Vacuum Laboratory Technician Apprentice

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Salary: £19,514 per annum (rising annually throughout the apprenticeship)

Contract Type: Fixed Term, 28 months

Hours: Full time, 37 hours

Location: Warrington, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD

Closing Date: Sunday, 2nd February 2026

Interview Date: Feb 2026 / Mar 2026

Start Date: September 2026

About an Apprenticeship at STFC

We're looking for enthusiastic and motivated individuals ready to develop their skills through formal training and hands on experience. As an apprentice, you'll gain real world experience, build technical and professional skills, and contribute to cutting edge research and innovation in a dynamic, supportive environment.

You'll be fully supported throughout the programme with regular check ins from a dedicated Apprenticeship Coordinator, structured training, practical experience, and mentorship from industry professionals. Plus, you'll have access to workshops, a peer network, and career development support, helping you feel confident and prepared for new challenges.

Why join the ASTeC Vacuum Solutions Group at STFC

Our friendly, close knit team of around 18 specialists are diving into cutting edge particle accelerator research. We're all about pushing boundaries for current and future 'Big Science' facilities-and our projects are anything but ordinary.

From collaborating with big name partners like CERN and the European Spallation Source, to contributing to high profile breakthroughs, you'll be right in the middle of exciting, world class science with people who genuinely love what they do.

Qualifications gained

• Level 3 Laboratory Technician Apprenticeship
• BTEC in Applied Science

What You'll Learn

• To work safely in a laboratory
• To follow quality procedures
• Regulatory requirements of the industry and laboratory
• Technical skills to fulfil your role
• How to produce, analyse and interpret data, including the application of statistical techniques
• To communicate scientific information appropriately
• To use appropriate scientific methods to identify the causes of problems and produce solutions

Training provider

Cogent Skills:

Delivery - Instructor led virtual learning, online self study and two 3 day residentials

Regular one to one coaching sessions with an assessor

What You'll Be Doing - Day to day responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include handling and inspecting specialist vacuum components with care and precision, and supporting complex processing tasks such as heat treatment, surface cleaning, and performance measurement using high tech instruments.

Your work will support the groups specialists in delivering world class science & technology projects.

You'll be involved in the construction and operation of vacuum systems for active research projects, using equipment like ultrasonic cleaners, drying ovens, and gas analysers. Throughout your role, you will follow established safety and operational procedures to ensure consistency and high standards in every task.

Part of your development will include assisting with the calibration and routine maintenance of laboratory instruments and contributing to the upkeep of the lab environment. You'll also work collaboratively with teams across various departments, fostering strong communication and teamwork. In addition, you'll gain an understanding of essential lab standards, including ISO 9001 protocols and health, safety, and environmental (HSE) guidelines.

Entry Requirements

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).

We are looking for the following:

• GCSEs in Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) (S)
• An awareness of basic health and safety (I)
• A keen willingness to develop technical and engineering skills through hands on experience (S&I)
• A genuine interest in how things work as well as in engineering, technology, or science and the work of STFC (S&I)
• Confident using a computer, especially tools like Word, Excel, and Outlook (S)
• Pride in getting things just right (S&I)
• Ability to work as part of a larger team even when working on tasks independently (S&I)
• Enthusiastic and motivated to deliver high quality work to meet customer requirements (S&I)
• Good at keeping things on track and getting tasks done on time. (I)
• Enjoys solving practical problems, thinking things through, and coming up with ideas that work (I)
• Willingness to complete repetitive tasks. (I)
• Awareness of simple concepts related to basic vacuum (I)
• Ability to follow technical instructions (I)

Important Information

• To complete the apprenticeship, you will need to evidence passes at 9-4 or A -C in GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English. For those sitting their GSCEs in Summer 2026, we would need evidence of your predicted grades.
• When applying for an apprenticeship, there is a set residency eligibility criteria that must be met by the applicant. To check your eligibility please click here.
• The training provider will also ask you to complete an initial assessment during the application process. If you already have a qualification in this subject area or similar please include, as an attachment, your transcript outlining the grade/s achieved and modules covered. By applying for this apprenticeship, you are giving permission for your details to be shared with the relevant training provider.

We will be in touch after the closing date, however, please reach out on if you have any questions.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Employee Benefits

• Your salary will increase annually as you progress through your apprenticeship, in line with policy.
• 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Cycle to work scheme.

For a list of our full benefits, please visit here.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here:

How to apply

Please note that we can only accept a maximum of 2 applications per candidate.

Part of our application process involves submitting your CV and a cover letter. Your cover letter should address your suitability for the opportunity based how you meet each essential criteria stated in this advert.

Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown across every field you could think of. And they turn what they find into work that changes the world around us.

What could you achieve with the world leading facilities and experts of one of Europe's largest research organisations by your side? Join us and discover what's possible!