Want to know what apprenticeships are really like? We asked our community for their experiences and opinions. So if you’re wondering if an apprenticeship is right for you, or your business, why not see what they have to say…
Apprentice testimonials
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- Join us on LinkedIn to discover more about our community, connect with apprentices across all of our programmes and keep up-to-date with their progress.
Meet Maddie
Oxford Biomedica
Applied Bioscience
Level 6
Since I started my apprenticeship, I have rotated teams around my department, assisting on various client studies. This has involved hands-on experience in analytical assays, upstream and downstream processes, innovation projects and general lab technician duties. This has not only provided me with the same skills as my colleagues but has opened up different career opportunities within the biopharmaceutical sector, all whilst not having to worry about a student debt! I would recommend the apprenticeship route to anyone as it provides invaluable experiences throughout.
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Mike Devey
Pharmaron Gene Therapy
Advanced Therapies Scientist
Level 6
I work at Pharmaron Gene Therapy as a scientific associate. After completion of a level 3 & level 4 apprenticeship the next logical step was for me to move onto the degree apprenticeship. The skills I have gained have already set me up for a career within the biotech industry. I would highly recommend apprenticeships to anyone looking to take a big step towards a new career, the opportunity to earn while you learn within exciting industries is unparalleled. Why not hear from Mike himself in this short interview
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Mel Harper
NHS Blood and Transplant
Apprenticeship Lead
“It is our very clear intention to recruit more valuable and enthusiastic new starters at Level 3 and Level 5 each year. We wouldn’t have had the same experience without our involvement with ATAC. We have an excellent apprenticeship team at NHSBT, made all the more effective and impactful by the association with the ATAC community. We thank everyone involved with ATAC for their continued support and their expansion of programmes each year to meet more and more skills needs.” Close
Callum Watson
RoslinCT
Head of People
“ATAC have been an amazing resource for RoslinCT and have helped to ensure that our apprenticeship journey has went smoothly at every step of the way. The ATAC team have been readily available to provide support, opportunities to meet other businesses in similar situations and ultimately enhance our apprentices’ experience. They are proactive at organising events for apprentices and employers, which are always well worth attending.” Close
Tracy Millard
Autolus
HR Director
Autolus were first introduced to the benefits of apprenticeships within the Cell and Gene industry back in 2018 by ATAC, when we recruited our first two apprentices as Technical Scientists under the apprenticeship scheme. We decided to take on apprentices as we view apprenticeships as a productive and effective way to grow talent and to also have the ability to adapt the training to the needs of the business, as well as an opportunity for Autolus colleagues to share their industry knowledge and skills with future talent. There is also an opportunity for the apprentices to bring a different perspective to the teams they work in and to grow with us on our journey here at Autolus. We have found our apprentice’s to be motivated to learn new skills and grow and develop with the business. We are also planning to use apprenticeships to upskill our existing staff to ensure we continue to invest in our people to develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. For Autolus we have found the benefits of having apprentices is motivated employees, with a strong sense of loyalty, who feel valued and committed for the long term through development of skills over several years.Close
Colin Stretch
Oxford BioMedica
Supervisor
More and more, we are seeing people learn in different ways. An apprenticeship gives a way for people to achieve a recognised qualification without sacrificing their job and the experience gained in the workplace. It helps both the business and the individual to develop, and the reward for both parties is greater than either first imagined. The main benefits of a workplace apprenticeship include employee engagement, talent development, bringing in knowledge from TOPRA and other businesses, and inspiring others to achieve. In terms of challenges, they are mainly logistically or organisationally related. Although the scheme is well planned and communicated, it does require organisation from the apprentice and the line manager. It takes effort, but that makes the achievement that much more special. I strongly recommend the apprenticeship scheme to anyone who wants to further develop their career. I think some people might fear the commitment and the length of the apprenticeship, but I think achieving an MSc in just a few years is great. Since the business has committed to your success, too, it will help you with discussions about your development.Close
Linda Randall
Pharmaron
Associate Vice President
We have supported apprentices for several years at Pharmaron Biologics and are absolutely thrilled to be involved in this innovative program to develop the skills we rely upon to successfully develop gene therapy products for our customers. The ATAC scheme means we can access carefully selected academic providers and specifically designed courses for Advanced Therapies and our apprentices gain a much broader experience through the network of UK companies involved in the community. We have been able to take entry level apprentices and develop them through to degree qualified employees and more recently are accessing apprenticeships to upskill our technical team members, for example in senior level leadership and data science. Each year we host the GMP module for the technical apprentices at our site, sharing our experience of GMP manufacturing of advanced therapies and showing them around our GMP manufacturing facility to see first hand how these products are made.Close
Training provider testimonials
Claire Newton
Smart Training & Recruitment
Senior Business Development Consultant
Smart Training & Recruitment are extremely proud to be the chosen Training Provider, partnering with ATAC, on the successful delivery of a wide range of Apprenticeship qualifications from levels 2 – 5 for the last 18 months.
