An ever-growing network of Industry expertise

My name is Rushil, I am doing a degree apprenticeship with Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, London. I am studying towards a BEng in Chemical Engineering. I decided to do an apprenticeship as it provides me the opportunity to gain professional industry experience whilst studying for a degree. I enjoy the hands-on practical work most, as it complements and reinforces the knowledge learnt during my apprenticeship degree. This apprenticeship scheme is also with ATAC which has many benefits. ATAC has supported my development by arranging training sessions, providing information, and day outings on what a career in advanced therapies can provide. They offer a great insight into the industry as well as showing you what opportunities are out there for the future!      

I was 17 when I completed my 6th year at school and, through apprenticeship.scot, I found a Modern Apprenticeship with Symbiosis (based in Scotland). Further education was not attractive to me due to high student costs and uncertain employment prospects, so I was really pleased to have the opportunity of two years of work experience and an HNC in Applied Biological Sciences through day release at college. The course was very interesting and relevant my to work. I was very shy and lacking confidence when I started, but now with the help of supportive colleagues, I feel I am contributing to the Technical Team at Symbiosis. In the working environment, I have developed my communication skills along with the ability to prioritise and manage my workload. There’s a lot to learn when joining a complex industry, but with tailored on-the-job training and exposure to business, technical and quality systems, I feel I have come a long way in my understanding. ATAC has been great, too - with access to relevant and informative webinars to widen knowledge. ATAC has also set up events which have been great opportunities to learn about other companies and network with other apprentices. I have even been a panellist at industry virtual conferences designed to encourage other pharma companies to take on apprentices and, as well as experience the benefit themselves, give other young people the same opportunities as I had.

I have been working for Oxford Biomedica (OXB) since 2017, within the Analytical Services Group (ASG). My team and I interact with various departments across the business, as well as external suppliers, to support with client and internal projects. I joined the pharmaceutical industry in 2014 as a manufacturing operator and later I moved to QC. As part of my Regulatory Affairs apprenticeship, I spent two years working with the OXB Regulatory team on a part-time secondment. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry from Aristotle University in Greece, where I come from. In 2019, OXB offered me a Level 7 Apprenticeship in Regulatory Affairs, which I accepted without hesitation. On top of the apprenticeship, the company also agreed to cover the additional cost for completing the MSc, for which I am very grateful. The course was a perfect fit with what I wanted and needed, because it would allow me to become qualified in three years while earning a living and receiving on-the-job training. During the time of my apprenticeship, I really enjoyed working with regulatory professionals, learning about product development and regulatory strategies, as well as networking. Through being part of ATAC, I have met people from many different organisations and I have attended various webinars and online training sessions that complemented my apprenticeship. I am also very thankful they showed me the way me to obtain the level 2 English qualification with very short notice, in order to allow my entry to the apprenticeship scheme.

I work at F-star biotechnology, a company who is working to develop novel bispecific antibodies for the treatment of cancer. An apprenticeship combines the benefits of both university and a full-time job; you gain a wealth of valuable industry experience and a degree, without any student debt. What’s great is being able to relate theoretical learning to the work that you’re doing in the company, as it really makes the topic come to life. The rest of my colleagues are passionate about their work and are very supportive and willing to take the time to explain each process, which has allowed me to quickly learn and adapt to the use of specialised scientific equipment and software. I would highly recommend an apprenticeship to anyone interested in Biosciences. Being an apprentice with ATAC has given me the opportunity to attend numerous interesting talks from industry experts and allowed me to meet other apprentices in similar roles and tour world class facilities to get a wider appreciation of the sector.

I decided to do a degree apprenticeship because I wanted to gain practical experience within the scientific research sector. At the same time, I wanted to progress with my studies without having to worry about being in debt. The best thing about this programme is that it seamlessly moulds the academic aspect of my degree with my time at the Catapult, thus allowing me to cover course content and continue with the responsibilities my role requires. The working environment at the Catapult is also very friendly and full of energy, making this journey even more exciting!

