Laboratory Technician Apprentice (Level 3) - Continental Bitumen (Colas Group)

Description Location: Avonmouth Docks, Avonmouth, Bristol BS11 9BT Working for Continental Bitumen - The Colas Group     Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites.
We are specialists in highway construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing in our own innovative surfacing products.
Continental Bitumen's Terminal is situated in the Port of Bristol, Avonmouth.
The Terminal imports, stores, blends and supplies bitumen to a range of customers in the construction industry.
This role will support other laboratory staff at Avonmouth performing QC testing of products supplied from the terminal.
We are now seeking an enthusiastic individual to join the team as a Laboratory Technician (Level 3) Apprentice!
You'll be able to find out more about Colas/Continental Bitumen here: Website LinkedIn Youtube The Package At Tiro, we make great things happen for people.
And that starts with you.
In this role you'll receive: Starting salary of £8.60 - £11.44 per hour, depending on age (hourly rate increases in April 2025)  Working hours are Monday - Friday, varied and flexible shifts  25 days annual leave per year + bank holidays Life Assurance Scheme which is 4 x basic salary Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal!
Regular training and CPD opportunities  What will I be doing as a Laboratory Technician Apprentice?
To maintain a clean, safe working environment and to undertake all activities safely, be involved in the effective and efficient running of the laboratory, to always observe the safety policies of the company and the department, ensure that all operations carried out within our area of responsibility are undertaken with full regard for the safety of visitors, other members of staff and yourself.
To ensure that work is carried out speedily, foster and maintain effective communication with terminal operations and carry out other appropriate duties as assigned by your manager and colleagues.
Understand and implement Lab Safety procedures such as Risk & COSHH Assessments.
QC testing of products being imported by ship, being stored in bulk tanks and blended products loaded at the gantry.
Understand and implement the Quality Plan from the IMS.
Ensure all QC and QA records are maintained and actioned in a timely manner.
Polite, efficient communications with customers.
Report any unexpected or non-conforming results without delay.
Maintain accurate and neat laboratory records.
Undertake non- standard QC work and ad-hoc Projects as required by the business.
Undertake Lab Calibrations to the relevant standards and keep good records.
Work safely on the terminal when undertaking operations such as sampling, obey all terminal safety rules.
Look out for and report near misses, dangerous events/acts etc.
as soon as they are observed.
Keep appropriate level of lab stocks and ensure items are replenished.
Manage waste from the lab effectively.
Experience of laboratory work and bitumen testing is not essential as on the job training will be provided.
What could the future look like?
There's no limit to what you can achieve while working with Colas.
Their team is at the heart of what they do, and they are looking for someone who wants to play a key part in that long term.
As a successful applicant, you have the potential to secure a full-time position with the business at the end of your apprenticeship.
Through practical 'on-the-job' training you'll have the opportunity to learn new skills to provide competency and responsibility in carrying out testing and to help develop your career.
You can look forward to a range of potential career paths in industries such as marine biology, construction, engineering or research and development.
There is a growing demand for skilled professionals who hold this crucial testing experience, used in various sectors!
This apprenticeship program serves as a stepping stone towards a rewarding career in testing, with the added opportunity to become a registered Technician (RSci Tech).
This enables you to take on more specialised roles or progress into leadership positions.
Rest assured, your hard work and determination will be recognised!
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise Qualifications   It's about enthusiasm, not school results.
In our experience, the most successful apprentices are those who have drive to find out more about the sector, can be up-front about what they do and don't already know, are considerate, self-reflective and impatient to learn the job role!
Experience   Whilst previous experience is great, we're not just interested in experience and qualifications; we're looking for someone with the right attitude and aptitude to fit right in at .
About you The perfect candidate will need to be self-motivated, a good team player and able to work independently!
It is essential you will be highly organised with an excellent attention to detail and meticulous approach Time management and the ability to prioritise your responsibilities is crucial for this role, as you'll need to meet changing demands of our network and business  It's important that you're comfortable working on your own autonomy!
You'll be comfortable using Microsoft Office Suites (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)  This is a very hands on and practical role so you should have a passion for science, be willing to get stuck in and be hungry to learn from the offset!
The ability to think on your feet and have good health & safety awareness is crucial due to the environment and nature of the role A driving licence is required for this role as you may need to travel for training and to other sites if required.
To succeed in this apprenticeship, you'll need bags of enthusiasm, be a fantastic collaborator and be hungry to learn!
Please note, because of the nature and responsibilities of this position, you must be aged 18+, hold a full UK driving license and be able to reliably commute to work within 45 minutes every day!
Even if this doesn't sound quite like you, but you still think you could do a great job in the role, get in touch .
We're always open to hearing from you!
So how does the apprenticeship work?
At Tiro we're obsessed with changing lives through science and technology apprenticeships so we can't wait to have you on board.
Over 21 months, you'll devote a minimum of 6 hours of your working week on 'off the job' training.
This can include theory training (for example, virtual lessons & online learning), alongside practical training (for example shadowing, mentoring, & time spent writing assignments.
Together this will count towards a Level 3 Laboratory Technician apprenticeship.
You'll be trained by an expert tutor from Tiro as well as an experienced mentor at Continental Bitumen who together, will make sure you develop the knowledge, skills, and work habits you'll need to succeed in your career.
Being an apprentice is hands-on, so you'll get the chance to learn things you might otherwise not have experienced in a university or college environment.
The best part?
You'll be earning a salary while you gain your qualifications, meaning no huge student loans to pay back at the end of the programme!
Want to know more.
Check out the apprenticeship standards here.
Eligibility   While we never want to hinder your job application process with obstacles, there are some minimum requirements you'll need to meet in order to do an apprenticeship, these are rules set by the UK Government.
You'll need to be over 18 (for this role), not in full time education, have lived in the UK for 3 years and have the right to work in the UK.
If you don't quite meet these minimum requirements yet, let us know you're interested here and we'll get in touch to discuss this further with you.
We're Tiro (pronounced 'Tea-ro' as in white, two sugars).
In Latin, it means novice, recruit, apprentice, beginner and soldier.
The perfect name for a company that's been helping fearless apprentices to join ambitious businesses since 2005.
We believe that great apprenticeships help everyone.
There are remarkable apprentices out there just waiting to be found, and fantastic employment opportunities waiting to be filled.
Our work will never be just about getting bums on seats and pocketing our commission.
In our own small way, we're helping to change the world – finding people that are working on COVID vaccines, finding new ways for technology to help humanity and helping to tackle the big issues of the day, like climate change.
As well as helping people – young and old – to find their way.