We deliver qualifications across a range of suites, such as Leadership & Management, Continual Improvement, Education & Training, Business Admin, Customer Service, HR & Payroll, and Manufacturing and Logistics.
This invaluable opportunity allows us to discuss delivery of a wide variety of training options with the employers from the ATAC network, and promote the benefits of Apprenticeship programs including upskilling existing members of staff, adding to an existing knowledge and skills base, and earning a nationally recognised qualification to aid CPD activities.
The support and networking opportunities we can be a part of, through our partnership with ATAC is incredible, and allows us to work a lot more closely with employers and individuals within the bioprocessing sector, all of whom have a strong belief and investment in Learning and Development planning, for their teams.
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Danny Ho
CSR Scientific Training
Director
CSR Scientific Training are delighted to be the chosen provider for the delivery of Laboratory Technician, Science Manufacturing Technician and Quality Practitioner apprenticeship standards. We are proud to have a partner in ATAC who have played a huge role in bringing together like-minded employers in the advanced therapies sector and through this network, we have been able to work with employers who have all experienced first hand the benefits of apprenticeships for their organisations.
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Kenny Moffat
University of Strathclyde
Course Director
The University of Strathclyde have been delivering Degree Apprenticeships, in partnership with ATAC, since 2020, to meet the future development needs of the Advanced Therapies sector. Apprentices study for a BEng honours in Chemical Engineering, as part of the SIPPE (Science Industry Plant and Process Engineer) Degree Apprenticeship Standard. Although apprentices will graduate with a BEng honours in Chemical Engineering, the apprenticeship is much more than that, and graduating students will also be able to evidence a range of Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours, that they learn in their role with an ATAC employer. The ATAC organisation adds value beyond the employer/university relationship that is required by the apprenticeship standard, though ATAC training, support and networking experiences, that bring together the combined experience of organisations in this sector. Apprentices on this programme will not only graduate with an IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) accredited BEng honours degree, but on their first day as a graduate they will already have 5 years of relevant engineering experience evidenced by their Degree Apprenticeship award. Close
Alanna Robertson
Forth Valley College
Apprenticeship Officer
Forth Valley College (FVC) of Further and Higher Education are training provider for the delivery of the Laboratory and Associated Technician Activities Apprenticeship and proud to have a partner in ATAC who have played a huge role in bringing together employers in the scientific sector, through this network, we have been able to work with key employers who have all experienced first hand the benefits of apprenticeships for their organisations. Close
Samantha Cooper
TOPRA
Head of Professional Development
The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA) is delighted to be delivering the Regulatory Affairs Specialist apprenticeship standard as part of its mission to develop the talent pipeline and promote excellence in healthcare regulatory affairs.Close
Betty Johnson
University of Kent
Centre for Higher and Degree Apprenticeships
The University of Kent are proud to partner with ATAC in our delivery of the ATMP programme in line with the Technician Scientist apprenticeship standard. Working with ATAC, we are able to ensure each apprentice graduates with the knowledge, skills and behaviours that meets the needs of the Advanced Therapies sector. Utilising ATAC’s support, training and networking events, our apprentices and employers are able to gain additional skills in advanced therapies that address the skills shortages and needs of the advanced therapies community.Close