Apprentice Assistant Research Technician
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
West Midlands (B15 2TT)
Closes in 19 days (Sunday 22 March 2026)
Posted on 2 March 2026
Contents
Summary
The School of Engineering is developing and supporting the next generation of engineers to lead the response to the key societal challenges of the 21st century. The apprentice will learn to perform technical duties to support both students and researchers.
- Wage
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£20,494 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Full time starting salary £20,494 per annum rising to £25,618 after 12 months service.
- Training course
- Engineering operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Usually, Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 11 May 2026
- Duration
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2 years 6 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
- Carry out specified techniques, tests or experiments as directed
- Identify simple problems and resolve and recognise when to refer issues to your manager
- Maintain accurate records and draft routine documentation related to your duties
- Ensure the health, safety and cleanliness of immediate work area, by encouraging staff and students to comply with all basic University/College Health & Safety policies and reporting any issues to your line manager, technical manager, laboratory manager or College Safety Advisor as appropriate
- Confirm that all required assessments are in place, approved and up to date
- Carry out regular maintenance processes as appropriate and ensuring records are maintained
- Report any breaches or non-compliance with health and safety procedures to the Line Manager, Technical Manager, Laboratory Manager or College Safety Advisor
- Ensuring waste disposal is carried out correctly for laboratory, recycled and general waste
- Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures
- Assisting with stock level control and informing Line Manager when replacements are required
- Receive and store consumables and chemical reagents correctly and safely
Report any problems with equipment or services to the Line Manager or an appropriate colleague
Treat everyone with dignity and respect, supporting equality and valuing diversity
Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Line Manager or Technical Managers
Where you'll work
Edgbaston
Birmingham
West Midlands
B15 2TT
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
P.T.P. TRAINING LIMITED
Training course
Engineering operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
Training schedule
Engineering Operative Level 2.
Attending the training provider approximately once per week.
More training information
You will be expected to engage fully with the University of Birmingham apprenticeship scheme, attending mandatory group days and contributing to the successful promotion of the scheme by representing your department in a positive manner.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
About this employer
A world top 100 university and part of the prestigious Russell Group, the University of Birmingham makes important things happen. Delivering groundbreaking research and excellent research led teaching. People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum, and botanical gardens.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/jobs/apprenticeships (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/jobs/staff-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
On completion of this apprenticeship, you may be able to progress into one of the following roles:
- Teaching Technician
- Research Technician
- Engineering Maintenance Technician
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
P.T.P. TRAINING LIMITED
apprenticeships@contacts.bham.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000018635.
Apply now
Closes in 19 days (Sunday 22 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.