I am an apprentice laboratory scientist within analytical development at Replimune. I’m currently completing the level 6 top-up to BSc after completing a level 5 (Fdsc) Technician Scientist apprenticeship last year, also with Replimune. I jumped at the opportunity to continue onto a level 6 apprenticeship as I get to continue to study a subject I am passionate about whilst working amongst, and learning from, a brilliant team of experienced professionals. I’m particularly enjoying the opportunity within my level 6 apprenticeship to apply the skills and experience developed at level 5: background knowledge, laboratory skills and project management experience, just to name a few. I have found the support of ATAC incredibly valuable. I attend events organised by ATAC regularly throughout the year where I can network with other apprentices and attend courses applicable to my apprenticeship. I was particularly grateful for their guidance through the end point assessment process. The ATAC has provided networking opportunities and industry experience that would not have otherwise been available to me at Replimune alone, for example tours of clean rooms and GMP manufacturing sites, and the opportunity to present at numerous high-profile events – developing my interpersonal, presentation skills and confidence. I’m so pleased that I chose to pursue an apprenticeship, over the traditional academic route, as I will achieve my BSc in applied biology with five years of industry experience under my belt. I feel that I’m well on my way to a successful career within Biological sciences thanks to my apprenticeship experience.

I work for Autolus, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in CAR T Cell therapy for cancer patients. I studied Bioscience at the University of Kent, graduating with foundation degree in 2021 and due to graduate with bachelors 2023 as part of a level 6 laboratory scientist apprenticeship. I chose an apprenticeship because it offered the work experience and further knowledge development, I knew I would benefit from in addition to university. When working within the industry, you are surrounded by experts within the field, therefore always learning and challenging yourself, whilst making a difference for the patients as well as the research and development of a new treatment. ATAC has helped support learning and development, including organising events to visit companies within the science sector, so students can learn about what else the industry has to offer whilst tying it in with university studies, making it relevant to aid further understanding as well as prepare for EPA. What I have enjoyed about my apprenticeship is the impact I have had on the company as well as the patients. To know that patients have gone into remission and therefore have more time with family and friends due to the treatment we provide is a rewarding feeling. I also joined Autolus when it was a very small company, and to see it expand, knowing I have helped in some way to achieve it, is incredible.

Meet Lara, Level 6 Laboratory Scientist - Autolus 

Lara chose to pursue an apprenticeship through ATAC and we were able to connect her to Autolus – a company that develops therapies that have the potential to deliver life-changing benefits to cancer patients.   Why did you choose to pursue an advanced therapies apprenticeship? I work in a sector which specialises in cancer advanced therapies, so to know that what I am doing is aiding research and development into more effective treatments, and potentially finding a cure, is incredible. Giving patients time with family and friends that they wouldn’t have had if this treatment wasn’t available, is a rewarding feeling.   How has ATAC supported your development? There are regular visits to companies involved with ATAC, where apprentices can look around facilities and learn about what they do. This helped to further my understanding of the advanced therapies sector as many companies treat other diseases other than cancer. The trips keep university modules in mind, meaning the activities were beneficial and can be applied to our studies. ATAC also helps apprentices prepare for their end point assessments and will assist in preparation where they can.   Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship at Autolus? When I first started at Autolus, the company was only three years old, with two sites in the UK and about 75 employees. Now the company has just turned eight, we have four sites across the UK and the USA. I have been able to be a part of a business that is expanding quickly and successfully within the industry. I have learnt so much due to this, as well as having contributed towards their development.   How would you describe the culture at Autolus? The workforce is very diverse, with individuals coming from many backgrounds. Everyone is friendly, works well together and is willing to help one another in developing their skills and exchanging knowledge.   What has been the most rewarding or interesting project you have been involved in and why? I have been tasked with leading several projects so far within my 4 years at Autolus including an environmental monitoring project where the process was updated to be more effective. A mycoplasma assay project was developed to bring the assay in-house rather than outsourced. This would reduce business costs as well as manufacturing time, allowing patients to get their treatment sooner. I have also recently been tasked with carrying out a Quality Control antibody cocktail stability project, where these cocktails are used within a range of QC assays. The idea is that a cocktail will be created in bulk and used when required instead of being created by the operator at the time of the assay. This will help to reduce human error and reduce assay times.   What would you say to someone thinking of pursuing an apprenticeship in advanced therapies? Ensure it is something you enjoy and are willing to be challenged by. Do your research into your sector of choice. It may take a little longer than university, but all fees are paid for and you gain years of work experience where you will learn skills and additional knowledge, as well as being paid for the time you work. You will be given genuine responsibilities – you won’t be doing the odd jobs no one wants to do. Contrary to popular belief, there is a good work/study/personal life balance. Your study time will be taken out of work hours, for example, in 5-day work week; 4 days will be work, 1 day study. You will also have the weekends and annual leave to do as you please. For me, you will likely find me racing in my kart or a car with my race team! 90+% of all students that go through apprenticeships are guaranteed a job at the end, making this a great option to kick start the career.

