Level 6 Quality Control Apprentice

AstraZeneca; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A global pharmaceutical company is seeking a Level 6 Quality Control Apprentice in Macclesfield. This role offers a starting salary of £24,570 plus benefits. You will support the Quality team, ensuring supplier compliance and develop essential skills while working towards a BSc Degree in Biological Sciences with Manchester Metropolitan University. This four-year fixed-term contract is part of an Early Talent Programme offering practical experience and academic qualification, shaping a rewarding career in medicine development.

Benefits

11% benefits fund

Bonus opportunities

Relocation package for eligible candidates

Qualifications

• Five GCSEs including Maths, English, and Science are required.
• An A-level or equivalent in Biology or related scientific discipline is needed.
• Workplace experience in a relevant field will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Support Quality teams to ensure suppliers meet standards.
• Use science-based risk management to identify quality issues.
• Help monitor and improve supplier performance.
• Build relationships while developing scientific understanding.

Skills

Good communication skills

Good team working skills

High organization skills

Confidence to work independently

Problem-solving skills

Concerns for standards

High numeracy skills

High literacy skills

Computer literacy

Self-motivation

Initiative

Education

Five GCSEs including Maths, English and Science

Minimum 104 UCAS points at A-level

BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in a scientific discipline

Job description

Level 6 Quality Control Apprentice – Quality Supplier Management

Macclesfield

Starting base salary of £24,570+ 11% benefits fund + bonus

At AstraZeneca, we put patients first and strive to meet their unmet needs worldwide. We’re deeply committed to our strategy of being a great place to work. For us, that includes fostering an environment where everyone can be among inclusive, supportive individuals with curious minds.

A company that genuinely follows the science and values individuals at all levels, you’ll be backed and encouraged to speak up, ask questions, and share ideas to push the boundaries of science and continuously learn and explore.

Make the start of your journey a life changing one

As part of our Early Talent Programme, you’ll be involved in projects and learning opportunities that have real impact from day one.

Being part of our journey and helping us to provide life changing medicine to patients all over the world and transform lives for the better. Making important contributions and embracing our values to deliver on our purpose. Because regardless of role or level, we all have an important part to play in making a positive difference.

Macclesfield Campus is an essential part of AstraZeneca’s UK Operation and the 2nd largest operational site within the company’s global network. It is approx. 100 acres with around 4500 people working on site. The site is unique in the AstraZeneca network having Operations, R&D, G&A, IT and others on its site.

About the Apprenticeship Programme

The Development Quality function is responsible for quality oversight of the pharmaceutical development activities in AstraZeneca. The Quality Supplier Management Apprentice role has a broad range of responsibilities to ensure all internal and external requirements are fulfilled for the AstraZeneca projects in the development phase.

As a Quality Supplier Management (QSM) Apprentice, you will support the Quality team in ensuring that our external suppliers meet the standards needed to safely and effectively develop AstraZeneca (AZ) medicines. You will learn how quality oversight works and play an important role in helping maintain AZ’s reputation for high-quality science and product development.

In this role, you will:

• Work alongside project and sourcing teams to learn how to use science‑based risk management to identify potential quality issues and help develop practical solutions.
• Support the Quality Supplier Management activities related to the development, manufacture, testing, release, and distribution of Drug Substance, Drug Product, and Investigational Medicinal Products for clinical trials.
• Help monitor and improve supplier performance by applying the Quality Supplier Management Lifecycle under guidance from experienced colleagues.
• Build strong working relationships and develop your scientific understanding of the products and processes you will be supporting.

You’ll be working towards a BSc Degree in Biological Sciences with Manchester Metropolitan University https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0626-v1-1

The apprenticeship combines working, earning a full-time salary, with fully funded part‑time university learning (on average 1 day/week). This will give you the opportunity to gain a BSc Degree in Biological Sciences qualification, just as you would if you went to university full‑time, with the advantage of gaining relevant work‑life skills and the excitement of helping to develop new medicines whilst taking your first steps towards a rewarding career.

Additionally, you’ll be recognised by the relevant professional bodies at Registered Scientist (RSci) level, for which there is a requirement that the scientist will participate in subsequent continuing professional development on completion of the apprenticeship.

Essential skills/capabilities required:

• Good communication skills
• Good team working skills
• High organisation skills and confidence to work independently
• The ability to apply a rational approach to problem solving; making judgements based on sound reasoning, approaching problems in a logical manner
• Concerns for standards
• High numeracy and literacy skills
• Computer literacy
• The ability to learn
• Self-motivation
• Initiative

Entry Requirements:

• Five GCSEs (or equivalent) grades 9–4 including Maths, English and Science.
• Applicants should have or be predicted to achieve a minimum of 104 UCAS points at A-level (grades BCC), with one being Biology or an equivalent scientific discipline.
• Candidates with relevant workplace experience or a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in a related scientific discipline will also be considered but must provide additional details of their experience / units studied on the course as part of their application.

Benefits, open and close dates

To apply for this position, please click the apply link.

Opening date of advert: 12th January 2026

Closing date of advert: 15th February 2026

Successful candidates will be asked to attend a virtual Assessment day on 24th and 25th March.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments or accommodations, please let us know on your application.

This is a 4 year fixed term contract opportunity.

Start date for the apprenticeship programme is 7th September 2026.

At AstraZeneca, we aim to set you up for success, and we recognise the challenges that starting a new job can bring. We therefore offer a relocation package to help with the costs and process of moving for candidates who currently live more than 60 minutes from the site location for this Apprenticeship.

These positions are not open to those already educated to Bachelors degree level or above – for which we have specific Graduate Programmes, see our website for more details https://careers.astrazeneca.com/students

#Earlytalent

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.