Manufacturing Technician Review
at GSK
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Pharmaceutical
Barnard Castle
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.6 /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
4.6/5
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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:
5/5
As a manufacturing technician, I’m on the production floor in the packaging department of Syringes. We receive the product, place devices into pucks which go onto a conveyor belt. The pucks go into the Labeller where front and back labels are applied to the device. When the devices come out the labeller, They are placed into trays ready to be sealed. Once sealed, They are placed into cartons and sent through the Neri labeller to be tampered before being placed into cardboard corrugated cases. My role is to thread machines up, breakdown shippers and return them to their storage location, bring on upcoming batches into the pre assignment bay, pack devices into cartons, load devices into pucks going into the Labeller and Clear the line so it is free of anything from the prior batch heading into the next batch to avoid contamination.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I enjoy my job thoroughly as there is a great team who I enjoy working with and the work is relatively easy. However, I would prefer a more technical area as it would be better suited to my skillset and therefore the challenge would increase my enjoyment of the programme.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have further developed my socials skills in the sense of working with a team and people that I don’t necessarily know or like. I have developed mathematical skills such as knowing how to calculate batch yield, and predicting how many components are required towards the end of a batch. Most importantly, my confidence has increased tenfold as I have grown increasingly competent in my role.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
On the whole, the programme is well structured with a clear focus on the development of the apprentice. However, the one downside currently is the lack of a permanent, onsite apprentice lead as the former lead received a promotion and ever since the programme hasn’t felt as structured, but that isn’t a slight on the programme itself.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
The employer are terrific offering multiple services that are aimed to giving as much support to apprentices and further more employees alike. This is achieved by the numerous ERG services readily available if we are feeling the need to make use of them.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider for the apprenticeship are on the whole good with offering support as they have multiple teams readily available. However, their only issue is sometimes the training provider can be rather slow to responding to any queries that are had.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
The qualification gives me the theoretical knowledge needed to excel in my role. It’s a foundation that can be applied and is excellently taught.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
On site is a sports and social club where plentiful of activities are offered. Over the year GSK encourage their work teams to have get togethers in order to boost team morale.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend GSK to a friend?
Yes
Why?
The company are exceptional at taking care of their own, by offering both incredible benefits to work for the company but furthermore look after their employees like no other by offering the multiple services such as AXA healthcare.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to GSK?
Be naturally yourself, as they prefer authenticity especially if applying for a manufacturing role as your personality will shine through in not only the work carried out but the relationships that have to be forged with colleagues and managers alike.
