Summary
We are seeking an Apprentice Analytical Chemist to join our Analytical Sciences team, at our Ellesmere Port laboratory facility.
Wage
£15,500 a year
Training course
Scientist (level 6)
Hours
Shifts to be confirmed, 30 minutes unpaid lunch break.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Start date
Monday 6 October 2025
Duration
5 years
Positions available
1
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
Initially the successful candidate will be fully trained in standard analytical processes using both wet chemistry and instrumental techniques and will work under the supervision of their mentor and other chemists. A structured training plan will be followed to ensure that at the end of the five-year apprenticeship the candidate will have the skill sets required for a career in Analytical Chemistry.
Main responsibilities:
* Carry out experimental laboratory work in accordance with international standard test methods
* Undertake scientific work to aid in in the development of new products and support customers
* Collate and communicate experimental and analytical results with peers and management
* Provide analytical solutions to support development chemists
* Undertake calibration and quality checks to maintain laboratory instrument performance
* Responsible for regular monthly updates as requested by Analytical Manager
* Ensure laboratory areas are safe and tidy according to local standards
* Must have a focus on deliverables and the ability to work as part of a team
Where you'll work
Innospec Manufacturing Park Oil Sites Road
Ellesmere Port
CH65 4EY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT
Training course
Scientist (level 6)
What you'll learn
Course contents
* Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
* Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
* Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
* Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
* Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
* Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
* Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
* Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
* Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
* Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
* Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
* Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
* Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
* Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
* Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
* Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
* Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
* Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
* Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
* Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
* Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
* Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
* Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
* Recommend synthetic pathways to target-compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
* Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
* Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
* Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
* Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
* Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
* Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
* Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
* Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
* Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
* Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
* Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
* Design, develop and carry out biological investigations
* Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
* Use of laboratory automation systems.
* Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
* Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
* Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
* Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
* Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
* Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
* Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
* Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
* Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
* Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
* Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
* Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
* Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
* Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
* Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
* Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
* Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
* Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
* Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
* Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
* Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
* Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
Training schedule
Scientist Level 6 (Degree with honours) Apprenticeship Standard:
* The apprentice will spend one day per remotely studying
* There are two 'Summer Schools' each one week long in duration at our Canterbury Campus, one in first year and a second in the second year (Innospec will provide accomodation for this residential stay)
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
* Chemistry (grade 4/C)
* Maths (grade 4/C)
A Level in:
Chemistry (grade C)
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
* Organisation skills
* Team working