Apprentice Laboratory Technician Review

As an apprentice laboratory technician, I am tasked with maintaining the laboratory and tenants. This involves making sure the equipment is functional and is calibrated correctly. Maintaining the laboratories also involves regularly cleaning them to reduce dust and to make it look professional. My job also features a business side, where we deal with deliveries for tenants and for ourselves, including contracts and services for equipment.

Before working at STFC, I wasn't entirely certain what made a good laboratory technician. After only working here for 4 months, I have developed many new skills and developed on previous skills. For example, I skill that I have had to learn more about is effective communication. We rely on other departments and tenants, so informing them or getting in touch with them is key to my role.

Overall I enjoy everyday that I go to work, which isn't a common thing to say! I say this because everyday is varied with new tasks and responsibilities given to me each week, so it feels like I am learning the job inch by inch. The pace of learning is sufficient where I feel like I learn more each day yet I am not overwhelmed or stressed about work, which leads me to enjoy it.

The apprenticeship programme I was given at the start has changed a little bit from the first stages, with dates shifting around. There have also been a few unknowns about what exactly I will be learning in the BTEC side of the apprenticeship. Overall however, they have kept me up to date and asked me if there were any problems with these changes, which is a great way of doing this.

As I briefly touched on with the last question, the support from STFC has simply been phenomenal. Anytime something changes or an issue arises they will inform me with plenty of time. The key part I think about this apprenticeship is that they try focus it around you, and let you learn at your own pace, which can be fast or slower depending on how you want to learn. If I need any help or advice there are numerous people I can visit or call to get that advice.

The support I receive is good. If I have a problem with the questionnaires I have been sent then I can freely question it to them and we will discuss it either in email or preferably in person. Since I have not started the BTEC side of the qualification just yet I cannot comment on that bit.

Over time I am slowly learning more and more about the job, gaining additional responsibilities. As I learn more I am able to fill more gaps and roles that I previously couldn't. The qualification adds to the theoretical side of the job. I feel this helps me greatly because I feel more confident in what my job entails and also performing well in my job.

Here at the Daresbury Lab facility there are numerous events going on frequently. You have the option to join in them which will be a useful experience not only for yourself but for the company, and shows a passion to them for your job. I will try to do more of these, but I am limited with as I do not drive just yet.

Yes

My overall experience at STFC has been great. The people I have met are wonderful and helpful, the support that is available is readily there. I feel like STFC are great employers that see to the needs of the employee sufficiently and will listen. This environment is perfect for learning and I feel I constantly learn everyday.

STFC offers many apprenticeship roles, whilst the majority are STEM based, there are many IT, computer and even jobs like mine (laboratory technician) that relate to STEM work but do not go into graduation-level knowledge. Personally this resonates perfectly with me because I did not feel I could do a university degree but still wanted a STEM related job, and STFC provides these.