Technician I Review
at Charles River
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Science
Saffron Walden
Review Submitted: March 2023
Overall Rating
4.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
4.5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I work in Cell Culture, where we grow cells for biological assays. As part of this team, I'll be involved with activities on a daily basis such as monitoring the cell growth, passaging the cells when necessary, reviving cells, plating cells from flasks and freezing down cell stocks.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I very much enjoy the programme. There are times where it can seem daunting however there are lots of people ready to help and teach you, making it very easy to ask questions.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yes, I've gone from having no lab experience to having experience working in 3 different types of labs. The scheme operates so that each apprentice rotates into a new department each year so that we can broaden our knowledge of drug discovery and are continually developing new skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The organisation of the programme can vary by department, however in my experience the scheme has been fairly well organised.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Each apprentice is given a line manager and a mentor and both in my experience have been very supportive, not just for the work side of things but the study side too. Furthermore, all coworkers I've encountered have been patient and taken the time to support my learning.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
The self-study guides could be more comprehensive- in many modules the lessons can sometimes lack structure and occasionally are not very well explained/don't necessarily cover all the needed information. However, the university provides academic contacts who are always ready to help and the summer school is very helpful.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
Although the beginning modules are not immediately relevant to what an apprentice is necessarily doing at work, they (along with the later modules) provides a solid scientific basis for the understanding behind the activities at the workplace. It also gives a important knowledge for future work after the qualification.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
This can vary from department to department, but generally speaking yes, and everyone is always enthusiastic to get involved and include others, which has helped develop a great culture to work in.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Charles River to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I was unsure when I first applied for the apprenticeship if it was right for me, but I thought I'd give it a go and it was one of the best decisions I've made. I really enjoy my job.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Charles River?
Ask as many questions as you need to to broaden your knowledge. If you don't understand something, ask and someone will be more than happy to help.
