Apprentice Laboratory & Facilities Assistant
You will work as an Apprentice Laboratory & Facilities Assistant, working across the RDM Division of Cardiovascular Medicine to assist Laboratory/Operations Managers and Facilities Teams in the safe and smooth running of the department’s scientific and clinical research areas.
Role
All tasks will be at a level appropriate to your developing skills. Under the guidance of Laboratory and Operations Managers, you will support research across the RDM Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, including:
- Overseeing laboratory housekeeping, following relevant Health and Safety procedures to maintain a clean, tidy and safe working environment.
- Distributing incoming goods to end users in research laboratories and maintaining shared stocks of chemicals and consumables.
- Learning to manage disposal of hazardous chemical waste.
- Conducting regular visual inspections, identifying and reporting faults and hazards to Laboratory and Operations Managers, and requesting minor repairs (e.g. via the University’s PLANON system).
- Directly carrying out routine maintenance and cleaning of scientific equipment (e.g. centrifuges, ULT freezers) and supervising external contractors (e.g. service engineers).
- Assisting with maintenance of laboratory and facilities administration records, including asset registers, and calibration/service schedules; to include learning facilities management software and digital reporting tools, e.g. PLANON.
- Undertaking relevant training on, and keeping up to date with, Good Laboratory Practice, laboratory and clinical Health and Safety, HASAWA, COSHH and other relevant regulations.
- Assisting with safety inspections, fire alarm tests, emergency lighting checks, and evacuation drills.
- Liaising with departmental colleagues, Facilities Teams, external contractors, and other stakeholders to share information and ensure service standards are maintained.
Training
You will undertake a Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship with an Ofsted rated 'Outstanding' training provider, CSR Scientific Training, which will include:
- Fully recognised apprenticeship qualification - Level 3 Laboratory Technician
- On-the-job competency training
- Theoretical knowledge - BTEC Level 3 Applied Science or Level 4 HNC (depending on prior attainment)
The majority of your learning will be completed online once a week with some face-to-face practical sessions/exams in Birmingham (if BTEC or HNC is included).
Upon successful completion, apprentices can apply for professional registration as a Registered Science Technician, RSciTech, with either the Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry or Royal Society of Biology.
People completing similar apprenticeships usually progress to a Laboratory, Facilities and/or Safety Management role either within the University of Oxford (where there are defined career paths for such roles), within other higher education institutions or in industrial settings
- Apprenticeship Standard
- Laboratory technician (level 3)
- Training Provider
- CSR SCIENTIFIC TRAINING LIMITED
- Working Week
- Core working hours are 10am to 4pm, with precise working hours to be agreed (e.g. 9am-5pm, 10am-6pm).
- Expected Duration
- 2 Years
- Positions Available
- 1
- Closing Date
- Tuesday, 13th October 2026
- Start Date
- Monday, 4th January 2027
Desired Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Qualifications
- Any / Other Subject GCSE, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
- Any / Other Subject GCSE, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
- English GCSE, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
- Maths GCSE, grade 4/C or above (Essential)
- Science GCSE, grade 4/C or above (Essential)