R&D Apprentice
INCOREZ LIMITED
Preston (PR1 1EA)
Closes in 25 days (Friday 20 February 2026)
Posted on 23 January 2026
Contents
Summary
An exciting opportunity to join Incorez’s Preston R&D team—part of Sika, a global leader in speciality chemicals. You’ll support lab operations, develop innovative products, and gain hands-on experience in chemical science, combining academic study with real-world impact in a collaborative, international environment.
- Wage
-
£26,227.50 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
The apprentice will earn at least the UK Real Living Wage for this role.
- Training course
- Scientist (level 6)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday between 8am-4pm, with a 30-minute lunch break.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
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4 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
Join Incorez’s Preston R&D team, working at the heart of polymer synthesis, formulation, and product testing that supports Sika’s UK portfolio in sealants, adhesives, and coatings. Incorez has been part of the Sika Group since 2009, giving you the backing of a global leader while contributing to innovation at site level.
You will be based in the R&D function at the Preston Global Technology Centre, helping to develop new products, evaluate materials, and improve manufacturing efficiency—activities that directly support Sika’s transformation towards net‑zero and better customer outcomes.
What you’ll do (key responsibilities)
- Support day‑to‑day lab operations: prepare work areas, manage consumables and raw‑material stock, arrange equipment calibration/servicing, and uphold 5S standards for cleanliness and safety.
- Run tests and collect data: carry out product application trials, performance testing, and materials characterisation (e.g., FTIR, gas chromatography), recording results accurately and sharing insights with the team.
- Contribute to formulation & synthesis: assist with small‑molecule and polymer synthesis projects, following agreed experimental designs and documenting methods, results, and learnings.
- Improve how we work: identify opportunities that protect profit, improve operational efficiency, and enhance sustainability; contribute to continuous improvement actions across the lab.
Typical day / ways of working
You’ll start with lab checks and safety routines, review the plan with your mentor, prepare materials and equipment, execute tests or synthesis runs, and capture data. You’ll meet regularly with R&D chemists to interpret results and plan next steps, and you’ll collaborate with colleagues across production, QA, EHS, and supply chain to keep projects moving.
Training & development
Your apprenticeship blends academic study with real‑world lab work. You’ll build capability in experimental design, data analysis, project management, and scientific communication—progressing from supporting lab operations to independently planning and running experiments in the second half of the programme. Alongside technical skills, you’ll develop essential soft skills such as teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and effective communication. Regular collaboration with colleagues and mentors will help you build confidence, resilience, and a proactive approach to learning and contributing within a dynamic R&D environment.
Where you'll work
Sika House Miller Street
Preston
PR1 1EA
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) Scientist (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
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Listening skills
Other requirements
Working in R&D involves handling chemical raw materials, reaction products, and managing chemical waste.
Some tasks will require lifting containers weighing up to 5 kg and handling materials at temperatures up to 80°C.
You’ll receive thorough training and supervision, and must always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with chemicals. All necessary PPE—including gloves, lab coat and trousers, safety shoes, and respirators—will be provided to ensure your safety.
About this employer
At Incorez, our sole purpose is to make a real difference to the performance of our customers products. We started out in 1986. Back then, we were known as Industrial Copolymers Ltd, we changed our name in 2009 and have been expanding ever since. From our home in Preston, England we've grown to become a leading manufacturer of polyurethane and epoxy technology.
Since 2009 we've been proud to be part of the Sika group, working in partnership with an outstanding international company with an exceptional reputation in the construction industry.
At the Preston site, Incorez has research and development facilities alongside the manufacturing plant.
http://www.incorez.com (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
25 days holiday rising to 28 days with service, plus bank holidays. Company pension contribution of up to 10%. Private healthcare. Group life cover. Enhanced maternity and paternity pay. Staff discount platform & Cycle to Work scheme
After this apprenticeship
The possibility to be a R&D Graduate Chemist.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000010516.
Apply now
Closes in 25 days (Friday 20 February 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.