Description
Location: Frankland Road, Blagrove, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN5 8YF
Working for WRc Group
Our mission is to be established innovation leaders that deliver innovation through collaboration and technical excellence. We create value in all that we do and our valued solutions help clients to meet their future goals and challenges. Our priority is to deliver exceptional service that will enable clients to achieve revenue growth and see improved profitability in a sustainable manner.
Our brand stamp represents our core values and client sectors, being built up from a number of key elements.
The Package
* Starting salary of £19,240/year to £23,809/year (depending on age)
* Life assurance
* Private Health Care Plan after probationary period
* A flexible benefits programme including the option to buy additional holidays, health cash plan and discounted gym membership
* Contributory Pension Scheme
* Workings hours are 37 hours per week
* 08:30am - 16:30pm (some flexibility)
What will I be doing as an apprentice?
We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Laboratory Technician Apprentice to join our Waste & Resources lab team, supporting day-to-day environmental testing and laboratory operations. In this role, you will gain hands-on experience preparing and analyzing samples, recording results, and assisting with equipment checks, helping to ensure accuracy and safety throughout our lab processes.
This apprenticeship provides a solid foundation for a future career in environmental science and laboratory work, offering opportunities to develop practical laboratory skills, technical knowledge, and a strong understanding of waste and resource management in a supportive, learning-focused environment.
Summary of duties:
You’ll be joining our Waste & Resources lab team, learning the ropes and getting hands-on with real-world environmental science. No experience? No worries, we’ll train you up!
Here’s what your day-to-day might look like:
* Logging samples into our database.
* Prepping samples (think mixing, weighing, drying, sorting — all with safety gear and guidance).
* Running basic tests (like moisture checks and ignition loss).
* Recording results in spreadsheets.
* Helping keep the lab clean and organized.
* Assisting with equipment checks and calibrations.
We would also love to see the following:
* Be safety-savvy — follow all health & safety rules and speak up if something’s off.
* Help process waste samples efficiently and accurately.
* Suggest ways to make things run smoother — we love fresh ideas.
* Be a team player — collaborate, communicate, and contribute.
* Stay flexible — you might be asked to help with other tasks as needed.
Please note that you must be 18+ to apply due to Health & Safety. This role will also require some heavy lifting at times.
What could the future look like?
When you join WRc, the possibilities for your success are limitless. As a successful applicant, you have the potential to secure a full-time position within the company at the conclusion of your apprenticeship.
Through practical, on-the-job training, you will develop new skills and gain the competence and responsibility required for materials testing and analysis. This apprenticeship serves as a stepping stone towards a rewarding career in materials science, with the added opportunity for the apprentice to become a registered Science Technician (RSci Tech).
This programme opens up a variety of career pathways across industries including construction materials, civil engineering, geotechnical investigation, environmental consultancy, and infrastructure development, ensuring your materials science skills are in demand across multiple sectors.
This apprenticeship can also help pave the way for further educational and professional advancement. You may choose to pursue higher-level qualifications through one of our Degree Apprenticeships such as a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Applied Materials Science.
Skills, Knowledge, and Experience
About You
You are safety-savvy and always follow health and safety guidelines, speaking up if something doesn’t feel right. You take pride in processing samples accurately and efficiently, and you’re happy to suggest ways to improve how things run — we value fresh ideas.
You work well as part of a team, collaborating and communicating effectively, and you’re flexible enough to help out with other tasks as needed. You have good timekeeping, and you’re comfortable with the physical aspects of the role, including lifting heavy samples and manual handling.
Experience
We value attitude, curiosity, and commitment just as much as past experience. While previous experience can be helpful, it’s not essential — we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, especially those with a genuine interest in the field and the motivation to build a career.
You might be a school or college leaver, or someone looking to retrain. Either way, if you’re enthusiastic, proactive, and ready to learn, you’ll fit right in.
Qualifications
It’s about enthusiasm, not school results. In our experience the most successful apprentices are those who are driven to find out more about the sector, can be up front about what they do and don’t already know, are considerate, self-reflective, and impatient to learn the job role!
So how does the apprenticeship work?
Over 18 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 Materials Technician apprenticeship.
You’ll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at WRc 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.
We’re Tiro (pronounced Tea-ro — white, two sugars).
In Latin, it means novice, recruit, apprentice, beginner, and soldier — the perfect name for a company that’s been helping fearless apprentices join ambitious businesses since 2005.
We believe great apprenticeships help everyone. There are remarkable apprentices out there just waiting to be found, and fantastic employers waiting to nurture them.
We’re proud to help connect the two — supporting industries that make, test, and innovate; from polymer manufacturing and materials science to sustainable engineering and advanced technology.
At Tiro, we make great things happen for people.
And that starts with you.