Laboratory Apprentice Review

I work in in vivo/in vitro translation, specifically within genetic toxicology. Daily tasks can vary from being in the lab doing practical work to being in the office looking at data and results from practical work. If there is any spare time in the day I will get on with university work which is another part of the job.

I have learnt so many skills when doing practical work and experiments as you are working with professionals that have been in the industry for a long time and have lots of skills to pass on. The lab work is extremely different to what you experience in school and sixth form and you learn a lot of skills very quickly. Having uni work to think about also develops organisation skills as you have to ensure you are on top of your work.

I really enjoy my programme as there are so many departments within GSK that it is possible to explore if you have an interest (although you tend to stay within one department) and you learn so much by working alongside professionals. I didn't know what to expect but I was surprised by how quickly I was in the labs and beginning practical work and training and was trusted to carry out experiments.

GSK is a very big company so there are a lot of people doing good things and getting praised for them. Managers always praise and appreciate good work which makes you feel valued.

The communication between GSK and the university could be better and I personally would have liked the opportunity to rotate around different departments to get a broader view of the company. The study aspect of the programme is very well organised as you are always given the time you need to study and the online learning that is used to study is easy to use. The programme leaders are becoming more involved and getting in touch with us more often with updates etc. They arrange a residential trip each year to get GSK apprentices from all over the world to mingle and get to know eachother.

Doing a degree mainly online is always going to be hard as it is not as easy to ask a question for example, as you have to message the tutor if you don't understand something and they may take a while to reply. However, if there are any problems they are sorted out straight away and there are always people at the university that are able to help you. Representatives from the uni also visit every three months to catch up with and check on you.

I receive a lot of support from my employer. I can go to my manager with any questions/concerns and everyone is always willing to help. Everyone respects the apprentices and supports us with our university work if we need help. If we have any other issues, there is always someone who is easily accessible via email etc. to help out.

It is a competitive salary so meets my needs.

There are lots of opportunities offered outside of work including activities each day over lunch. GSK has days where departments can choose where they want to volunteer and help the community. There is also a gym which people can go to at any time. The company holds events each year, for example summer/Christmas parties, and also conferences that you can choose to go to if they interest you.

Yes

I would recommend GSK to a friend because they are a global company that looks after their employees. There are so many opportunities within GSK that are offered to everyone that your career here could take you anywhere. The people that you work with are experts in their field and have so much knowledge to share.

When applying to GSK I would advise researching the company and what they do - especially their values and expectations as these are good to embed into your application. With interviews, just be yourself and try not to be too nervous. Be prepared for questions on the values and how they relate to your behaviours. The onboarding process seems scary but everyone is so welcoming and you'll meet the other apprentices on the first day to all get to know eachother.