Laboratory Apprenticeships
WHAT IS A LABORATORY TECHNICIAN ROLE?
Laboratory Technicians cover a broad range of occupational roles from those who support scientists and engineers in research and development work to those who provide quality assurance or analytical science services. They provide support to the research and development teams carrying out appropriate sample testing for specific analysis. This could be from raw materials, glass products, waste materials and or developing new products for the market. They also maintain, calibrate and verify equipment functionality for test purposes to ensure accurate results are found to produce reports to feedback results to management teams.
THE PROGRAMME
Waterside in conjunction with NSG Pilkington European Technical Centre have an outstanding career opportunity to follow a 4-Year Apprenticeship in Laboratory to potentially develop to become a key member of their teams. Pilkington Research and Development are responsible for the development of new and improved products and processes and work as a team to provide expert technical support to Pilkington’s global functions and business lines.
A considerable level of technical support is always required to continuously improve product quality and production efficiency as well as to research and develop innovative new products for the market place.
There are many departments in the Pilkington Laboratories and Research and Design Technologies and you may experience work in Chemical Analysis, Offline Coatings, Product and Process Development, Melting Technology, Refractory, Raw Materials Analysis and Combustion Monitoring are just a few of the departments.
You will be trained in the specific techniques required for each role, however, in order to fulfill the requirements of the NVQ elements you may be rotated throughout the departments to get a basic understanding before settling in one role. As the technology centre supports Pilkington’s operations worldwide you may, in the future, be required to work overseas for periods of time to help support particular projects or solve particular plant / process problems in other countries.
You will be based primarily at the Pilkington European Technical Centre based at Lathom near Ormskirk and will work between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday. On occasions you may be required to work outside these hours.
As a specialist you will develop an in depth theoretical knowledge of the scientific discipline most relevant to your chosen specialism. The positions in Surface Analysis and Off Line Coatings would suit candidates with a keen interest in either physics or chemistry and you should be able to demonstrate a keen interest in science and in pursuing a Scientific / Laboratory career.
THE LABORATORY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME DETAIL
