Level 6 Quality Control Degree Apprenticeship
ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED
Macclesfield (SK10 2NA)
Closes on Sunday 15 February 2026
Posted on 12 January 2026
Contents
Summary
Being part of our journey and helping us to provide life changing medicine to patients all over the world and transform lives for the better. Making important contributions and embracing our values to deliver on our purpose. Because, regardless of role or level, we all have an important part to play in making a positive difference.
- Wage
-
£24,570 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£24,570 starting base salary + 11% benefits fund + bonus.
- Training course
- Scientist (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, shifts to be confirmed.
37 hours a week
- Start date
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Monday 7 September 2026
- Duration
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4 years
- Positions available
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3
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
- At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. We’re deeply committed to our strategy of being a great place to work. For us, that includes fostering an environment where everyone can be among inclusive, supportive individuals with curious minds
- A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you’ll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore
- As part of our Early Talent Programme, you’ll be involved in projects and learning opportunities that have real impact from day one
- Being part of our journey and helping us to provide life changing medicine to patients all over the world and transform lives for the better
- Making important contributions and embracing our values to deliver on our purpose. Because, regardless of role or level, we all have an important part to play in making a positive difference.
We are offering Quality Control Apprenticeships across a number of departments:
Quality - Electronic Laboratory Systems and Analytical Chemistry Quality Control Laboratories
Tasks could include:
- Configuration, setup and lifecycle management of critical quality electronic system data
- Working directly with electronic system users within the quality control laboratories
- Problem-solving and first-line support for electronic system troubleshooting
- Quality checks and audits of electronic system data
- Implementing digital electronic system process improvements
- Chromatographic techniques: GC, HPLC, APC
- Use of tablet testing/preparation automation
- Robot preparation
- Wet tests such as manual titration, water content, IR, UV, etc
- We truly value Early Talent– their thoughts, ideas and contributions. So throughout the programme, you’ll be encouraged and inspired to speak up, have a voice and make an impact
Where you'll work
Charter Way
Silk Road Business Park
Macclesfield
SK10 2NA
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
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
- Apprentices work full-time whilst studying towards a BSc (Hons) Chemical Science degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, as well as a Level 6 degree apprenticeship
- Students study a tutor-supported e-distance learning curriculum and attend residential schools. The work-based projects, negotiated with employers, offer students the opportunity to apply their learning directly to their organisation
- The programme is primarily taught through tutor-supported online study, part-time over four years
- Apprentices will attend a two-day induction at the University to help them get to know each other and balance undergraduate study with working full-time. They will also attend a week-long residential at our campus in central Manchester once a year, in addition to a two-day mini-residential in the first year
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
A Level 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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Literacy skills
- Self-motivated
- Work independently
Other requirements
The apprentice must be able to demonstrate the required attitudes, behaviours and interpersonal skills associated with the professional workplace. The apprentice must be willing to commit an amount of personal time to study. This is a 4-year Fixed Term Contract opportunity based at Macclesfield, offering £24,570 starting base salary + 11% benefits fund + bonus. Successful candidates will be asked to attend a virtual Assessment Day on 24th and 25th March. These positions are not open to those already educated to a Bachelors degree level or above.
About this employer
At AstraZeneca we believe in the potential of our people and as an apprentice you will be given the opportunity to develop beyond your wildest dreams. We are looking for people who can share our passion for science & technology so if you feel you have the drive and determination to help us to deliver first class medicines to meet the needs of patients around the world, then we invite you to apply. Our scientific research, development and technological innovation is well respected in the industry and we support our people, helping them to go above and beyond their expectations. As a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business, our focus is on creating and developing new medicines that make a meaningful difference to patients’ lives and the UK is at the heart of our efforts to do that.
https://careers.astrazeneca.com/early-talent (opens in new tab)
After this apprenticeship
- On successful completion of the apprenticeship, candidates will be able to apply for further positions
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000008250.
Apply now
Closes on Sunday 15 February 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.