA Thornton & Ross – Reading, RG2 6GP – £19,500p/a – 38hrsw
THORNTON & ROSS LIMITED
Reading (RG2 6GP)
Closes today at 11:59pm
Posted on 10 August 2026
Contents
Summary
You will be the first point of contact for IT support across UK GIS and STADA, while also contributing to digital transformation initiatives that improve how the business operates, including supporting the rollout of cloud platforms, assisting with workflow automation, and helping to deliver a modern, digital workplace experience for all.
- Wage
-
£19,500 a year
- Training course
- Applications support lead (level 4)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, shifts to be confirmed.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Sunday 20 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 9 months
- 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
- Act as the first point of contact for all UK IT support requests, ensuring every call is logged and resolved in line with agreed SLAs.
- Provide day to day technical support to end users on all UK GIS and STADA GIS systems, both remotely and face to face.
- Deliver a high standard of customer care to all colleagues, customers, and suppliers.
- Follow established Incident, Service Request, and Change Management processes.
- Escalate recurring problems and emerging trends to Senior Support Engineers and management.
- Manage own workload through effective prioritisation and time management, assigning and progressing incidents appropriately.
- Maintain accurate Software and Hardware Asset Management records.
- Order consumable items and monitor stock levels to ensure business continuity.
- Assist in Service Acceptance and Transition activities for new technologies.
- Comply with all relevant Health & Safety legislation, corporate policies, and regulatory requirements.
- Support the rollout and adoption of cloud-based platforms, including Microsoft 365 and Azure services, helping colleagues get the most from modern tools.
- Assist in designing and implementing digital workflows using tools such as Microsoft Power Automate and Power Apps to reduce manual effort and improve efficiency.
- Contribute to projects that digitise and automate existing business processes, documenting outcomes and lessons learned.
- Help colleagues adopt new digital tools through guidance, informal training, and the creation of clear, user-friendly documentation.
- Support data collection, reporting, and analytics activities — for example using Power BI or Excel — to enable evidence-based decision-making.
- Participate in IT modernisation and infrastructure upgrade projects as part of cross-functional project teams.
- Contribute to cybersecurity awareness across the organisation, helping colleagues follow best-practice digital hygiene and information security policies.
- Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in IT processes and propose solutions aligned with the organisation's digital strategy.
The successful candidate will have:
- A keen interest in IT, technology, and digital innovation — with a desire to understand not just how systems work, but how technology can transform how organisations operate.
- Basic understanding of computer systems, networks, and cloud-based platforms.
- Awareness of Microsoft 365 and modern workplace technologies (e.g. Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive).
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical colleagues.
- A proactive and positive attitude — willing to learn, adapt, and take initiative.
- Relevant educational background in IT, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred but not essential.
Required
- Basic understanding of computer systems and networks.
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook).
- Customer service orientation and professional communication.
- Workload prioritisation and time management.
- Enthusiasm for digital technology and a growth mindset.
- Commitment to organisational values.
Desirable
- Relevant qualification or educational background in IT or a related field.
- Experience or certification in IT support or related areas.
- Awareness of cloud platforms.
- Exposure to process automation tools.
- Basic understanding of data and reporting tools.
- Experience supporting digital adoption or technology change initiatives.
Where you'll work
100 Longwater Avenue
Reading
RG2 6GP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS LIMITED
Training course
Applications support lead (level 4)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Use data systems securely to meet requirements and in line with organisational procedures and legislation, including principles of Privacy by Design.
- Demonstrate how usability and accessibility have been embedded into the application lifecycle.
- Assess the impact of user experience and relevant domain-specific factors for example industry standards, regulatory requirements, and business environment on the data analysis activity.
- Communicate verbally and non-verbally with internal and external stakeholders, using both technical and non-technical language to serve as a clear link between users and suppliers.
- Use active listening to demonstrate a customer focused approach to service delivery.
- Adapt to changing contexts within the scope of a project and continually review project outputs to ensure alignment with customer and organisational needs.
- Collate and interpret data and convert into useable formats such as infographics, reports, tables, dashboards, or graphs.
