Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Summary

An exciting opportunity for an 18 year old student looking to start a career working in the paper industry namely in a laboratory setting where they can utilise their science background.

Wage

£15,507.70 to £25,079.34, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£15,507.70 per annum.

Training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Thursday, 07:30 to 16:00 and Friday, 07:30 to 15:30, with 30 unpaid lunch. Release to attend study sessions.

39 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Thursday 4 September 2025

Duration

3 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

Develop laboratory based skills.
Conduct laboratory tests and record results.
Maintain laboratory equipment and make-sure lab supplies are available.
Perform calculations and advanced analysis on lab observations.
Follow strict health and safety rules and procedures to eliminate contamination.
Learn how to perform a variety of technical laboratory techniques.
Follow quality procedures to meet the requirements of quality standards.
Assist in setting and optimising process control utilising best practices techniques.
Pursue improvements.
Assist in product development trials and testing.
Preparing test certificates for customers.

Where you'll work

Pool Paper Mills
Pool In Wharfedale
Otley
LS21 1RP

Training

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

College or training organisation

HCF CATCH LIMITED

Your training course

Process industry manufacturing technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.
Review instructions or information to understand the task.
Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, and cost.
Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and personal safety and mitigation measures.
Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations, standards, and guidance.
Follow environment emergency procedures. For example, make area safe, evacuate.
Apply sustainability principles for example, minimising waste.
Apply standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Check equipment.
Select, check, and prepare raw materials for process for example, weighing, measuring, control and blending, conditioning, dissolving, and sanitisation.
Set and adjust processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
Monitor process for example, take readings and conduct walk-arounds.
Conduct the control of product streams to maintain specifics.
Apply quality assurance procedures. For example, density checks, contaminant check, and take samples for laboratory testing.
Apply intermediate or post-manufacturing procedure for example, labelling, packing, storage, visual inspection, discharge.
Manage waste streams.
Clean equipment for example, boil-outs, steam-outs, bake-outs, steam in place SIP, clean in place (CIP).
Conduct calculations for example, conversations, tare weight, charge weights, yield calculations.
Store tools and equipment.
Identify equipment for handover.
Apply signage and access restriction measures.
Shut down the process and equipment.
Isolate process and systems.
Complete isolation checks.
Empty equipment for example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.
Purge, fill, pressurise and leak test.
Complete post maintenance equipment checks.
Line-up equipment.
Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic for chemical or petrochemical processing.
De-isolate process, mechanical and electrical systems.
Complete pre-start up checks.
Start-up plant and equipment.
Re-start process.
Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.
Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data.
Interpret drawings and graphs.
Identify issues for example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.
Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
Apply problem solving and fault-finding techniques.
Apply continuous improvement techniques. Make a suggestion for improvement.
Use information and digital technology for example, management information systems, human machine interfaces, word processing, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, document sharing platforms. Comply with cyber security requirements.
Produce written documents for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests.
Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
Apply team working principles.
Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development (CPD) activities.

Your training plan

The apprenticeship follows a 3-year programme and is delivered through a blended approach of face-to-face blocks of training CATCH in Stallingborough and online learning sessions throughout each year. The remainder of the apprenticeship is completed onsite with the employer.
The remainder of the apprenticeship is then completed onsite with the employer.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English Language and/or Literature (grade Level 4)
Maths (grade Level 4)
Science (grade Level 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
Problem solving skills
Team working
Computer Literate

About this company

Weidmann is a Paper mill that specialises in making electrical paper on site for electrical transformers, it has been operating since 1687.

http://www.weidmann-electrical.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

4 x salary life assurance, pension 3% employer and 5% employee. Free parking on site.

After this apprenticeship

Successful completion of the apprenticeship could lead to a higher-level apprenticeship or full-time employment for the right candidate.
You will have developed a variety of interchangeable skills and have an in depth understanding of manufacturing and processes.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

HCF CATCH LIMITED

Ellie Ryal

ellie.ryal@catchuk.org

01469552835

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000331101.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Thursday 31 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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