Laboratory technician apprentice Review

In my day to day work I calibrate balances, check fridge temperatures using an online system and help around the laboratory when I am needed. In any spare time that I have I try to complete any college work or assignments I have. I don't have a list of daily jobs I just do things to help others.

I have learnt how to calibrate balances and also been signed off doing this so it is a skill I am trained in. I am currently developing skills in how to use GCs and LCs as well as using a database system. Most of the other skills I use are at low level such as cleaning and organising.

Due to lack of organisation and lack of time from my fellow work members and team I don't enjoy the programme as I should. No one has time to help me unless they have been specifically asked to help me and even then they are very busy. It would be nice to have someone to helps me through all the processes but everyone has their own jobs they need to get on with. Therefore I don't feel like I am getting the support especially when I first started. I feel as though I am learning new practices and hopefully will soon be learning some actual science which I am excited about.

Very badly organised. The college course is unstructured and the lack of communication between the college, the nvq assessor and DSTL is terrible. The college course lacks good structure and the team I work with should know and understand what college course I am on so as to help me understand and put my learning into practical knowledge.

Very little support. There is meant to be an apprenticeship team? But I have never met any one from that apart from the odd email asking me to rate the apprenticeship. My team is too busy to really give me support unless I am desperate. It would be nice to have someone either in the team or just from dstl to talk to and be my mentor, help with college and nvq work as its very difficult to do a full time job as well as two courses.

The nvq assessor doesn't give very much support neither does the college. They tell you when your not doing very well and sometimes how to improve but its upon yourself to leant what you don't know or understand using google or asking someone if they arnt too busy. However sometimes the college course doesn't relate to the work practices so even though its right at work it will be wrong on your written assessments.

It doesn't help me work better. The college course has lots of information but its not in depth so it really skims over lots of subjects. As an individual if I find something interesting at college I take it upon myself to do independent research to learn the subject. The college course mostly doesn't relate to the job role I am doing as its basic stuff so my A levels has more information.

There might be but I find it very difficult to find out about any or when or where they meet? I tried to find sports teams but they don't seem to be around anymore, most of the pages are long out of date. The seminars and talks seem interesting but most go over lunchtime and Id rather take time out of my busy day to grab some hot food.

No

I believe there are multiple perks to working at DSTL but not to a young person who is going to move for an apprenticeship, the wage is very low compared to renting and parking prices so for someone just out of school there is no support. For me there was no support in finding somewhere to live from HR which was disappointing.

Ask as many questions as possible and make sure you have a copy of the answers in email format so they can be brought up after you start work, I found that lots of things that were said to me in emails and interviews never came about when I joined. Be vigilant and check your job roles and descriptions and raise any queries soon.