Meet Natasha, Level 6 Laboratory Scientist - Advent Bioservices 

Why did you choose to pursue an advanced therapies apprenticeship?  Ever since my brother’s life was improved due to the manufacture of a recent vaccine, I have wanted to improve the life of others. An apprenticeship in the advanced therapies sector has provided me with the opportunity to aid in the manufacture and research of cancer vaccines. It is rewarding knowing that I can make a difference.  How has ATAC supported your development?  ATAC set up webinars that can increase your understanding of the advanced therapies sector. These webinars are really useful in gaining insight into other diseases and treatments outside of the company you work with. For example, even though I do not work with CAR-T cells I have learnt through the webinars how they work and how they are made.  What has been the most rewarding or interesting project that you have been involved in and why?  I have worked in the development of a cancer vaccine for a rare brain tumour and have been involved in projects to optimise our current procedures such as experimenting with current automated machines. The idea that I am helping reduce the pressure of working within a cleanroom is rewarding. The potential to optimise the clinical outcome of the drug is even better!  What would you say to someone who is thinking of pursuing an apprenticeship in advanced therapies?  Pursuing an apprenticeship in advanced therapies is a great opportunity to learn important skills and knowledge required in the scientific sector without the added worry of university debts, not to mention the salary. The main advice I would give is to be curious. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Explore. This apprenticeship offers you the opportunity to gain experience from the experts, so use this to your advantage.  You were Advent’s first apprentice ever! How did you find it being the only apprentice at your organisation?  As Advent’s first apprentice, there have been times when it has been difficult managing each stage of the apprenticeship. However, the university and my apprenticeship advisor have helped me considerably by answering any questions. Everyone has been so friendly! Being the only apprentice has allowed the company to fully focus on my learning, allowing me to have the opportunity to help with multiple projects. I also have connections to other apprentices via a WhatsApp group set up by other apprentices. Now and then we meet up and have some fun. So, the community feeling is still strong.  You’ve now proceeded onto a Level 6 after completing your Foundation Degree. What was it that made you want to continue your studies for another two years?  I loved having the ability to learn whilst I’m working. The hands-on experience has been very beneficial for me, and not only have I grown in my career, but I have also grown as a person. It is for this reason that I decided to continue my learning by continuing onto a Level 6 apprenticeship. In doing so, I can achieve a full degree in bioscience and become more involved in setting up projects and handling more complex scientific procedures.   What are your future plans?   In the future, I aim to work within the scientific sector with the knowledge that I have gained throughout my apprenticeship. It would be nice to continue working in research or process development projects aimed at optimising and improving vaccines or other therapeutic products.   

Meet Ted, Apprentice Research Technician, FdSc Applied Bioscience  

Why did you choose to pursue an advanced therapies apprenticeship?  This apprenticeship allowed me to jump straight into the most interesting aspects of science I had learned at school. I knew how valuable work experience is in the field and how much better I learn in work-based scenarios than in classrooms. Together, the opportunity to perform important lab work and obtain a degree seemed ideal for my career.   How has ATAC supported your development?  By consistently organising networking opportunities, informative seminars, and much more, ATAC has filled skill gaps left by work and university-based learning. This has been particularly useful in completing the competency requirements of the apprenticeship, as well as providing a greater overall picture of the industry in the UK. What has been the most rewarding or interesting project that you have been involved in and why?  My third year at Catapult gave me the chance to participate as an experimental lead on a project of my own. There were challenges when faced with planning, timelines and budgets for the first time but on completion of the project, I gained a much greater understanding of the work required for an organisation to operate smoothly. Writing my own protocols before performing the lab work and analysis was a great experience.  What would you say to someone who is thinking of pursuing an apprenticeship in advanced therapies?  Apprenticeships in this area are still fairly new so there may be a few unknowns if you decide to pursue this route. The good thing about this is that it encourages a strong sense of community for those involved. Apprentices, mentors, managers, and ex-apprentices are super passionate about what they do!  You joined Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult as one of a large cohort of ATAC apprentices. Do you think it benefitted you to be a part of this?  Joining as part of a larger cohort has definitely been beneficial to my apprenticeship experience. In my day-to-day activities, I can interact with fellow apprentices facing the same challenges to find solutions. On a wider level, I am often able to meet with apprentices outside of their workplace and learn about the similarities or differences in their roles compared to my own.  You’ve put yourself forward for several cohort activities, what made you volunteer and how do you think that participating in these has helped your development?  Additional activities are ideal for developing soft skills that don’t necessarily translate to a CV but are visible to those you meet and work with. Presentation and communication activities are guaranteed to be useful in any future career decisions.  Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?  I’d love to move to Canada to be a scientist in their growing advanced therapies field. The work experience and degree offered by the apprenticeship are valued by the country and its employers.   

