Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Department:
Science Apprenticeship - Chemistry L3

Location:
London

Compensation:
£22,000 / year

Description
Location:
Scale Space, 58 Wood Ln, London, W12 7RZ

Working for Puraffinity
We are an energetic, customer-driven advanced materials science company focused on designing, developing, and manufacturing smart engineered adsorbent to capture and retain PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from water across the Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Municipal market sectors.

Based in London – UK, Puraffinity was founded in 2015 and since then has become a leading organisation in tackling PFAS, commonly known as The Forever Chemicals, due to its resistance and high mobility.

Our Vision is to provide 1 billion people with PFAS safe water by 2030, and our Mission is to protect environmental and human health by engineering precision materials to capture chemicals in water.

Puraffinity embraces diversity and fosters a collaborative and teamworking environment, and we dedicate 100% of our time to create a purposeful and sustainable environmental impact.

Our Core Values: Collaboration & Team First, Adaptability, Take Initiative and Empathy

The Package

• Starting salary of £22,000/year (Increasing to £24,000/year after 12 months).
• We offer great benefits: Vitality Private Health and Dental Care.
• Enhanced pension employer contribution scheme (up to 7.5%).
• Free lunch at our onsite canteen when working onsite at Scale Space.
• Unlimited coaching with MoreHappi and mental health coaching and support by Smart Clinic.
• We offer shares in Puraffinity for all employees, which means you get recognised and

rewarded for your work.
- A work life balance is important – we offer 25 days annual leave (in addition to the 8 bank

holidays) and a hybrid working approach.
- We have a very strong diversity and inclusion focus, and in line we offer enhanced family leave.

What will I be doing as an apprentice?
Summary paragraph (example):
We're looking for a Laboratory Technician Apprentice to join our team and support our scientists and engineers in the development of cutting-edge adsorbent materials. As part of your role, you'll work towards a Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship (in partnership with Tiro) over an 18-month period. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a research environment while studying.

Summary of duties:

• Maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment (e.g., pipettes, balances, pH meters)
• Manage stocks of chemicals and consumables, and process deliveries
• Prepare samples for analytical testing (e.g., LC-MS)
• Maintain good housekeeping and follow laboratory health and safety procedures
• Record testing and calibration data electronically and/or in writing
• Support equipment maintenance and waste disposal processes
• Contribute to and help draft Standard Operating Procedures and risk assessments
• Participate in compliance activities (e.g., CoSHH, inspections, training)

You will also:

• Attend weekly online classes as part of your apprenticeship
• Work closely with mentors to learn laboratory techniques and protocols
• Be proactive in your personal and professional development
• Respect confidential aspects of commercial and scientific work

You must be 18+ to be suitable for this role due to Health and Safety restrictions.
What could the future look like?
When you join Puraffinity, the possibilities for your success are limitless. As a successful applicant, you have the potential to secure a full-time position within the company at the conclusion of your apprenticeship.

Through practical training on the job, you will acquire new skills and gain the competence and responsibility required for laboratory testing. This apprenticeship program serves as a stepping stone towards a rewarding career in laboratory testing, with the added opportunity for the apprentice to become a registered Science technician (RSci Tech).

This program unlocks a multitude of career paths, granting you access to diverse organisations across various sectors. Whether it's the chemical and pharmaceutical industries (primary and secondary), biotechnology companies, nuclear enterprises, analytical science services, or educational institutions, the doors are wide open.

This apprenticeship can also help pave the way for further educational and professional advancement. You may choose to pursue higher-level qualifications through one of our Degree Apprenticeships such as Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Chemical Science.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
About You
You'll be someone who's confident using computers and basic digital tools, with strong communication skills — both written and verbal. You pay close attention to detail and take pride in working accurately and safely, maintaining good organisational habits in everything you do.

You bring a positive attitude and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. Adaptable and proactive, you're ready to take on new challenges and develop your skills. While you enjoy being part of a team, you can also work independently when needed, showing initiative and reliability in your approach.

Experience
We value attitude, curiosity, and commitment just as much as past experience. While previous science experience can be helpful, it's not essential — we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, especially those with a genuine interest in the field and the motivation to build a career.

You might be a school or college leaver, or someone looking to retrain. Either way, if you're enthusiastic, proactive, and ready to learn, you'll fit right in.

Qualifications
It's about enthusiasm, not school results. In our experience the most successful apprentices are those who are driven to find out more about the sector, can be up front about what they do and don't already know, are considerate, self-reflective, and impatient to learn the job role

So how does the apprenticeship work?
Over 18 months, you'll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week on 'off the job' training. This can include theory training (for example, virtual lessons & online learning), alongside practical training (for example shadowing, mentoring, & time spent writing assignments. Together this will count towards a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship.

You'll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at Puraffinity
who together, will make sure you develop the knowledge, skills, and work habits you'll need to succeed in your career.Being an apprentice is hands-on, so you'll get the chance to learn things you might otherwise not have experienced in a university or college environment.

The best part? You'll be earning a salary while you gain your qualifications, meaning no huge student loans to pay back at the end of the programme

Eligibility
While we never want to hinder your job application process with obstacles, there are some minimum requirements you'll need to meet in order to do an apprenticeship, these are rules set by the UK Government.

As a training provider, we are committed to ensuring that our apprenticeship programs deliver significant new knowledge and skills. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that the program will provide learning and experiences beyond their current qualifications and professional expertise.

If you already hold a Level 3, degree or equivalent higher-level qualification in a closely related field, or possess substantial relevant experience, you may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding, as these programmes are designed for individuals who require upskilling or reskilling in their chosen career pathway.

You'll need to be over 16, not in full time education, have lived in the UK for 3 years and have the right to work in the UK.

If you don't quite meet these minimum requirements yet, let us know you're interested here and we'll get in touch to discuss this further with you.