Scientific Apprentice (Higher) Review

A varied job with multiple labs within the building testing various samples for radiation or beta emitters. Some analysis we do is for Iodine 129, Uranium, Plutonium, americium, carbon 14, technetium 99. Each analysis has a QAAM (quality assured analytical method) which we follow to ensure all the steps are met to provide the best analysis.

There are multiple skills i have learned such as developing my team working skills, enhancing my solo working abilities and working with various ages and diversities and making sure my communication is good to pass along any information about my job to a new employee that i may be training up.

I love my programme at work, I always leave happy after a good productive day and never dread coming in the next day. I spend 1 day each week at college doing a degree in chemistry and this is in various sub groups of chemistry including physical, organic and inorganic.

The apprenticeship could've been structured better as it is difficult getting all the college work completed with responsibilities at home and feel as though some time during work would be beneficial. Also having a mentor would be better and an actual plan as to when we would move labs at work.

The colleagues around me are great for helping me and never leave me at a loose end. Some higher up don't really care as much and would leave you to do the work and use the apprentices as another set of hands rather than here to learn and work.

My work are good with allowing me to go to college and join any meetings with them and they are also aware of the apprenticeship development programme I am going through where we have bi monthly meet ups on online calls or in person. They always sort the transport out and give sufficient time for travel

With the course being chemistry based and being in an analytical lab a lot of the subjects we revise at college are work based as well and help within my job it self. This means i can help provide improvements to methods or even help create new ones myself to analyse for different elements.

There used to be some people doing football monthly on a Wednesday, however there has been nothing since covid. I would love to have some sort of activity like this again as it gave us time to relax and enjoy ourselves without being pressured and having to watch what we say in the tea bar.

Yes

A great company to work for and like i said i always enjoy coming to work. Its easy enough to get to and find. Most people get on and / or are easy to get along with. There are a lot of things to learn but its quite easy to grasp.

It isn't as hard as it seems all the methods are already written it is just like following a recipe. As long as you finish each step completely then you will receive good results and good recognition and increase your chances of getting a promotion or going on a works based trip.