Meet Izzy, Chemical Engineering Degree Apprentice on the Science Industry Process and Plant Engineer (Degree) Level 6 Apprenticeship, GSK

Why did you choose to pursue an apprenticeship within pharma? I never knew what I wanted to do when I was in Sixth Form. All I knew is that I wanted a career where I contributed to improving people’s lives. I was always interested in science and maths but applied to university for Environmental Science as I was not very informed of other opportunities other than university. I came across my current apprenticeship on GSK’s website and their values aligned with mine so I thought I would be a good fit for the company. I did not know much about Chemical Engineering until after the interview process, but I can now confidently say this role encompasses all I have been looking for in starting my career; science, maths and contributing to improving people’s lives through manufacturing medicines.   How has ATAC supported your development? ATAC have a clear understanding of each specific apprenticeship standard along with organising various free events for apprentices where these requirements can be fulfilled. For me, these events have been extremely diverse: health and safety courses, visiting advanced therapies research centres, being on panels for National Apprenticeship Week and political conferences. All improving my knowledge and skills in various areas. ATAC’s Lunch and Learn sessions are also amazing. People from all over the industry talk about their career pathways. It is a brilliant opportunity to think more about what to do after my apprenticeship and the challenges/ decisions I may face.   What has been the most rewarding or interesting project that you have been involved in and why? It is impossible just to pick one due to my role having so much variety. I have been involved in solving deviations to enable antibiotics to be sent to patients on time, raising awareness of process safety hazards to senior leadership employees on-site, leading a group of over 200 early careerists called ChemTalent, projects that control the effects of potential explosions and problem-solving to improve the efficiency and profit of our manufacturing process to mention a few. There are unique learnings and rewards in everything!   What would you say to someone who is thinking of pursuing an apprenticeship in advanced therapies? Be as informed as possible before making your decision. The advanced therapies and pharmaceutical sector have so many opportunities to offer. You can get so much experience, your degree paid for, a salary, annual leave and an early start in growing your professional network. There are many apprenticeship routes other than science or engineering within the sector so do your research- you may be surprised! If you would like to experience innovation and problem-solving, this is the perfect place to start.   You relocated twice for your roles at GSK. These were big decisions, what advice would you give people in the same situation? How did ATAC support you in building your network? If someone else is wondering whether to relocate for an apprenticeship, I would say go for it! It has been a great learning experience for me. If your employer is offering more experience, an opportunity to broaden your network and technical skills then why wouldn’t you? I look at it as a chance to trial different environments to make a more informed decision of where I would like to work in the future. My apprenticeship experience has been maximised by relocating. Being the first apprentice of my kind within GSK, I found it difficult to come across anyone that understood everything I was experiencing. When ATAC reached out to me, I was introduced to multiple people on similar apprenticeships to me, expanding my network and support system. This has also opened my eyes to what opportunities are available outside of the pharmaceutical sector and in advanced therapies with my degree/ and experience. ATAC reaches across the whole country. I know wherever I go I will always have them as a constant pillar of support which is comforting.   How have you progressed in your career since starting your apprenticeship? Over the past three years, I have been involved in a variety of projects, problem-solving, process safety work and work outside of stereotypical process engineering. I have had experience on a primary and secondary manufacturing site and may even have some biopharma/ R&D experience within the last years of my apprenticeship. I am now at a stage where I am almost treated as a full-time employee; being given independence and responsibility with work but  also still having the extra support system available to me at all times if needed. With off-the-job learning (heavily supported by ATAC), my network and softer skills have developed massively. Especially, gratefully being given CIA’s Young Ambassador of the Year 2022, I have been given opportunities I never expected starting my apprenticeship in 2020. I cannot recommend an apprenticeship within this sector enough!   What are your future plans? First, I plan to finish my apprenticeship in 2025 with a Chemical Engineering degree! After that, I have no plans set in stone. I hope I will constantly broaden and deepen my knowledge and skills in whatever I do. I would perhaps like to see what work opportunities lie further afield than the UK.