Microbiology Laboratory (Level 3) Apprentice - DePuy Synthes

Cogent Ssc Limited

Blackpool (FY4 4QQ)

Closes in 21 days (Thursday 30 April 2026)

Posted on 9 April 2026

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Summary

Cogent Skills is working with DePuy Synthes to recruit a Microbiology Laboratory Apprentice to work at its manufacturing plant in Blackpool. This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a global medical device manufacturing company with great development opportunities.

Wage

£14,560 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salaries are reviewed annually and adjusted in accordance with the national minimum wage.

Training course
Laboratory technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Thursday, 8.00am - 4.30pm with a 30-minute lunch break. Fridays, 8.00am - 1.00pm, without a lunch break. 4 days per week plus a college day.

35 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

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

Cogent Skills is working with DePuy Synthes to recruit a Microbiology Laboratory Apprentice to work at its manufacturing plant in Blackpool. This is a fantastic opportunity to work for a global medical device manufacturing company with great development opportunities.

Job Responsibilities:

Cogent Skills is currently recruiting for a Microbiology Laboratory Apprentice to join DePuy’s growing team.

The Microbiology Laboratory Apprentice will be required to:

  • Carry out microbiological testing to ensure the ongoing quality of product
  • Overall responsibility for assigned area (Bioburden, Environmental monitoring…)
  • Interface with other departments to ensure timely release of products and materials
  • Initiate laboratory investigations and non-conformance investigations
  • Ensure the principles of cGMP are applied and that all documentation is followed to comply with ISO9000, ISO13485, FDA QSRs and the Medical device directive
  • Complete Change assessments to ensure documents are updated in a timely manner

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Ensure that microbiological testing is performed in a timely manner
  • Day to day performance
    - Bioburden testing
    - Sterility testing
    - Antibiotic potency testing
    - Environmental monitoring
    - Enumeration and identification of contaminants
    - Management of consumables and materials used in testing
    - Autoclaving of items for the laboratory and production
    - Execution of the laboratory cleaning program
    - Review of sterilization documentation
    - Hazardous waste disposal

Quality and Compliance Related Responsibilities

  • Ensure that all activities are carried out in compliance with all regulations and laws governing business and quality operations
  • Staff: Responsible for ensuring compliance with all local, national, international and company regulations, policies and procedures for Health, Safety and Environmental compliance.

GMP documentation and Quality Systems

Support investigations to assist in the completion of Non-conformance reports and OOS excursions

Training

Ensure that own training records are up to date and complete
Assist in the training of other staff

Validation

  • Support the validation of test methods and equipment for the microbiology department
  • Support validation of processes for sterility assurance

External communications

  • Liaise with sterilization contractors and approved manufactures to ensure data is retrieved and available
  • Ensure that consumables are ordered in a timely manner to avoid testing delays

Where you'll work

Cornford Road
Blackpool
FY4 4QQ

Training

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

Training provider

BLACKPOOL AND THE FYLDE COLLEGE

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

Apprenticeship Standard: Laboratory Technician Level 3.

Training Provider: Blackpool and The Fylde College.

Delivery model: Day release and location. The apprenticeship will typically be delivered over a 24-month period with additional time required to prepare for the End Point Assessment. The apprentice's time will typically be split 80:20 throughout the apprenticeship programme with four days a week spent at the employer premises learning on the job and one day a week spent off-site, undertaking classroom-based and workshop-based training at B&FC.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

minimum 5 including Maths, English and Science (grade Grade C / 4 or above)

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

Other requirements

Working within a heavily regulated environment requires strict adherence to in-house protocols and HSE legislation, with a high degree of integrity and attention to detail in all aspects of work.

This role is physically demanding and requires strong focus and accuracy.

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 Allowance - 25 days, plus Bank Holidays
  • Pension - Employee 5% Employer 3%
  • Holiday buy back scheme
  • Eyecare
  • Discount schemes
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Onsite parking
  • Onsite canteen
  • Employee recognition / awards

Disability Confident

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

If you demonstrate a pro-active practical aptitude with problem solving skills and are willing to accept responsibility, there will be great opportunities for progression within the company potentially to gain an engineering degree qualification.

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 VAC2000025481.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Thursday 30 April 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.