Laboratory Apprentice Review

I am a laboratory apprentice working in the Biopharm R&D department of GlaxoSmithKline. When I first joined the company in September 2014 I began being trained to different assays and operate instruments almost immediately. My daily tasks now include completing any screening requests that come through to my team. The main aim is to analyse protein interaction using the most convenient instrument that we have in the lab and report this data back to programme teams. Attendance to various meetings is important to keep up to date with other projects being run in the department. Alongside the laboratory work there are write-ups to be completed and university work to keep on top of!

Working towards a Fdsc in Bioscience and Technology has greatly built upon my A Level knowledge of biology and given me a more broad understanding of the subject and how the scientific theory has been adapted and used in technology development. Alongside the university work being in Biopharm has given me a huge insight to how antibodies are engineered to give biopharmaceuticals that have great therapeutic effects. I now better understand the drug discovery process and where my role in screening protein interaction fits in to the development of new drugs. In a department where there is a very high level of expertise there is always a lot more to learn.

The programme and day to day activities have greatly exceeded my expectations. Being responsible to run assays and analyse data independently that has a big impact on the progression of a project is something I never expected to do. Surrounded by a great team that is very supportive is incredibly helpful and when stuck in terms of the university course there is always someone willing to help. I really enjoy what I do and the company culture builds a relaxed environment where it is easy to approach colleagues in other areas of the department.

I have received a few rewards and recognition certificates that make me feel very valued by GSK. One particular reward was specifically given for my contribution to a particular project which made my work feel incredibly appreciated. Feedback from my colleagues and manager has given me an insight to how my contribution is valued by them.

The university course is very structured and fits in to what I do in the lab. There is a university tutor who keeps regular contact and supervises course progression. My lab supervisor ensures I am being trained to a high standard in terms of assays and using different instruments and that I fully understand what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. When I first joined I was taken through the importance of health and safety and how it is used in the workplace. My manager supports me by having regular 1-1 meetings and makes sure I'm progressing well in terms of university work and lab work.

As the university course is a distant learning one (done online) it can be sometimes difficult for ease of communication. However my tutor provides a lot of guidance and there are module leaders that are an email away if you get stuck. They also provide feedback to assignments submitted so you know which areas need more work. The course also incorporates a summer school where you visit the university and learn lab skills. The purpose of this is for you to meet you tutor and module leaders and they make sure you have the required basic lab skills.

My manager has regular 1 to 1 meetings where I can talk to her about any problems I may have or anything I want to discuss. My lab supervisor makes sure I don't have too much lab work to do and that I'm really understanding what I do and that I'm maintaining a proper balance of laboratory and university work. The HR team of R&D early talent is also always at hand if there are problems that you cant talk to your manager about.

The salary is competitive and rises every six months. The idea behind this is that the more you are trained to the more you can contribute. There are also perks such as holiday perks, cinema perks and buying things free of tax.

Last year my year group of apprentices were sent to the Lake District for a week for team building and to get a good understanding of GSK's values and expectations. The week away from work and being around apprentices from up and down the country really allowed me to reflect on what values that GSK holds and understand them in a more interactive way. By spending the week with other apprentices gave an insight not only to how the values and expectations fit into the research and development areas but also other areas such as the supply chain, manufacturing, IT, engineering and finance. Orange days occur for one day in a year where an employee can take paid leave to do something constructive and rewarding for either the local community or wider society. GSK has partnerships with many charities, one of them being Save the Children and there are many events that take place which you can get involved in to raise money for this cause and many others.

Yes

GSK is such a large organisation and is built with people that are very supportive and helpful for someone on the apprenticeship programme. For this reason there are many areas you can go into and receive great help and gain a tremendous amount of experience in your subject of interest. Being on such a course where you also get a foundation degree paid for really kickstarts your career and puts you in a good position.

Apply for a programme that you have an interest in. Only then will you enjoy what you do and progress on the course. Be yourself during the interview and assessment process. You don't want to have to pretend to be someone you're not if you were to get a position. Take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way. You may not think it is a good opportunity but is usually better than you expect.