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Join GSK’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Apprentice Programme – Barnard Castle UK, 2023: Help us get ahead of disease together

A GSK apprenticeship gives you the chance to earn while you learn. This Pharmaceutical Manufacturing apprenticeship lasts up to four years and is a practical, hands-on apprenticeship where you will learn how to operate the systems and equipment that produce life-saving pharmaceutical products for our patients.

We are looking for motivated individuals with a willingness and enthusiasm to learn, who are excited to develop practical and problems solving skills. No prior experience is required as you will be given full training.

You will also be studying for manufacturing engineering qualifications at college including an HNC (foundation degree equivalent). If you successfully complete your apprenticeship and demonstrate the qualities we are looking for, you may be offered the opportunity to go on to further education.

Achieve your career goals on our apprentice programme

On our 4-year programme you’ll receive tailored on-the-job training from industry experts from day one combined with early responsibility to help you to develop and progress.

You’ll be working towards a Science Manufacturing Technician qualification through online learning sessions and activities. For more information see: Science manufacturing technician / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

If you are offered a role; you will have a buddy or a mentor who will help you to prepare for joining GSK and will be there to offer support and guidance throughout your apprenticeship.

Education required:

• English Language (not Literature) GCSE at grade 4 or above
• Plus 4 additional GCSEs including Maths and a Science at grade 5 or above

We consider your entry qualifications and support the next level of academic study where possible eg if you have completed or are already completing a relevant level 3 qualification, we may be able to progress you straight to HNC.

Language requirement: Written and spoken fluency in English

Expected Start date: September 2023

Duration: 4 years

Application deadline: We recommend you apply as soon as possible. We will close this vacancy when we have enough applications, so please apply as soon as you can so your application can be considered.

Assessment Centre Date: March 2023

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 select the one Apprenticeship you wish to apply to – good luck with your application!

Are you looking to gain a head start in your career where you can positively impact the health of billions of people?

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

Our success absolutely depends on our people. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get ahead together.

Find out more: Annual Report 2021

Inspired to help us get ahead together? Apply for the Manufacturing Apprenticeship at GSK Barnard Castle today!

This Apprenticeship is based at our Barnard Castle site in the North East of England. On site we proudly manufacture 38 different medicines in over 1500 pack variations to treat HIV, cancer, infectious diseases, migraines, psoriasis, dermatitis, asthma, cold sores and acne, to name just a few, which we supply to over 130 markets around the world.

Ahead together with tailored training and career development

As a manufacturing apprentice at GSK Barnard Castle, you will develop practical skills that will enable you to become a key member of our team - producing life-saving treatments for our patients.

You will also attend college where you will work towards nationally recognised qualifications (including BTEC and HNC)

Throughout your apprenticeship you will be supported by your line manager, an early talent programme manager as well as an apprentice buddy.

What will you do?

During the apprenticeship you will study the theory of pharmaceutical production, first touch engineering and lean manufacturing as well as safety, quality and risk management. On site, you will complete a series of on-site job rotations, learning how to operate the different equipment that makes our pharmaceutical products.

Your duties might include:

• Learning how to safely operate equipment in the manufacture and packaging of our pharmaceutical products
• First touch engineering - root causing and solving breakdowns
• Data collection, analysis and trending to identify improvement opportunities
• Working in a team to complete improvement projects.
• Ensuring quality, safety and accuracy of our products.
• Learning about the functions that support manufacturing (Laboratory, engineering, logistics & scheduling)
• Assisting in new product and equipment introductions

Career opportunities

Some of the future career opportunities this apprenticeship may lead to include;

• Technical Operator roles
• Process Support
• Manufacturing team management
• Continuous Improvement roles
• Logistics management

We also have senior leaders who started as Apprentices.

What do we offer you?

• A starting salary of £14,500 per annum, which increases after year 1
• Eligibility for NUS Extra card providing you with discounts to many high street and online outlets.
• Join NxtGen – a networking group where you can connect with other apprentices internationally.
• An annual bonus based on company performance
• Access to healthcare and well-being programs, savings programs, time off and childcare support
• Employee recognition programs, which reward exceptional achievements
• Long-term incentives through shared ownership link your rewards to our longer-term performance
• On-the-job experience and formal and informal training and development, delivered through a mixture of coaching, mentoring and formal training programs

Let’s do this!

You’ll find hints, tips and guidance on our recruitment process on our website –

Learn more about the application process | GSK You can learn more about GSK and our careers here.

We’re 100% open to all talent

We’re 100% open to all talent – whatever your gender, marital status, religion, age, colour, race, sexual orientation, nationality or disability. We want to recruit the right people for GSK from the widest possible backgrounds, so we can better serve the diversity of our patients. And also because it’s the right thing to do.

You can learn more about Inclusion and diversity at GSK here.

Need help with your application?

Please email us at [email protected] and let us know how we can help you.

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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. Getting ahead means preventing disease as well as treating it, and we aim to impact the health of 2.5 billion people around the world in the next 10 years.

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a workplace where everyone can feel a sense of belonging and thrive as set out in our Equal and Inclusive Treatment of Employees policy. We’re committed to being more proactive at all levels so that our workforce reflects the communities we work and hire in, and our GSK leadership reflects our GSK workforce.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [email protected] or 0808 234 4391. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments, we will not be able to support you through these channels

As you apply, we will ask you to share some personal information which is entirely voluntary. We want to have an opportunity to consider a diverse pool of qualified candidates and this information will assist us in meeting that objective and in understanding how well we are doing against our inclusion and diversity ambitions. We would really appreciate it if you could take a few moments to complete it. Rest assured, Hiring Managers do not have access to this information and we will treat your information confidentially.

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