Apprentice Assistant – Quality Control Analyst

Job summary
Exciting Apprenticeship Opportunity - Quality Control North West (QCNW)

We are pleased to offer an exciting apprenticeship opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the chemistry team at Quality Control North West (QCNW) at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

This role will provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience whilst completing a nationally recognised Level 3 Laboratory Services Technician apprenticeship within agreed timescales.

As an Apprentice Assistant - Quality Control Analyst, you will work in a chemistry laboratory, gaining valuable skills and experience while completing an apprenticeship standard. QCNW is accredited to both MHRA and UKAS standards; therefore, all training will be conducted in line with QCNW's quality system, adhering to GMP and GLP standards.

The apprenticeship programme is delivered in partnership with an approved training provider, 'Skills 4 Pharmacy', ensuring you receive high-quality learning, development and ongoing support throughout your apprenticeship journey.

Previous NHS experience is not required as full training will be provided.

This role is lab-based, Monday to Friday.

Main duties of the job
As an Apprentice Assistant - Quality Control Analyst, you will be supported and developed to:

• Receive and receipt test samples using a LIMS system.
• Perform general laboratory housekeeping, ensuring glassware and equipment are ready for use.
• Ensure chemicals used in pharmaceutical analysis are correctly prepared, stored, labelled, and disposed of in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Perform regular inspection of reagents, chemicals, reference materials and microbiological media.
• Under supervision of the senior scientist, carry out the calibration/verification of a limited range of laboratory equipment to predetermined time scales.
• Under the overall supervision of the senior scientist, carry out a limited range of physical and chemical tests on starting materials, packaging materials and pharmaceutical products to established specifications.
• Work at all times in accordance with the departmental Quality Manual.
• Work effectively as part of a team whilst managing your own workload.
• Maintain accuracy and attention to detail when handling information and data.

About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union - for local financial advice

Job responsibilities
As an apprentice, you will be developed to maintain the chemistry and microbiology environments in a suitable condition, including tasks associated with ensuring laboratory and equipment are clean and orderly. To ensure pharmaceutical products are fit for patients' use by carrying out physical, chemical, and microbiological testing, working under the supervision of a qualified and experienced analyst.

Person Specification
Essential

• Relevant science GCSEs
• Occupational health clearance
• Good general health
• Good demonstration of client/customer focus
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent manual dexterity
• Numeracy
• Good record keeping
• Good team worker
• Able to demonstrate good written and verbal communication skills
• Keyboard skills

Desirable

• Relevant science A Levels (or equivalent)
• Knowledge of some analytical techniques
• Analytical Experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details
Employer name: Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Quality Control North West, Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Stockport, SK2 7EL, United Kingdom
Employer's website: http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Advanced Scientist Christopher Roberts, Christopher.Roberts@stockport.nhs.uk, 07486370569

Date posted: 21 October 2026
Salary: £15,600 a year pro rata per annum
Contract: Apprenticeship
Duration: 18 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 362-ADMAPPHA-10-26
Closing date: 04 November 2026