Polymer Laboratory Technician Apprentice
PRISMA COLOUR LTD
HIGH PEAK (SK22 1AH)
Closes in 15 days (Thursday 12 November 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 28 October 2026
Contents
Summary
Fascinated by science, colour and how everyday products are made? Join our Quality Control and Colour Development Laboratory as a Laboratory Technician Apprentice and get paid, hands-on experience in a busy working lab. This is a great first step into a science and manufacturing career.
- Wage
-
£15,600 to £24,784.50, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Wage
National Minimum Wage (age dependent) - Training course
- Polymer processing technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm. 37.5 hours per week.
Paid overtime opportunities may be available once fully trained.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Friday 13 November 2026
- Duration
-
3 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
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills, get support from experienced colleagues, and see how your work affects the products we send to customers.
What you’ll do at work
You’ll support both the Quality Control (QC) and Research & Development (R&D) teams, helping to test products, assess colour accuracy and carry out laboratory activities. This role is ideal for someone with a genuine interest in science, manufacturing, product development and innovation.
Your duties will include:
- Checking colours by eye and with instruments to make sure products meet customer and quality standards
- Testing production batches for colour shade, strength and consistency
- Recording results accurately and keeping laboratory documentation up to date
- Monitoring production samples and flagging anything that falls outside specification
- Helping the lab find new ways to work better
Assisting with colour matching and formulation development projects - Working closely with production and technical teams to solve quality issues
- Looking after laboratory equipment and keeping the lab clean, organised and safe
- Supporting product development by evaluating materials and processes
- Following laboratory procedures, health and safety requirements and quality standards at all times
Where you'll work
THORNSETT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
BIRCH VALE
HIGH PEAK
SK22 1AH
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED
Training course
Polymer processing technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
- Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
- Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
- Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
- Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
- Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
- Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
- Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
- Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
- Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
- Start up manufacturing processes.
- Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
- Shut down manufacturing processes.
- Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
- Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
- Identify process faults and resolve.
- Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
- Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
- Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
- Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
- Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
- Present information.
- Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
- Review instructions or information. For example, work instructions, sampling requirements, drawings dimensioning, labelling, formulations, machine settings.
- Plan task and identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, security, quality and cost.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures in compliance with regulations and standards. For example, daily machine checks, wearing personal protective equipment.
- Apply sustainability principles for example, in choice of materials, minimising waste.
- Segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and handling.
- Select, check, and prepare materials for polymer processing for example, weighing, control and blending, and conditioning.
- Select, configure (for example, replace or change inserts) and check mould tools, formers, dies or other process equipment.
- Check installation and function of processing equipment for the process.
- Connect service connections such as water, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic.
- Check hand tools, equipment and machinery including calibration record where applicable.
- Set or check machine settings using instructions such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance.
- Adjust machine setting for the speeds, positions, pressures and safety of the mould tool, former or die movement to meet product specification.
- Start up manufacturing processes.
- Monitor process feedback and adjust process parameters.
- Shut down manufacturing processes.
- Devise machine settings such as temperature, pressure, speed or time, distance for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Test and evaluate machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material.
- Select and apply optimal machine settings for new or modified equipment, tooling or material (for example, capability study).
- Interpret data for example, process data, quality control and test procedure data. Use data to inform action.
- Identify process faults and resolve.
- Apply post processing techniques for example, assembly, printing, decorating, cooling operations, packing, and labelling.
- Follow quality assurance processes during manufacture.
- Perform quality control checks. For example, conduct parameter checks (size, colour, weight), and take samples.
- Identify quality issues and resolve for example, defects, maintenance requirements.
- Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility.
- Apply preventative maintenance practices. For example, checking guarding, lubrication, cleaning of tooling, safety checks, and inspection for wear and tear.
- Apply continuous improvement techniques. Devise suggestions for improvement. For example, improving the effectiveness of existing production, improving the energy consumption or waste profile of processes and procedures to improve the sustainability or carbon footprint of a product, process or task.
- Apply team working principles.
- Communicate with others verbally for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Record or enter information - paper based or electronic. For example, process and production records, traceability records, and quality assurance records.
- Present information.
- Communicate in written form in the workplace for example, handover notes or emails, non-conformances, design change requests, technical reports.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations and policies.
- Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned continued professional development (CPD) activities. Evaluate CPD against plans made.
Training schedule
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. Off-the-job training will follow the time allocations outlined in the Occupational Standard.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C or above)
- Maths (grade 4/C or above)
- Science (grade 4/C or above)
Desirable qualifications
A Level in:
BTEC 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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Basic IT
- Positive attidtude
Other requirements
Requirements
Essential qualifications
- GCSE English (Grade 4/C or above)
- GCSE Maths (Grade 4/C or above)
- GCSE Science (Grade 4/C or above)
Desired qualifications
- A Level Science (Grade Pass)
- BTEC (Level 3) Engineering (Grade Pass)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Basic IT
- Positive attitude
Other requirements
Desired Skills and Personal Qualities
Essential
- Good numeracy and literacy skills
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Basic IT skills, including Microsoft Office
- Ability to follow instructions, procedures and laboratory methods accurately
- Ability to keep accurate records and data
- Reliable, punctual and well organised
- Positive attitude and willingness to learn
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- Problem-solving skills and curiosity to understand how products and processes work
- Able to work safely and follow laboratory procedures
Important:
Excellent colour vision is essential due to the visual colour assessment requirements of the role.
Desirable
- Interest in chemistry, materials science, plastics, polymers, coatings, colour technology or manufacturing
- Previous experience in a laboratory, manufacturing or technical environment
- Experience using laboratory equipment or carrying out practical scientific experiments
- Interest in product development and innovation
About this employer
Prisma Colour Limited is a leading global supplier of colour concentrates and additives to the thermoplastics, rubber, silicone and surface coatings industries, supplying customers in over 55 countries worldwide.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Successful completion of the apprenticeship may lead to a permanent position within Prisma Colour's technical team, with opportunities to progress into Quality Control, Product Development, Research & Development, Colour Matching or other specialist technical roles.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE S&A TRANSFORM GROUP LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000061219.
Apply now
Closes in 15 days (Thursday 12 November 2026 at 11:59pm)