Higher Level Apprentice - Lab Technician

Future Medicines Institute; Belfast; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research institute seeks a Higher-Level Apprentice - Laboratory Technician to support innovative research at Queen’s University Belfast. This two-year apprenticeship offers practical lab experience combined with academic study, leading to opportunities for full-time Technician roles. Candidates should have a strong educational background in science and a genuine interest in the field.

Benefits

Up to 8.4 weeks holiday entitlement

Pension schemes

Development opportunities

Support for physical and mental health

Qualifications

• Minimum age of 18 by 1st July 2025.
• Relevant Level 3 qualifications or Access Diploma accepted.
• Clear evidence of meeting essential criteria required in application.

Responsibilities

• Support cutting-edge research by assisting scientists.
• Gain hands-on lab experience within a multidisciplinary team.
• Pursue a Foundation Degree in Applied Science at SRC.

Skills

Genuine interest in science

Foundational knowledge in relevant subjects

Basic understanding of health and safety regulations

Education

Minimum of 2 A-Levels in a science subject

At least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C including Maths, English, and a Science

96 UCAS points from approved qualifications

Job description

Job reference: 25/112691

Date posted: 30/06/2025

Application closing date: 14/07/2025

Salary: £28,133 per annum.

Job category/type: Technical

The Future Medicines Institute (FMI), based at Queen’s University Belfast, is a new research hub co-founded by leading pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and health analytics companies alongside QUB and Ulster University. It focuses on innovative solutions in precision medicine, novel therapeutics, advanced diagnostics, and healthcare technologies.

Asa Higher-Level Apprentice - Laboratory Technician at FMI, you will support cutting-edge research by assisting scientists and industry partners. The role offers hands-on lab experience within a multidisciplinary team, fostering practical skills in experimental methods and emerging technologies.

The two-year apprenticeship combines four days of practical training at FMI with one day of academic study per week at Southern Regional College (SRC), where you will pursue a Foundation Degree in Applied Science (Analytical or Bioscience Pathway). The programme includes structured training, mentoring, and professional development.

Successful apprentices may progress into full-time Technician roles at QUB, depending on performance and role availability.

About the person:

The successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate you have:

• Minimum of 2 A-Levels in a science subject at grades A*-C (e.g. Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths, or Health & Life Sciences), or relevant Level 3 BTEC/OCR qualifications, or ADAL: Access Diploma which contains an approved science module.
• Applicants must have attained a minimum of 96 UCAS points achieved through the completion of A Levels, National Awards, Access Diplomas or other alternative approved level 3 qualifications.
• At least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (9-4), or equivalent, including Maths, English, and a Science.
• Must be 18 years or older by 1st July 2025.
• Genuine interest and foundational knowledge in the subject area.
• Basic understanding of health and safety regulations.
• Note: Please visit SRC’s course page for further details on entry requirements/equivalent qualifications.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more athttps://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-and-benefits/.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visitwww.qub.ac.uk/diversity.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application -http://go.qub.ac.uk/internationalstaffsupport.