Laboratory Science (Chemistry) Level 6/Degree Apprenticeship

MONDELEZ UK LIMITED

Reading (RG6 6LA)

Closes on Saturday 18 April 2026

Posted on 11 March 2026

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Summary

Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), we lead the way in scientific analysis, research, consultancy, and training. We provide services to the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries, as well as our parent company, Mondelez International. 

Wage

£23,000 a year

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Competitive salary and annual bonus based on performance

Training course
Scientist (level 6)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm

36 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

4 years

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

  • You will spend the first 24 months of the apprenticeship moving around different departments, and learning more about the specialisms of each team, to learn and carry out lab work
  • After 24 months, you’ll join a specific department where you’ll continue to grow and develop your skills
  • To support your education, you will be eligible to utilise 20% of your time towards your studies
  • This could be one day a week, or you can save them up to use for revision and exams

Where you'll work

Reading Science Centre
Whiteknights Campus
Pepper Lane
Reading
RG6 6LA

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

  • The Laboratory Scientist role is a 4 year programme, which will require balancing work with learning
  • The main learning will be completed once a week online, with a residential week once a year
  • Your day-to-day work and training will be supported by studying towards a BSc Chemical Science degree with Manchester Metropolitan University (more information can be found here - https://www.mmu.ac.uk/study/apprenticeships/courses/scientist-chemical-science)

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Incl. Science, Maths and English Language (grade Min 5 GCSE’s at grade 5-9)

A Level in:

One must be chemistry (or equivalent) (grade 104 UCAS Points (BCC))

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

Other requirements

You will be required to travel to the University site during your block release and for other agreed activities. 

About this employer

As an organization we are committed to developing the next generation of Makers and Bakers. Joining us at an early career stage in our fast paced and ever changing environment will enable you to do more, learn more and grow more. You will be encouraged to step outside your comfort zone– you may even surprise yourself! We will ensure you are given the support you need to be at your best and enable you to be yourself and bring passion and personality. Here you can lean in and speak up and bring your own flavour.

At Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), we lead the way in scientific analysis, research, consultancy, and training. We provide services to the food, pharmaceutical, and consumer goods industries, as well as our parent company, Mondelez International. RSSL is dedicated to delivering world-class scientific solutions and outstanding customer service.

 


Recognised for our excellence, we were awarded CRO of the Year at the  2023 OBN Awards, and our apprentices have also received awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry and been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year at the Thames Valley Awards. If you are passionate about driving innovation and making a real impact, RSSL is the place for you!

 


Our Laboratory Science Apprenticeship strikes the ideal balance between going to university and getting a job. You get to earn while you learn - backing up the classroom theory with practical training from industry experts. All in all, the perfect preparation for an incredible career with a fast-paced, diverse, and dynamic company.

https://www.rssl.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • 35 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
    Access to world class scientific equipment
  • Eligible for NUS Extra card providing you with discounts to many high street/online shops
  • Pension & benefits programme

After this apprenticeship

  • You will finish the apprenticeship and join one of our lab teams, with opportunities to grow into different roles within our RSSL teams

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020461.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 18 April 2026

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.