Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Heidelberg Materials ( Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited)

Bristol (BS37 6AY)

Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026

Posted on 12 March 2026

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Summary

Heidelberg Materials Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship provides a fantastic introduction to the Mineral Products Industry and a range of career path opportunities. It's designed to develop future Mineral Processing Laboratory Technicians in a practical environment.

• Wage:

  £21,352 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  For Pay Rates See section "Things to Consider" 27 days holiday; pension scheme with generous Company contributions; employee discount platform; Employee Assistance helpline for free and confidential advice; discounted private medical benefits;

• Training course: Laboratory technician (level 3)
• Hours: 8 hour day shifts (working within hours of 6.00am - 10.00pm), Monday - Friday.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 1 June 2026

• Duration:

  2 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

Heidelberg Materials Laboratory Technician Apprentice will perform laboratory and field-based specimen preparation and testing tasks for Concrete, Asphalt and Quarry products in accordance with relevant British standards and company procedures

You will learn something new daily:

As an integral part of the technical team, you will learn to ensure safety, compliance and efficiency, and product quality levels while administering high quality technical support to commercial, operations and external customers

Where you'll work

The Ridge
Chipping Sodbury
Bristol
BS37 6AY

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

• During the programme you will gain experience in our laboratories and on our operational sites; relevant qualifications in Laboratory aspects of our business alongside distance learning delivered by designated training provider
• You will be supported by your line manager and team and receive first class training
• You will 'earn while you learn' by completing a Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship while working in your daily role

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• Any Subject for 5 GCSEs inc English Maths Science (grade C or above)
• Any Subject for 5 GCSEs inc English Maths Science (grade C or above)
• English (grade C or above)
• Maths (grade C or above)
• Science Subject (grade C or above)

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
• Problem solving skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working

Other requirements

• Annual wage shown for apprentices aged 18 years old and above
• Salary rates dependent on age and based on a 40-hour week
• 16-year-olds paid annually at £12,194.65 increasing to £15,946.85 for 17-year-olds 

About this employer

Heidelberg Materials UK, produces aggregates (crushed rock, sand and gravel), ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, cement and cement-related and recycling materials from over 300 UK production sites. We employ over 3,500 people in a wide range of roles and we are part of the Heidelberg Cement Group. Our aim is to be a leading sustainable business. We are committed to being fair, respectful and inclusive and are an equal opportunities employer. We believe in working safely and sustainably.

https://www.careers.heidelbergmaterials.co.uk/en (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

• You could progress to Laboratory or Quality Control Technician roles
• The experience gained from Heidelberg Materials Apprenticeship provides a good introduction to our business as the work of the technical team underpins all aspects of the production, sales and distribution divisions in concrete, aggregates and asphalt
• We can offer clear career pathways, with access to multiple opportunities across our business, so if this sounds like the right opportunity for you then please apply online now

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

TIRO TRAINING LTD

recruitment@uk.heidelbergmaterials.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000020680.

Apply now

Closes on Thursday 30 April 2026

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