- Demonstrate the use of testing tools to verify that a solution or system is functioning as expected.
- Adapt and apply testing activities according to industry standard development methodologies for example sequential or iterative including maintenance of clear supporting documentation.
- Apply specific industry standards for example UK GDPR, Data Protection Act, ethical use of data and safety critical procedures related to software testing tasks.
- Use formal and informal techniques that will demonstrate software and or systems are fit for purpose.
- Use coaching or training methods to support stakeholders with organisations systems, platforms, or applications.
- Communicate support information clearly by creating and or maintaining user guides, training materials, and other documentation to help users understand and use systems.
- Demonstrate the ability to use tools and methods to formulate and utilise prompt engineering to research and evaluate support requirements.
- Engage in continuous and collaborative learning, ensuring learning activities align with changing technical landscape.
- Use data systems securely to meet requirements and in line with organisational procedures and legislation, including principles of Privacy by Design.
- Demonstrate how usability and accessibility have been embedded into the application lifecycle.
- Assess the impact of user experience and relevant domain-specific factors for example industry standards, regulatory requirements, and business environment on the data analysis activity.
- Communicate verbally and non-verbally with internal and external stakeholders, using both technical and non-technical language to serve as a clear link between users and suppliers.
- Use active listening to demonstrate a customer focused approach to service delivery.
- Adapt to changing contexts within the scope of a project and continually review project outputs to ensure alignment with customer and organisational needs.
- Collate and interpret data and convert into useable formats such as infographics, reports, tables, dashboards, or graphs.
- Demonstrate the use of testing tools to verify that a solution or system is functioning as expected.
- Adapt and apply testing activities according to industry standard development methodologies for example sequential or iterative including maintenance of clear supporting documentation.
- Apply specific industry standards for example UK GDPR, Data Protection Act, ethical use of data and safety critical procedures related to software testing tasks.
- Use formal and informal techniques that will demonstrate software and or systems are fit for purpose.
- Use coaching or training methods to support stakeholders with organisations systems, platforms, or applications.
- Communicate support information clearly by creating and or maintaining user guides, training materials, and other documentation to help users understand and use systems.
- Demonstrate the ability to use tools and methods to formulate and utilise prompt engineering to research and evaluate support requirements.
- Engage in continuous and collaborative learning, ensuring learning activities align with changing technical landscape.
Training schedule
During this apprenticeship, you will follow a fully supported training programme with LearnTech, delivered through combined weekly remote classroom-based training, workplace assessment/training and online learning working towards completing the Application Support Lead standard.
The training covers the following core occupational duties: https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0949-v1-0
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C)
- Maths (grade 4/C)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted 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
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
It is a requirement to have five GCSE 9-4 grades or equivalent (including English and Maths) to apply for this type of apprenticeship. If you do not have these grades but have completed numeracy and literacy Key Skills/Functional Skills at level two you may also apply for these apprenticeships.
Eligibility
You must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for the role:
- Have been a UK/EEA resident for the last 3 years
- Hold valid residency status
- Have the right to work in the UK
About this employer
STADA is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pharmaceuticals. With a long-standing heritage rooted in pharmacies, we have been perceived as a reliable and trustworthy partner for over 130 years. Our products help people protect and regain a dignified and able life. With our proven Generics, we ensure that everyday health remains affordable. We offer our employees an attractive working environment in which they can develop personally.
STADA focuses on a three-pillar strategy consisting of consumer healthcare products, generics, specialty pharmaceuticals. Worldwide, STADA Arzneimittel AG sells its products in over 100 countries. Consumer healthcare brands such as Nizoral®, Zoflora®, Grippostad®, SNUP®, Silomat® and Hirudoid® are among the top sellers in their respective product categories. In financial year 2025, STADA achieved adjusted group revenues of EUR 4.3 billion and adjusted constant-currency earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adj. cc EBITDA) of EUR 961 million. As of 31 December 2025, STADA employed 11,749 people worldwide.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Upon completion, the apprentice will have gained the Level 4 Application Support Lead qualification.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000047155.
Apply now
Closes today at 11:59pm