Posted:
11/29/2024, 2:21:35 AM
Location(s):
Irvine, Scotland, United Kingdom ⋅ Scotland, United Kingdom
Experience Level(s):
Internship
Field(s):
Product
Join GSK’s Engineering Apprentice Programme – UK, 2025: Help us get ahead of disease together and earn while you learn
GSK Apprenticeships are full-time, early starter jobs that offer Year 13 secondary school and
post-16 students the opportunity to begin their career while studying towards a qualification. This qualification is fully funded by GSK so that you can avoid having any debt.
This role is based in Irvine where we manufacture the active ingredients and starting material for an antibiotic belonging to a group of drugs called penicillin. Around 135 million patients are treated with our finished products each year in over 140 countries.
Education Required:
Must have/be predicted to achieve a minimum of five National 4/5 (previously standard grades) or equivalent, including Mathematics, English and Science – must include Mathematics at B or above, a Science subject and English at C or above.
Alternatively, candidates currently on or who have completed a PEO2 engineering course can apply, as long as they have the equivalent of a National 4/5 in Mathematics, English and one other subject.
Other requirements:
If offered a position the candidate must be willing to enroll and meet entry requirements.
Must be able to commute to the Irvine site and Ayrshire College (Kilmarnock or Kilwinning, depending on apprenticeship)
Irvine is a penicillin manufacturing site. Please consider this if you are allergic to beta-lactam penicillin.
Expected Start date: September 2025
Application deadline: We recommend you apply as soon as possible. This vacancy will close when we have received enough applications, so please apply as soon as you can so your application can be considered.
Assessment centre date: Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and April 2025.
We want you to feel truly motivated and passionate about the Apprenticeship you choose. Take the time to research thoroughly before applying, as you’ll need to show us why this role is the role for you. Wishing you the best of luck with your application!
Are you looking to gain a head start in your career where you can help positively impact the health of billions of people? Apply for the Irvine Apprenticeship programme at GSK today!
You will be working at GSK’s Irvine’s manufacturing facility where you’ll be learning how to maintain and improve our pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and facilities, helping to ensure we can make the medicines and vaccines that we supply to patients.
Here’s how some of our current Engineering Apprentices describe their roles:
Callum Black, Engineering Apprentice, Irvine site:
“I’m a third-year engineering apprentice. So far, my experience on site has been great through working alongside competent tradesman and engineers every day, who have vast experience in the industry whether it be with GSK or elsewhere. For me, the best part of the GSK experience is the opportunities to take on challenges to develop myself, such as the Outward Bound and Fieri trips.”
Chris Callander, Engineering Apprentice, Irvine site:
“GSK has helped me to gain qualifications which are recognised throughout industry. I have also built effective communication and teamworking skills through various workshops and retreats all over the UK.”
Ellie Wilson, Engineering Apprentice, Irvine site:
“I have found that the best part of being a GSK apprentice is that you get to learn new things every day and work alongside different Individuals within a team. I also really enjoy the experiences which we get to do every year like Outward Bound which allows us to meet other GSK Apprentices from all over the world”
Ahead together with tailored training and career development
This is a 4-year practical, hands-on apprenticeship where you’ll be working towards a Level 3 Engineering qualification through Ayrshire College.
Your studies are fully funded by GSK, and through your day-to-day work you’ll have lots of opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real-world manufacturing environment.
Other perks include:
Eligibility for NUS Extra card providing you with discounts to many high street and online outlets.
Access to NxtGen – a social group where you can connect with other GSK apprentices nationally & internationally.
Access to healthcare and well-being programs.
Employee recognition programs, which reward exceptional achievements.
A buddy &/or mentor who will help you to prepare for joining GSK and who will be there to offer support and guidance throughout your apprenticeship.
What will you be doing day-to-day?
Learn how to maintain equipment and carry out routine maintenance.
Fault-find, diagnose and resolve breakdowns.
Work on energy and sustainability projects.
Recommend and action improvements.
Help install and test new equipment.
