Department: Science Apprenticeship - Science Manufacturing Technician L3
Location: Morpeth
Compensation: £15,165 / year
Description
Location: Whalton Road, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 3YA
Working for Piramal Pharma Solutions
Piramal Pharma Solutions is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), offering end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions across the drug life cycle. We serve our clients through a globally integrated network of facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.
This enables us to offer a comprehensive range of services including Drug Discovery Solutions, Process & Pharmaceutical Development services, Clinical Trial Supplies, Commercial supply of APIs and Finished dosage forms. We also offer specialized services like development and manufacture of Highly Potent APIs and Antibody Drug Conjugation.
Our capability as an integrated service provider & experience with various technologies enables us to serve Innovator and Generic companies worldwide.
For more details, please visit www.piramalpharmasolutions.com
The Package
* Starting salary of £15,165 (£8.33 per hour), increasing to National Minimum/Living wage after 12 months if applicable
* 37.5 hours per week (35 hours worked, as this is inclusive of a 30 minute paid lunch break)
* Monday to Thursday, 7:00am - 3:00pm; Friday, 7:00am - 12:00pm
* Annual Leave
* Company Pension Scheme
What will I be doing as a Packaging Operative Apprentice?
As a Packaging Operative Apprentice, you will follow a structured development path to become a fully competent Packaging Operator. This hands-on role provides progressive responsibility for operating and performing changeovers on blister and bottle packaging lines. You will gain experience working with a range of equipment including thermoformers, cartoners, checkweighers, serialization units, and overwrappers. Throughout the apprenticeship, you will develop in-depth knowledge of high-quality standards in line with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), internal protocols, and safety guidelines.
Key Responsibilities:
Training and Development
* Participate in structured training programs to gain proficiency in line operations.
* Learn and apply Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and safety requirements.
* Work alongside experienced operators to understand line setups, adjustments, and changeovers.
Operational Support
* Assist with line changeovers for both blister and bottle packaging processes.
* Support the setup, cleaning, and basic maintenance of packaging equipment, including: Thermoformer, Cartonner, Checkweigher, Serialization equipment, Overwrapper.
Quality and Compliance
* Understand and uphold all quality and safety standards.
* Accurately complete documentation in accordance with GMP.
* Report any deviations or equipment issues promptly.
Continuous Improvement
* Participate in lean initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
* Contribute to problem-solving and root cause analysis during packaging line issues.
What could the future look like?
As a Packaging Operative Apprentice, your journey marks the beginning of a dynamic and rewarding career in pharmaceutical packaging and manufacturing. Through structured, hands-on training, you will develop the technical skills required to operate, maintain, and carry out changeovers on advanced packaging equipment — all while working to the highest quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
In this role, you will play an essential part in ensuring pharmaceutical products are safely and accurately packaged for global distribution. You’ll gain experience operating blister and bottle packaging lines, working with machinery such as thermoformers, cartoners, checkweighers, serialization units, and overwrapper equipment. You will also become well-versed in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and LEAN principles, laying the groundwork for excellence in production and process improvement.
As your skills grow, so will your responsibilities — from assisting with line changeovers and troubleshooting equipment issues, to supporting efficiency initiatives and maintaining detailed production documentation. You’ll collaborate with experienced packaging professionals who will mentor you throughout your development, helping you build confidence and competence on the job.
Over time, this apprenticeship can lead to a permanent position and provide a stepping stone into more advanced roles such as Senior Packaging Operator, Line Leader, or even roles within Quality Assurance or Continuous Improvement. Whether you choose to specialise in technical operations or progress into leadership, this pathway offers long-term potential in a vital and fast-growing industry.
With dedication and the drive to succeed, you’ll gain the skills and experience to build a stable, meaningful career in pharmaceutical manufacturing — helping to ensure patients around the world receive the medicines they need, safely and efficiently.
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
What will you bring?
About You
We’re looking for someone enthusiastic about building a career in pharmaceutical or manufacturing packaging — someone who’s hands-on, motivated, and eager to learn in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment. This is a practical, detail-oriented role that plays a key part in ensuring the safe and efficient packaging of life-changing medicines.
You should have a basic mechanical aptitude and a genuine interest in understanding how complex packaging machinery works. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, as you’ll be collaborating with experienced operators to keep production running smoothly. A commitment to high quality standards and safe working practices is a must, as is the ability to follow written procedures precisely and maintain accurate records.
If you take pride in doing things the right way, enjoy working with your hands, and thrive in a clean, organised setting, this could be the perfect start to your career in pharmaceutical packaging.
Please note: Due to the nature of this position, applicants must be 18+
Experience
Previous experience in manufacturing or packaging is helpful but not essential. What’s most important is your attitude — if you’re reliable, proactive, and ready to learn, we’ll give you the support and training to succeed. Any hands-on experience with tools, equipment, or technical processes will be a bonus.
Qualifications
We’re more interested in your potential than your past qualifications. If you're passionate about packaging or pharmaceuticals and excited to gain new skills, we want to hear from you. This apprenticeship offers a solid foundation for developing into a highly skilled operator within an essential, ever-growing industry.
Even if this isn’t a perfect match on paper, but you believe you’d be a great fit — get in touch. We’re always keen to hear from driven individuals who want to make a meaningful impact.
So how does the apprenticeship work?
Over 24 months, you’ll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week on ‘off the job’ training. This can include theory training (for example, virtual lessons & online learning), alongside practical training (for example shadowing, mentoring, & time spent writing assignments. Together this will count towards a Level 3 Science Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship. You’ll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at Piramal who together, will make sure you develop the knowledge, skills, and work habits you’ll need to succeed in your career.
Being an apprentice is hands-on, so you’ll get the chance to learn things you might otherwise not have experienced in a university or college environment.
The best part? You’ll be earning a salary while you gain your qualifications, meaning no huge student loans to pay back at the end of the programme!
Eligibility
While we never want to hinder your job application process with obstacles, there are some minimum requirements you’ll need to meet in order to do an apprenticeship, these are rules set by the UK Government.
As a training provider, we are committed to ensuring that our apprenticeship programs deliver significant new knowledge and skills. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that the program will provide learning and experiences beyond their current qualifications and professional expertise.
If you already hold a Level 3, degree or equivalent higher-level qualification in a closely related field, or possess substantial relevant experience, you may not be eligible for apprenticeship funding, as these programmes are designed for individuals who require upskilling or reskilling in their chosen career pathway.
You’ll need to be over 18, not in full time education, have lived in the UK for 3 years and have the right to work in the UK.
If you don’t quite meet these minimum requirements yet, let us know you’re interested here and we’ll get in touch to discuss this further with you. #J-18808-Ljbffr