Apprentice Quality Control Laboratory Assistant - Thermo Fisher Scientific
Cogent Ssc Limited
East Grinstead (RH19 1XZ)
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026)
Posted on 17 March 2026
Contents
Summary
This is an Apprentice role is part of the Microbiology Division (MBD). The site is the legal manufacture of the Sensititre product range which is an Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing used in Clinical, Research and Veterinary settings.
- Wage
-
£26,596.96 a year
- Training course
- Laboratory technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Five days a week Monday to Friday, 38 hours per week with one 45 minute paid lunch break and two 15 minute paid breaks.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Friday 1 May 2026
- Duration
-
2 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
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Location/Division Specific Information:
Located in East Grinstead, this is an Apprentice role to be part of the Microbiology Division (MBD). The site is the legal manufacture of the Sensititre product range which is an Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing used in Clinical, Research and Veterinary settings.
Apprentices will be working toward the Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship. To support knowledge development, apprentices will attend live online lessons, 1 day per week to complete a BTEC Level 3 in Applied Science. Alongside this, apprentices will be supported to develop their skills by an assessor who will attend site approximately once every 8 weeks. Once all knowledge and skills are developed and at the end of the training, the apprentice will go complete an End Point Assessment, which will deem their success.
How Will You Make an Impact?:
To support the Quality Control testing processes by undertaking general laboratory maintenance to ensure the Department remains functional. This is a flexible position covering all general laboratory maintenance skill areas (bacteria recovery, stock maintenance, media manufacture) and some testing of raw materials.
Responsibilities:
- Preparing bacterial cultures
- Testing of product accessories (Dosing Heads)
- Manufacture of agar media
- Monitoring and replenishing lab stock
- Conducting environmental monitoring of the production areas
- Keeping the laboratory in a tidy and clean condition
- Equipment calibration
- Waste disposal
- Support of Quality Control Sensititer Testing
- Any other duties deemed to be within the capability of the post holder
Where you'll work
Unit 2B
Birches Industrial Estate
East Grinstead
RH19 1XZ
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COGENT SSC LIMITED
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
Training schedule
Qualification to be delivered: Level 3 BTEC in Applied Science
Apprenticeship Standard: Level 3 Laboratory Technician
Training Provider: Cogent Skills
Delivery model: Online
Requirements
Essential 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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
About this employer
As the specialists in skills for science and technology, our purpose is to make sure your business; your people and our industry are future ready. We are a not-for-profit charitable organisation with a family of commercially focused companies committed to supporting the skills, needs and ambitions across the UK science and technology sector.
https://cogentskills.com/vacancies/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Holiday - 25 Days + Bank
Holiday buy back scheme - Pension - Ee 6%, Er 8%
- Private Medical insurance
- Flexible working hours within reason
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay
- Onsite parking & Canteen
After this apprenticeship
Subject to availability, this role could lead to more technical rolls around the business such as Technician roles within other teams (Including QC, Production, Product Support and R&D). The previous 3 Lab Assistant role hires have all progressed to a QC Technician role.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Cogent Ssc Limited
Caroline Lees
caroline.lees@cogentskills.com
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000021442.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.