Apprentice Laboratory Technician
Slate Hall Veterinary Services
Cambridge (CB24 8QG)
Closes in 18 days (Monday 5 October 2026)
Posted on 17 September 2026
Contents
Summary
This apprenticeship provides an opportunity to working alongside our experienced laboratory team and learn how a busy veterinary diagnostic laboratory operates.
We are looking for someone genuinely interested in building a career in science to join our team.
- Wage
-
£22,500 a year
- Training course
- Laboratory technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 26 October 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 4 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
- Receiving and preparing samples for testing
- Preparing blood and other veterinary samples for serology testing
- Processing microbiological samples, including swabs and other routine samples
- Learning the principles and practical techniques behind microbiological testing
- Preparing culture media, solutions and reagents
- Using and maintaining laboratory equipment
- Cleaning and maintaining laboratory work areas
- Entering and checking laboratory data and results
- Learning how laboratory samples are tracked from receipt through to reporting
- Working to documented procedures and quality standards
- Learning about laboratory quality and ISO 17025
- Helping investigate problems when something doesn't go as expected
- Identifying opportunities to improve the way we work
Where you'll work
27 Cow Lane
Rampton
Cambridge
CB24 8QG
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
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
Training will take place at your work location with the support of your mentor, team and training provider.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
- Science (grade 4)
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
- Initiative
Other requirements
We have indicated an approximate start date for this apprenticeship. This will be determined with the chosen candidate.
About this employer
Slate Hall Veterinary Services is a specialist veterinary laboratory based in Cambridge. We provide diagnostic testing to the poultry industry, helping veterinary practices and poultry producers monitor and investigate the health of their flocks.
Slate Hall Veterinary Services is part of the CVS (UK) Ltd Veterinary Group.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Following successful completion of this apprenticeship you will have the skills and knowledge to work as a Laboratory Technician. There may be the opportunity for further development with the Lab Scientist Degree apprenticeship post completion of the level 3 for the right candidate.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Slate Hall Veterinary Services
Justin Morton
justin.morton@slatehall.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000054224.
Apply now
Closes in 18 days (Monday 5 October 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.