Trainee Laboratory Technician

Pennington Choices are offering an exciting opportunity to begin a new chapter with a structured training programme designed to help you become a qualified Asbestos Laboratory Technician . We’re looking for individuals with experience in relevant science-based roles, such as laboratory work, environmental science, chemistry, biology, or forensic science, who are passionate about public safety and ready to develop hands-on technical skills. This is a brilliant opportunity to retrain, gain recognised qualifications, and contribute to essential asbestos analysis that helps keep homes and public buildings safe.

About This Role

As a Trainee Laboratory Technician you will undertake a structured programme of learning and instruction from our qualified team of technicians. During your training period you will be supported in working towards attaining your BOHS accredited P401 certificate in Asbestos fibre identification. Once qualified (we expect this to be within 3 to 6 months) you will continue your development in role with ongoing internal audits and feedback on your work. After completion of your training period and becoming fully authorised (we expect this to be within a maximum of one month post qualification) you will work in one of our United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited laboratories. As a Pennington Choices Lab Technician, you will have the skills and tools to provide excellent and highly efficient Asbestos identification and analysis and will be required to deliver of accurate and timely survey reports in accordance with our client’s contractual requirements. In summary, as a Laboratory Trainee with Pennington Choices, you will support the business in delivering services to clients, gain skills and experience and follow a structured programme of training, including formal qualification that will ultimately lead to you being competent to identify asbestos materials.

Your Responsibilities

Once you have studied for and successfully obtained your asbestos fibre counting certificate, which is the BOHS accredited P401 certificate, and completed a number of satisfactory internal audits, you will be accredited as a laboratory technician. As a qualified Lab Technician, your principal role will include booking in samples and sample data, analysis of samples, assisting in the weekly management of the laboratory and the production of certificates to UKAS accredited standards Working within the field of Asbestos these activities are highly regulated. You will be required to achieve competence in the lab to provide high quality analysis in accordance with our Quality Manual and UKAS accreditation, and be able to data input on the Alpha Tracker and TEAMS databases. All the while upholding the company’s policies and procedures, strategies and culture.

Key Areas For The Role

• To be up to date with relevant legislation and the Quality Manual by the end of your training and then to maintain this
• To meet all legal obligations required to be met by the company as a provider of asbestos related services and as an employer
• To take personal responsibility for your productivity and billable time
• To maintain the company’s equipment and tools as directed
• To maintain all elements of the laboratory as required
• To proactively engage in the training and development provided by the company and achieve the P401 within approx. 3 to 6 months
• To take personal responsibility for maintaining technical expertise and an awareness of current issues in the sector
• To support the business by working flexibly and responsively
• To carry out other such duties as may be reasonably required.
• To work within the company’s policies and procedures at all times.
• Treat each other, and others, with respect at all times
• To ensure that the culture of the company is one that is honest and open and values everyone’s opinions and contributions
• To contribute to a culture that enables Pennington Choices to be a learning organisation open to challenge and change

Requirements

Required:

• IT Literate
• Keen and self-motivated
• A commitment to team working
• Record of reliability
• A confident approach.
• A commitment to analytical work.
• Quality focused with an emphasis on getting it ‘right first time’
• After training to be able to use and maintain lab equipment
• IT literate and able to use computers and software to carry out lab tasks
• The ability to follow directions provided
• The ability to analyse asbestos samples
• Able to accurately record the findings of analyses
• Able to insert data gathered from tests into reports or ongoing records
• Able to communicate findings to other professionals
• Able to calibrate lab equipment after training

Desirable

• Scientific/Maths A-levels, or science HND.
• Interest in or experience of environmental sciences

Benefits

Pennington Choices has been recognised by Best Companies as being a very good employer each year since 2018. We offer a working environment that is stimulating, where our people are given the tools they need to help shape their careers. With approachable and supportive line management and a proven track record of promoting from within, we encourage our people to be the best they can be, and we provide them with training, variety and support to help them grow.

We Also Provide Colleagues With

• Competitive salary and transparent salary bands
• Commitment to super flexible working
• 37.5-hour working week
• 26 days annual leave plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Additional leave for length of service up to 31 days each year
• Opportunity to buy additional annual leave or sell surplus leave
• Enhanced employer pension contributions of 4% when you contribute 6%
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Regular Learning and Development opportunities
• Regular company social events including an annual summer BBQ
• Cycle to work scheme, offering savings of at least 32%* on a new bike and cycle safety accessories
• Electric Car salary sacrifice scheme, saving 30-60% on an electric car (subject to eligibility)
• Access to an online platform providing employee discounts on hundreds of high street brands
• Access to private healthcare
• Paid sick leave allowance if required each year
• Free eye tests and contribution towards new glasses/frames
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Referral programme offering up to £2,000
• Access to paid volunteering days in support of local charities/initiatives
• Length of service reward
• Wellness programmes including annual flu jab
• Welcome goodie bag

About Us

Pennington Choices is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such we recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristics protected by law. Pennington Choices provides property surveying and consultancy services to organisations nationwide. We have a wealth of experience working with more than 800 public and private sector organisations across social housing, NHS, education, and rail since 2000. At the heart of what makes Pennington Choices special is our people. We live by our values of being fun, resilient, brave and treating each other with respect. We also know there’s more to life than work, which is why we will encourage you to stay active, nurture your mental health, and create a fulfilling work/life balance. Our head office is a converted barn in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, located just 3 minutes from M56 Jct10, and we have regional offices in Bromley, Kent and Sheffield. We are a close-knit organisation with people at our very core, and we strive for excellence in everything we do. As winners of Employer of the Year at both the Warrington Business Awards and the South London Business Awards, we've been recognised by Best Companies as a very good employer each year since 2018. If successful, you will be joining us at a very exciting time. The business has already been through a period of substantial growth, concluding its current 5-year business plan in April 2024 which will achieve a turnover of £17.5m. A further 5-year plan through to 2029 is being developed with a projected growth to £40m. Ready to start your next chapter? If this sounds like the job for you, complete the job application and attach your CV for consideration in the link below. Our team will be reviewing all applications over the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately we are unable to respond to everyone individually, therefore if you have not heard from us within 14 days it means that we will not be progressing your application further on this occasion.