GSK
Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, Barnard Castle, UK, 2025
Job Function:
Job Type:
Location:
Barnard Castle, United Kingdom
Based:
Closing date:
ABOUT THE ROLE
Are you looking to gain a head start in your career where you can help positively impact the health of billions of people? Apply for the Barnard Castle Apprenticeship programme at GSK today!
You will be working at GSK’s Barnard Castle manufacturing facility where you’ll be learning how to maintain and improve our pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and facilities, helping to ensure we can make the medicines and vaccines that we supply to patients.
Here’s how some of our current Engineering Tech Apprentices describe their roles:
Aidan Dunn, Barnard Castle, Engineering Apprentice:
“I really enjoy the role as an Engineering Apprentice as it has a wide variety of work, and it allows me to apply the academic knowledge that I learn at college on real equipment in a factory environment. One of the best things about working for GSK is that it has provided me with opportunities to develop. I particularly enjoyed the outward-bound that we undertook as I got to make friends with people from all over the world during the trip.”
Ahead together with tailored training and career development
This is a 4-year, practical, hands-on apprenticeship where you’ll be working towards a Level 3 Science Maintenance Technician qualification through South West Durham Training.
For more information see: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/science-industry-maintenance-technician-v1-0This standard will be replaced before start date in September 2025.
Your studies are fully funded by GSK, and through your day-to-day work you’ll have lots of opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real-world manufacturing environment.
Other perks include:
Eligibility for NUS Extra card providing you with discounts to many high street and online outlets.
Access to NxtGen – a social group where you can connect with other GSK apprentices nationally and internationally.
Access to healthcare and well-being programmes.
Employee recognition programs, which reward exceptional achievements.
A buddy and/or mentor who will help you to prepare for joining GSK and who will be there to offer support and guidance throughout your apprenticeship.
What will you be doing day-to-day?
At South West Durham Training:
Attend 4 days a week in the first year to complete and pass AME Level 2.
Attend 1 day a week in year 2, 3 and 4 to complete and pass a BTEC Level 3 and HNC.
Complete Practical and Academic learning activities, on time and to the your highest achievable standard.
At GSK Barnard Castle:
Work as a flexible and motivated member of the team.
Engage with fully trained Technicians to learn the operation, maintenance and repair of a wide range of Manufacture, Filling, Inspection and Packaging equipment.
Complete Continuous Improvement, safety and quality engineering actions.
Provide technical support for projects including new product launches, equipment introductions and machine upgrades.
Work various shift patterns to ensure the operational needs of the business are met and learning opportunities are maximised.
What do we offer you?
Starting salary of £18,400 per year, increasing to £25,400 after 1 year + annual bonus based on company performance.
Kickstart a long-term and rewarding career with nationally recognised Engineering Technician qualifications. Lots of our current Engineering First Line Leaders and Engineering Operations Managers started their careers as Engineering Technician Apprentices so this is a great starting point!
All costs of your apprenticeship covered by GSK.
REQUIREMENTS
GSK Apprenticeships are full-time, early starter jobs that offer Year 13 secondary school and post-16 students the opportunity to begin their career while studying towards a qualification. This qualification is fully funded by GSK so that you can avoid having any debt.
This role is based in Barnard Castle, County Durham where we supply medicines to our patients all around the globe. We operate at an impressive scale, producing over 85 million packs of medicine in 2022. Some of our medicines include:
HIV Prevention and Cure
Migraine Treatment
Cold Sore Treatment
Hay Fever Treatment
You will be part of a 1,000-strong inclusive and diverse team working on the site. As a prospective technician you will learn how to maintain and repair the equipment that creates quality products in our manufacturing suites, fills them in aseptic facilities and packs them in state-of-the-art machinery.
Education required:
English Language (not Literature) GCSE at grade 4 or above (or equivalent).
Plus four additional GCSEs including Maths and a Science at grade 5 or above (or equivalent).
Other requirements:
Must be able to commute to either the GSK Barnard Castle site and South West Durham Training.
Expected Start date: September 2025
Application deadline: We recommend you apply as soon as possible. This vacancy will close when we have received enough applications, so please apply as soon as you can so your application can be considered.
Assessment centre date: Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and April 2025.
We want you to be motivated and passionate for the apprenticeship you apply to – we will only accept ONE Apprenticeship application per candidate each year. Please do your research before applying and do your best with your application!
ABOUT THE COMPANY
GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).
HOW TO APPLY
Apply now
Please note we will update you regarding your application by the end of February 2025, if you have any questions please contact: UK.EarlyCareers@gsk.com
Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and April 2025.
Need help with your application?
Please email us at UK.EarlyCareers@gsk.com and let us know how we can help you.
You don’t need to have any previous work experience to be successful. We’re looking for candidates who are motivated to learn and who are excited to develop practical, hands-on engineering and problem-solving skills.
