Find an apprenticeship
Laboratory Technician Physics Apprenticeship
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Laboratory Technician Physics Apprenticeship
Location: Berkshire (RG7 4PR)
Closing date: 26 days from now (Sunday 8 November 2026)
Posted on: 12 October 2026
Summary
During your apprenticeship journey, you will develop a wide range of skills, including (but not limited to), learn the following skills:
- Preparing and setting up optical equipment, such as lenses, mirrors and lasers
- Helping to build and measure parts of complex experiments
- Using specialist laboratory equipment safely and correctly
Wage: £24,500 a year
A starting salary of £24,500 yearly, increasing to £26,000 in Year 2, with further annual salary increases throughout your apprenticeship, subject to satisfactory performance and achievement of apprenticeship milestones.
Benefits:
- Market-leading contributory pension scheme
- Generous paid holiday entitlement of 270 hours per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays, plus every other Friday off as part of AWE’s flexible working pattern.
Training
Course: Laboratory technician (level 3)
Hours: 9 Day fortnight. 33 Hours on the short week, 8 hours 15 minutes per day. 41 Hours on the long week, 8 hours 15 minutes per day Monday - Thursday and Fridays 8 hours.
Start date: Wednesday 1 September 2027
Duration: 2 years
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
During your apprenticeship journey, you will learn the following skills:
- Preparing and setting up optical equipment, such as lenses, mirrors and lasers
- Helping to build and measure parts of complex physics experiments
- Using equipment that helps scientists collect information from experiments
- Using specialist laboratory equipment safely and correctly
- Checking results and reporting what you find clearly and accurately
- Working safely in a laboratory environment
- Understanding how to work safely around hazardous substances, including radioactive and explosive materials
- Understanding quality standards and why they matter in a laboratory
- Developing customer service skills, such as communicating clearly and supporting others
In addition, you will also be given the opportunity for personal development through activities such as team building challenges, organizational awareness presentations, health and safety workshops and charity projects. A part of this role will require wearing Health and Safety equipment such as a respirator. Therefore, successful candidates will need to undergo a medical assessment for suitability for the position within the required parameters for the health and safety equipment’s requirements.
Where you'll work
Atomic Weapons Establishment
Aldermaston
Reading
Berkshire RG7 4PR
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Training provider: AWE PLC
Training course: Laboratory technician (level 3)
What you'll learn
- Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
- Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
- Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
- Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
- Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
- Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
- Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
- Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
- Complete documentation proficiently
- Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
- Contribute to the preparation of reports.
- Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e.g. calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
- Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
- Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
- Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
- Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
- Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
- Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
- Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results
Requirements
Essential qualifications
- GCSE in: 5 GCSEs . Maths and English with 3 additional (grade 4/C or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Awareness of Health and Safety
Other requirements
- Start Date: 1st September 2027
- Annual leave will not be granted from 1st September until 1st October due to mandatory inductions you are required to complete as part of your apprenticeship. Any leave approved after this point will depend on the training provider requirements for your apprenticeship and must be agreed in advance.
- These roles are governed by Health and Safety at Work Regulations and require all candidates to have an Occupational Health pre-employment medical held at AWE which follows the initial selection process.
- All candidates must be willing and able to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role and be willing and able to work in designated areas.
- Due to the security requirements associated with this apprenticeship, applicants must be British Nationals and be aged 18 or over by 31 August 2027.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
About this employer
We’re a team of remarkable people, united by one extraordinary mission: keeping the UK safe and secure. The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for 75 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, helping to guarantee our safety, and that of our NATO allies. Our work is critical. We’re delivering Astraea, the next warhead for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and pushing the boundaries of nuclear science and technology. But that’s just part of the story. We support the UK government in a range of vital areas – from counter-terrorism to global nuclear test monitoring to building a world-class community of experts in nuclear science. This is work that protects lives and strengthens national security.
At AWE, you’ll find more than just a job. You’ll find purpose, growth, and a community like no other. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your career to the next level, this is your chance to learn from the best, develop your skills, and be part of something truly unique.
Be extraordinary at AWE.
Company benefits
- Access to employee discounts portal - everyday savings on retail, hospitality and leisure
- Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services
Alongside these benefits, you will learn from experienced specialists in their fields while contributing to work that supports national nuclear security, threat reduction and counter-terrorism
After this apprenticeship
On completing your apprenticeship you will use the skills you have developed to take on a technician role within the Physics subfunction, supporting the development and execution of experiments and trials using facilities at and external to AWE.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
AWE PLC
earlycareers@awe.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000057864.
Apply now
Closes in 26 days (Sunday 8 November 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location