Apprentice Laboratory Technician
ALS LABORATORIES (UK) LIMITED
Wakefield (WF5 9TP)
Closes in 23 days (Friday 19 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 27 May 2026
Contents
Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within our laboratory where we are looking to appoint enthusiastic and dedicated individuals with a passion for science. As part of the team, you will be involved in a wide range of analytical areas which include the testing of drinking and wastewater for various customers including utility customers.
- Wage
-
£15,392 to £24,454.04, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Year 1 - £9.68 ph based upon 37 hours per week
- Training course
- Laboratory technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
37 hours per week, 4 days at the workplace (flexibility is necessary due to some departments operating shifts) and 1 day at college in the academic terms.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years 6 months
- Positions available
-
2
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
The apprenticeship position year 1 will include placements in several departments at the Wakefield site to include both Microbiology and Chemistry analysis. Year 2 will see the apprentice placed in a single department to consolidate their skills and knowledge in preparation for the end point assessment
As an apprentice analyst you will be trained in various analytical techniques including instrumentation. You will be expected to manage your apprenticeship studies alongside your work commitments with support from the ALS apprentice management team and Kirklees College.
Where you'll work
Unit 11 Silkwood Park
Janes Hill
Wakefield
WF5 9TP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
KIRKLEES 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
1 day per week in college, at Kirklees College, Waterfront Centre in Huddersfield.
You will complete an End Point Assessment. This will involve the following:
- Knowledge test
- Observation with questioning
- An interview
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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
Other requirements
You will be working with chemicals and waste waters.
About this employer
ALS Environmental is one of the UK’s leading providers of testing and analytical services to a wide variety of customers enabling them to meet their environmental regulatory requirements. We offer an extensive range of UKAS, MCERTS and DWTS accredited analytical services for Water, Land and
Waste monitoring. We have developed a range of analytical services that meet our customers’ specific needs, including standard industry, regulatory and bespoke analytical suites. We can respond to customers’ analytical and sampling requirements via our network of laboratories and service centres across the UK and Ireland. We continue to remain at the forefront of the testing services industry, building an enviable reputation.
After this apprenticeship
Role of Laboratory Analyst.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
KIRKLEES COLLEGE
Agata Walon
awalon@kirkleescollege.ac.uk
07929075137
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000033704.
Apply now
Closes in 23 days (Friday 19 June 2026 at 11:59pm)