Everything you need to know

Modern Apprenticeship in Life Science

In Scotland ATAC offers the Modern Apprenticeship in Life Science (Level 7).

As part of this apprenticeship, you will complete three key components:

  • Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) depending on your current, highest level of study – this is the “knowledge” based element of the apprenticeship
  • Scottish Vocational Qualification (SQV) in Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities (LATA) – this is the “skill” based element of the apprenticeship, and involves assessment at your workplace
  • Core Skills which covers Communication, Numeracy, ICT, Problem Solving and Working with Others – this is the “behaviour” based element of the apprenticeship, teaching useful behaviours to have in the workplace while also providing good foundational knowledge in key areas that anybody would need when entering the workplace

Duration:

The programme is between 2-3 years depending on the level of qualification and the time of year you begin. This is because the SVQ element can be started at any time, but the HNC/HND has to be started at specific times throughout each academic year.

Salary:

You will never be asked to contribute towards the cost of your apprenticeship. On the apprenticeship, your salary is paid by the employer. As an apprentice, you can expect a starting salary of between £16,000 and £21,000 depending on your employer, the apprenticeship you are undertaking and the area in which you work. Once you have completed your apprenticeship and have become a fully qualified member of the industry, alongside several years of work experience, you will be able to command a much higher salary.

Who we partner with:

We partner with Forth Valley College for the provision of this apprenticeship, but there are other providers in other geographical areas that we are happy to work with depending on the location of the your workplace. You can view Forth Valley College’s information on their specific programme here.

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