Apprentice Laboratory Technician

Summary

Intertek are looking for a Laboratory Technician Apprentice. You will be testing and reporting of submitted samples from Essar Stanlow Refinery and various customers nationally, by agreed methodology, as directed by senior personnel. This will include basic and advanced wet chemistry analysis techniques.

Wage

£18,525 a year

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Training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years 3 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

Due to the safety assessment of the site, candidates should be 18
years or older.

To carry out preparation, testing and reporting on submitted samples, by agreed methodology, as directed by senior personnel. This will include all basic testing and preparation and will be with the use of basic and advanced instrumentation techniques.

Duties and Responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

Performing sample analysis to an acceptable standard and in
accordance with established procedures (results may require
checking by senior personnel).
Maintaining accurate records of testing and sample observations and calculations
Producing reports for samples tested and input of sample results
into the computer system.
Undertaking miscellaneous duties, as requested and approved by
senior personnel
Participating in Inter and Intra Laboratory Correlation Schemes.
Maintenance of acceptable housekeeping in the main laboratory.
Ensuring that all equipment within the section is maintained to acceptable operating and (where appropriate) with valid calibration standards. Ensure all weekly/monthly equipment calibrations are carried out in the main laboratory.
Ensuring the housekeeping in the laboratory is at an acceptable standard at all times – each shift is to clean up before they finish.
Carry out testing in accordance with the relevant documented
standards and test methods
Assist with audits (when asked by the senior personnel) and ensuring compliance at all times with any local systems, rules and procedures, including including external accreditation (ISO 9001, ISO 17025, ISO 18001, ISO 14001 etc.) set by the company and/or external certification authorities and ensuring that appropriate quality assurance controls are carried out on a regular basis within the section.
Ensure solutions and solvents in the main laboratory are in date, made up as required and correctly labelled in line with GLP and COSHH requirements.
Ensure adequate handover occurs with the following shift.
Investigate abnormal results to confirm or correct the situation, and if necessary, alert the appropriate staff.
Avoiding unsafe acts and follow company Health Safety & Environmental procedures.
Becoming familiar with Health Safety & Environmental information issued by the company.
Reporting all accidents and incidents no matter how trivial.
Reporting near misses, safety concerns and think twices.
Ensuring, that relevant risk assessments are consulted for the work being carried out, and if these are unavailable then bringing this to the attention of senior personnel and assisting in the assessment of work related hazards and risks.
Ensuring, that relevant COSHH assessments are consulted for the substances being used, and if these are unavailable then bringing this to the attention of senior personnel and assisting in COSHH Assessment where required.
Ensuring that the correct Personal Protective Equipment is worn where required.
Ensuring that safety devices and manufacturers instructions are followed when using equipment.

Decision Making:

Follow the workload set by the senior personnel to meet the time demands in the main laboratory as required by the clients and schedules.
Scheduling the tasks and testing in the main laboratory with the use of effective time management.
Assess whether results obtained are reasonable, and react appropriately if they are not.
Ask for assistance if equipment needs maintenance above your experience.

Where you'll work

Thornton Science Park
Pool Lane, Ince
Chester
CH2 4NU

Training

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

College or training organisation

WIRRAL METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

Your training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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, including:

Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours.
End-Point Assessment.

Training schedule has yet to be agreed. Details will be made available at a later date.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

Chemistry/Sciences (grade C/4)
English (grade C/4)
Maths (grade C/4)

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
Customer care skills
Analytical skills
Team working
Independence
Time management skills

About this company

Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 42,000 people in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers’ operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, is delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely. Intertek's Cargo & Analytical Assessment (CAA) business provides quality and quantity measurement, inspection, and laboratory testing services to the global oil, gas, petrochemical, petroleum refining & distribution, natural gas, biofuels, marine, and chemicals industries. Intertek helps clients protect and manage their risk during custody transfer, storage, transportation and other activities related to their cargo assets. Their qualified personnel also provide technical expertise and additive treatment services, helping clients to protect and optimise the return on their cargo business activities.

http://www.intertek.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Possibility of a full-time role within the laboratory team and opportunities for promotion as they arise.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: