IT Lab support Review

My role entails supporting labs, pcs and instruments within GSK Stevenage labspace. I must help scientists in getting systems up running and working, by preparing them for certain instrumentation, configuring them in a certain way or fixing any issue that has come around. Currently we are migrating to Win10 as our main OS, which requires a lot of work.

I have learnt both soft and hard skills, which I am able to utilise daily. This require me to be able to converse with scientists, using jargon effectively and only if needed. Being able to talk to a diverse group of people, sharing the same information but in different ways. I have also learnt a lot more about IT and business, which is highly beneficial.

I thoroughly enjoy my apprenticeship as I feel I have learnt many skills, which I can apply to other forms of work. There are many opportunities in my workplace, which I can learn from. I love telling people about the work I do and the apprenticeship and always like trying to persuade others to look into them.

I feel the organisation of the programme is good however some communication could be improved. As part of my apprenticeship, I am also signed up for Open University, which at times can be extremely time consuming, alongside the coursework side of my apprenticeship and also my the work I complete.

I feel I have all the support I need, and I can get advice and guidance if I was to ask anyone around me. I do feel this would vary on the people around you, however GSK has values and expectations to promote the same ideas in how to treat everyone and how everyone should feel supported.

I have monthly visits with my assessor, which is very benefit towards any progress I am making. In our meetings we discuss what I have done, what I am doing and what I will do. This helps me find evidence for coursework and supports me. On the Open Uni side of things, I feel very independent.

There are many things I learn during my qualification that I have actually been able to apply to my job role. Even if I knew the information before, I am sometimes able to gain a deeper understanding of things, such as I knew how to defrag a hard drive, but I never understood the physical reasons for it and how it works.

My work promotes all kinds of social events, whether it is a night out or sporting activities. I am able to play football every week with many different working groups, which is great for networking. I have been able to make many new contacts through these sporting activities. We also have networking session with our whole group once a month.

Yes

My experience of the company has been nothing but positives. I am able to learn and be supported by many within the company. I feel there are many avenues one can take at GSK, each of which are supported by those in the business, whether it is your line manager or someone from the business.

Be honest and work towards the GSK expectations and values and what they mean to you and the business. It is important to feel/be passionate about GSK and what you want to do and achieve. Even if you are unsure what you want to do, being passionate, GSK loves.