Thermo Fisher Scientific · Birmingham
Manufacturing & Operations
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.)Job Description
Apprenticeship Duration: 3 years
Training Provider: In-Comm Training
Training Location: Aldridge Training Academy
Workplace Location: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Birmingham
Engineering Cohort Start Dates: September 2026 and October 2026
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 – 16:30 (40 hours per week excluding breaks)
About the Apprenticeship
This is a full-time Level 3 Mechatronics Apprenticeship delivered in partnership with In-Comm Training and designed to provide both practical workplace experience and structured engineering training.
The apprenticeship programme lasts three years, beginning in either September or October 2026.
About Thermo Fisher Scientific
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
As an Equipment Maintenance Apprentice within the Protein Diagnostics (PDX) division, you will support the maintenance of highly specialised laboratory and manufacturing equipment used to produce diagnostic assays and instruments.
The PDX division (formerly The Binding Site) develops products used in diagnosing diseases such as blood cancers and immune disorders, so reliability, precision, and compliance are critical.
Role Overview
We are recruiting for two Equipment Maintenance Apprentices to join our Protein Diagnostics (PDX) Division in Birmingham.
This is a full-time Level 3 Mechatronics Apprenticeship delivered in partnership with In-Comm Training, designed to develop the next generation of engineering and maintenance professionals.
The apprenticeship programme will run for three years, combining practical workplace experience with structured engineering training. During the programme, you will gain experience working on a variety of laboratory, manufacturing, and automated systems while developing the technical skills required for a successful engineering career.
From the beginning of the apprenticeship, you will receive structured support, mentoring, and a personal development plan to help you build both technical and professional competencies.
What You Will Learn
Throughout the apprenticeship, you will develop knowledge and practical experience in:
Mechanical Engineering Principles
Electrical Engineering Fundamentals
Mechatronic and Automated Systems
Fault Finding and Diagnostics
Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM)
Equipment Calibration and Setup
Manufacturing and Laboratory Equipment Maintenance
Health, Safety and Engineering Compliance
Continuous Improvement Principles
Process and Automation Technologies
Apprenticeship Structure
First 10 Months – Full-Time Training Academy
For the first 10 months of the programme, apprentices will be based full-time at the In-Comm Training Academy in Aldridge, attending Monday to Friday. During this period, you will develop the core engineering knowledge and practical skills required for a career in equipment maintenance and engineering.
Training will include:
Mechanical and electrical engineering fundamentals
Maintenance techniques and fault finding
Health and safety practices
Engineering principles and workshop skills
Mechatronics systems and automation technologies
Remaining Apprenticeship Period
Following completion of the foundation training period, apprentices will transition into the workplace at Thermo Fisher Scientific while continuing their apprenticeship studies once a week.
This phase will typically include:
Working within the engineering team at Thermo Fisher Scientific
Dedicated apprenticeship training on Wednesdays (morning or afternoon sessions)
Ongoing development of practical engineering skills and workplace competencies
Successful completion of the programme will lead to a nationally recognised Level 3 Mechatronics qualification.
What You Will Do
As an Equipment Maintenance Apprentice, you will support the maintenance and reliability of highly specialised laboratory and manufacturing equipment used in the production of diagnostic assays and instruments.
Typical duties will include:
Assist with planned preventative maintenance (PPM) on Laboratory instruments (e.g. analytical systems, assay equipment) ; Production and packaging machinery
Support fault finding on mechanical, electrical, and automated systems
Help with equipment setup, calibration, and shutdown processes to support daily production targets
Work in line with: GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards, Health, Safety & Environmental (EHS) policies
Ensure maintenance activities are properly documented and traceable
Follow SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for all tasks
Continuous Improvement
Support engineers with: Equipment upgrades, Process improvements, Reducing downtime and improving reliability, Contribute to achieving quality, delivery, and cost targets
Candidate Requirements
Essential Criteria
GCSE Grade 4/C or above in Maths, English, and Science (or equivalent qualifications)
A genuine interest in Engineering and Technology
Ability to meet apprenticeship eligibility requirements
Willingness to attend both training and workplace locations throughout the apprenticeship
Genuine interest in pursuing a long-term engineering career
Desirable
Previous hands-on experience through hobbies, projects, school activities, or employment
Interest in mechanical, electrical, automation, or manufacturing technologies
Practical engineering or technical experience