Learn business skills with other apprentices.
Complete community projects as part of a team.
What do we offer you?
Starting salary of £18,400 per year, increasing to £25,400 after 1 year + annual bonus based on company performance.
Kickstart a long-term and rewarding career with nationally recognised Engineering Technician qualifications. Lots of our current engineering team leaders and senior managers across the site started their careers as Engineering Technician Apprentices so this is a great starting point!
All costs of your apprenticeship are paid for by GSK.
Top tips for your application
For hints, tips and guidance for getting onto a GSK apprenticeship click here: Apprenticeships | GSK.
Register on our GSK insight and engagement platform GSK Get Ahead – Connectr to learn more about working at GSK, our culture and the application processes.
You can also learn more about GSK apprenticeships here: GSKUKDigitalApprenticeBrochure.pdf.
Once you’ve completed our short online application form, you will be invited to an online video interview. During this, we will ask you to tell us why you think our programme is a good fit for you and how your skills and interests will help you to succeed at GSK.
To help you prepare, we wanted to share some top tips to bear in mind while you’re answering the interview questions! Our Apprentices need:
An interest in, and motivation for becoming a multi-skilled Engineering Technician – you don’t need to have had any prior work experience, but you’ll need to tell us why you think this practical apprenticeship is for you. You may have interests, hobbies or experience that show you have a practical side – perhaps specific practical projects or subjects at school or college that you enjoyed; clubs that you’ve been part of; work experience or extracurricular activities with friends or family or volunteering, or charity or community work that you want to tell us about. Your reasons will be personal to you, and we look forward to hearing about these during the application process.
Communication skills – you’ll meet and work with lots of different people across the site, so you’ll need to be able to listen to others as well as be open and honest and respectful in your communication. You can expect the same respect from others.
An ability to work within a team – you will have lots of your own tasks and/or projects to work on through the apprenticeship. You’ll also need to be able to work well with other people and consider the impact of your work and actions on other people too.
Ability to follow instructions / Personal responsibility – it is critical that you can follow work instructions and health & safety guidelines at all times to keep you and your colleagues safe whilst ensuring the highest quality of the products that reach our patients. Don’t worry, you’ll get training on all of these when you start.
A focus on quality (right first time) and problem solving – we’ll teach you how to safely work with manufacturing machinery and documentation tools. As you develop in your role, you’ll need to take a logical approach to problem solving whilst seeking opportunities to improve quality, speed and/or efficiency.
Ability to balance your work and study time – you’ll have the best of both worlds – a great start to your working career in a great industry and gain a nationally recognised Engineering Technician qualification. You’ll need to be able to manage your time and workload, and to stay motivated and committed when facing challenges. Rest assured, you’ll get lots of support from your manager and your teams as well as your college tutors through your Apprenticeship.
Apply now
Please note we will update you regarding your application by the end of February 2025, if you have any questions please contact: [email protected]
Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and April 2025.
Need help with your application?
Please email us at [email protected] and let us know how we can help you.
You don’t need to have any previous work experience to be successful. We’re looking for candidates who are motivated to learn and who are excited to develop practical, hands-on engineering and problem-solving skills.
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Why GSK?
Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).
Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).
We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to our process which might help you demonstrate your strengths and capabilities.
For UK Intern roles (including Industrial Placements) you can either call us on 01582 692870, or send an email [email protected]
For UK Apprentice and Graduate Programme roles you can either call us on 0203 862 2277, or send an email [email protected]
As you apply, we will ask you to share some personal information which is entirely voluntary. We want to have an opportunity to consider a diverse pool of qualified candidates and this information will assist us in meeting that objective and in understanding how well we are doing against our inclusion and diversity ambitions. We would really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete it. Rest assured, Hiring Managers do not have access to this information and we will treat your information confidentially.
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Website: https://gsk.com/
Headquarter Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Employee Count: 10001+
Year Founded: 1929
IPO Status: Public
Last Funding Type: Grant
Industries: Biotechnology ⋅ Health Care ⋅ Pharmaceutical