Laboratory Scientist Chemistry Degree Apprenticeship (Level 6)
BYK ADDITIVES LIMITED
Widnes (WA8 3AA)
Closes on Sunday 31 May 2026
Posted on 10 April 2026
Contents
Summary
The successful apprentice will be responsible for laboratory-based tasks, which include sampling, testing, measuring, recording and analysing results. You will also provide the required technical support to enable the laboratory to function effectively whilst adhering to correct procedures and health and safety guidelines.
- Wage
-
£15,808 to £25,114.96, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Scientist (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, shifts to be confirmed.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- 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
From day one you will be working with industry experts helping you to develop world class skills. You will work in an energised and supportive environment with a personal mentor and earn a competitive salary.
- Work safely in a laboratory, maintaining excellent housekeeping whilst following appropriate safety, environment and risk management systems.
- Perform laboratory tests in order to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific investigations and production processes.
- Carry out routine tasks accurately and following strict methodologies to carry out analyses.
- Prepare samples.
- Maintain and operate standard laboratory equipment, for example viscometers, conductivity and pH meters.
- Ensure the laboratory is well-stocked and resourced.
- Maintain good accurate written records of work carried out.
- Record and interpret results to present to senior colleagues.
- Use computers and perform mathematical calculations for the preparation of graphs.
- Understand and follow quality procedures to meet the requirements of quality standards relevant to the workplace.
- Keep up to date with technical developments, especially those which can save time and improve reliability.
- Conduct searches on identified topics relevant to the research.
- Follow and ensure strict safety procedures and safety checks to perform these duties in an accurate and timely manner.
- Develop and apply theoretical knowledge of relevant science and technology required for the sector & job role.
Where you'll work
Moorfield Road
Widnes
WA8 3AA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
TIRO TRAINING LTD
Training course
Scientist (level 6)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
- Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
- Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
- Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
- Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
- Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
- Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
- Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
- Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
- Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
- Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
- Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
- Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
- Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
- Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
- Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
- Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
- Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
- Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
- Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
- Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
- Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
- Recommend synthetic pathways to target-compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
- Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
- Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
- Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
- Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
- Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
- Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
- Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
- Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
- Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
- Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
- Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
- Design, develop and carry out biological investigations
- Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
- Use of laboratory automation systems.
- Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
- Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
- Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
- Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
- Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
- Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
- Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
- Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
- Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
- Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
- Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
- Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
- Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
- Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
- Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
- Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
- Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
- Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
- Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
- Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
- Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
Training schedule
Start your career as a laboratory scientist and gain hands-on experience in a real laboratory environment while working towards a recognised degree.
As part of this Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship in Chemistry, you’ll develop the skills to carry out advanced laboratory techniques, analyse and interpret complex chemical data, and contribute to research, development, and innovation.
This programme gives you the best of both worlds - you’ll combine academic study with practical, on-the-job experience, building the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours needed to succeed in the chemical science industry.
Over the course of the programme, you’ll combine your day-to-day role with structured training delivered by expert tutors at Tiro, in partnership with Middlesex University. Our blended learning approach includes a mix of online sessions, in-person teaching, and hands-on support, alongside guidance from a dedicated mentor in the workplace.
In the final stage of the programme, you’ll focus on preparing for your End Point Assessment, ensuring you’re ready to demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and behaviours in a real-world context.
You’ll follow a structured programme combining live sessions, academic study, and hands-on workplace training to build your scientific knowledge, technical expertise, and analytical skills step by step.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
A Level in:
BTEC 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
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
BYK Additives Ltd is one of the world’s leading suppliers in the field of additives and measuring instruments.
Additives are chemical substances which, when used in small quantities, improve product properties such as rheology, scratch resistance or surface gloss. Manufacturing processes are also optimized by the addition of additives.
The coatings, inks and plastics industries are among the main consumers of BYK Additives. They improve final product characteristics and production processes in other fields such as the oil & gas industry and manufacture of personal care, adhesive, sealant and construction products.
The site, at Moorfield Road, Widnes, has been the home of inorganic chemical manufacture, since 1923 and currently employs more than 100 people.
Today the company is the biggest division within the ALTANA Group (www.altana.com) and employs around 2,200 people worldwide.
https://www.byk.com/en (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Annual Leave: 25 days, plus 8 bank holidays.
- Competitive Pension Scheme.
After this apprenticeship
This apprenticeship will help you build the skills and experience needed to progress as a laboratory scientist within the chemical sciences.
Through practical experience and academic study, you’ll develop the confidence to carry out complex chemical investigations, evaluate data, and contribute to research and innovation. You’ll work with advanced laboratory equipment and techniques while ensuring high standards of quality, safety, and scientific integrity. This programme can also support professional recognition, such as becoming a Registered Scientist (RSci) or Chartered Scientist (CSci).
You’ll gain experience that’s highly valued across a wide range of scientific and industrial environments, opening up opportunities to specialise and progress within chemistry and related technical fields.
If you choose to continue your development, this programme provides a strong foundation for further academic study or progression into senior scientific and research roles.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
TIRO TRAINING LTD
Emily Rankin
emily.rankin@tiro.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000025734.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 31 May 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.