Life as an Apprentice at Broughton

In celebration of National Apprentice Week 2024, we talk to our current apprentices about their roles at Broughton and what advice they would give to anyone considering the apprenticeship route.

What does your day-to-day life look like as an Apprentice at Broughton?

As apprentices at Broughton, no two days are ever the same. We spend 80% of our time getting real hands-on experience in the laboratories. Working in a laboratory with a range of clients gives us a chance to learn a wide spectrum of different skills with different analytical instruments and tests.

We also get the opportunity to move around the laboratories at Broughton. So far, we have gained experience in the aerosols, wet chemicals, and instruments teams.

What is the best thing about your apprenticeship at Broughton?

It is difficult to choose just one reason! But one of the best things about being an apprentice at Broughton is the number of skills that you develop, especially in laboratory training that you just do not get with a straight university course. We are all getting real-life practical experience that is really valuable. After four years, you not only have a degree and apprenticeship qualification, but you have in-depth work experience as well.

How does Broughton support you in your apprenticeship?

The team at Broughton is very supportive. We spend 1 day a week on university work such as catching up on lectures and coursework, and we all have 1:1 mentors here at Broughton to help facilitate our learning and support us in the workplace. It is also very much a partnership with Bradford University. We have regular meetings with the University, where we can discuss all elements of the apprenticeship, and get any help we may need for our studies.

We also have access to a fantastic in-house training programme. Everyone who works as a scientist here at Broughton has to complete the initial required laboratory training modules and we get further training as we progress in common industry standard laboratory techniques such as HPLC and GC.

What advice would you give to others considering an apprenticeship vs the traditional degree route?

We would say really consider it as an option. An apprenticeship is hard work and a big commitment, as you are balancing working full-time with completing a fully-fledged degree course. But if you are willing to put the work in, we think that the payback is potentially more valuable. You are in the workplace, gaining valuable practical experience, learning how to be part of a business and workforce and also gaining a degree at the same time.

If you are interested in joining the Broughton or are keen to learn more about the roles we offer, please visit our careers page.