Why do an Apprenticeship with GSK?
- You will work for a company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together
- You will study towards nationally qualifications whilst working practicing your learning in a world leading biopharma company
- You will earn a competitive salary and have your qualifications paid for by GSK
- You will gain practical experience in a real role with genuine responsibility
- You will work with, and learn from inspiring industry experts, from your first day here
- You will kickstart a long-term and rewarding career
- Meet some amazing people and join our wider apprentice community
- Take part in Apprentice development activities and residential trips
When do I apply?
Our Apprenticeships roles typically open between November to February each year.
If applications are currently closed and you are interested in applying to our Apprenticeship programmes, we encourage you to sign up to Connectr. This means we can contact you when roles go live to remind you to apply.
Connectr, our candidate engagement platform is designed to give you:
- Bespoke and inclusive content on GSK to support your next steps
- Learning modules to help you understand our culture, our people and our patients.
- Access to mentors (or digital buddies) to help you learn more about daily life at GSK
Since joining GSK at the age of 18 as an Apprentice, the incredible support, exciting cutting edge technologies, and amazing role models have enabled me to flourish into the scientist I am today
Types of Apprenticeships
Degree Apprenticeships
Our degree level Apprenticeships offer an exciting and alternate route into Higher Education. Alongside a real job, and a real salary, you will be supported to complete a degree level qualification part-time at university. You will gain lots of valuable, real-world and meaningful work experience within our amazing teams, and all your university fees are paid by GSK. Don’t worry – you will have lots of support and training throughout your Apprenticeship to help you develop personally, professionally, and technically.
The exact entry requirements for our degree level Apprenticeships vary per role, so please review the individual job description when making an application. The exact degree qualification and learning provider (university) are selected by GSK and will be listed on the job descriptions once live to help you make your decisions.
Please note our Laboratory science Apprenticeships may be in either our Research & Development (R&D) or Manufacturing laboratories. Please read job descriptions carefully to ensure you understand what you’ll be doing and which department the role sits in.
Our Laboratory Science Apprenticeships roles typically open between November to February each year, and open roles can be found here: Laboratory Science Apprenticeships
Manufacturing
- In GSK’s Manufacturing division, our laboratory apprentices carry out quality testing on raw materials to finished product and on environmental samples and culture control. From trial batches to large scale manufacturing – your role is an essential part of the medicine’s journey to our patients.
- Our apprentices have progressed into full-time analysts, team managers, production managers, continuous, improvement roles and other, professional quality roles.
Research & Development
- In R&D we are laser-focused on three priorities: Execution, Technology and Culture so we can competitively deliver needed, transformational vaccines and medicines to patients around the world who count on us every day.
- R&D laboratory apprentices will use a range of cutting-edge technologies and approaches throughout the different phases of drug discovery to help with novel target identification and drug development.
- Apprentices will perform analytical testing to support process development building on data analysis and interpretation skills.
What impact will you have?
-
You will develop your skills, learning how to operate a range of cutting-edge technologies, systems and approaches that ultimately contribute towards drug discovery & development of GSK’s pipelines, or to the production of our medicines.
-
You will be working within multi-disciplined teams and will play a part in helping to improve the lives of our patients through your work.
Programme details:
- 4 year programme
- Working towards either Bachelors degree (BSc) in Applied Chemical Science on our chemistry-based laboratory Apprenticeship or a Bachelors degree (BSc) in Applied Bioscience on our biology-based Apprenticeship
What skills/strengths are we looking for?
- Self-motivated and capable of working in a team and independently
- Strong attention to detail
- Committed to producing work of the highest quality
- Creative problem-solving
- Excellent English verbal and written communication
- Take accountability and do the right thing
Education requirements:
- BCC or equivalent at A Level with one subject being Biology/Chemistry (dependant on chosen role) or related science discipline.
Locations:
Stevenage/Ware
What impact will you have?
Our Supply Chain degree apprenticeship will give you the opportunity to play a key role in helping the company source raw materials, manufacture our products and deliver the finished products all over the world.
Our Supply Chain Apprenticeships roles typically open between November to February each year, and open roles can be found here: Supply Chain Apprenticeships
Programme details:
- 4 years
- You’ll be working towards a bachelor’s degree (BSc Hons) in Supply Chain Management (Aston University)
What will you do?
During the apprenticeship you will gain insight into how our products are made and shipped, including warehouse operations. You’ll learn how to use and interpret supply chain data to organise our raw materials and help plan and organise our manufacturing and product delivery schedules.
This apprenticeship combines on-the-job learning with a programme of training and development.
What skills/strengths are we looking for?
Someone who can demonstrate a genuine interest in the pharmaceutical business, supply chain and logistics and who enjoys analysing data, organising and planning things. You may enjoy activities that involve planning and organising. No prior knowledge is expected as all training will be given during the Apprenticeship.
Education requirements:
- CCC or equivalent at A level
Locations:
Barnard Castle, Ware
Please note for our Data Science Apprenticeships, you’ll either work in our Research & Development (R&D), Manufacturing or Commercial teams. Please read job descriptions carefully to ensure you understand which department the role sits in.
Our Data Science Apprenticeships roles typically open between November to February each year, and open roles can be found here: Data Science Apprenticeships
What impact will you have?
As a Data Scientist apprentice, you will be part of one of our Manufacturing, Research and Development (R&D) or Commercial teams where you will play a key role in organising, studying, drawing insights, and making recommendations using our data. You will work with, and be part of, teams of excellent multi-disciplined experts and play your part in helping to improve the lives of billions of people.
Programme details:
- 4 year programme
- You’ll work towards a degree (BSc) in Data Science
What will you do?
R&D
In R&D, our Data Science apprentices are at the heart of innovation, discovering and developing differentiated, high-quality, and needed medicines that our bringing transformational benefits to our patients. Our R&D apprentices support the drug discovery and development process through the integrative analysis of internal and/or external biomedical data.
Manufacturing
At our manufacturing sites Data Scientists are key to maximising the quality and efficiency of pharmaceutical processes. We’ve been investing millions of pounds in state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. The vast amounts of data these machines are capable of collecting needs organising, studying, insight drawn, and recommendations made to enable us to improve our manufacturing performance. Our Data Scientist apprentices have a key role to play in this!
Commercial
In our Commercial functions you will learn how to deliver impactful analytical insights and recommendations to enhance the performance of our UK sales and marketing organisation. You will gain skills in data management, machine learning, and statistics, whilst also developing your commercial business acumen. You will work with colleagues from around the business on projects ranging from the strategic to the tactical across a wide variety of brands and disease areas.
What skills/strengths are we looking for?
- Creative problem-solving
- Strong attention to detail
- Committed to producing work of the highest quality
- Self-motivated and capable of working in a team and independently
- Excellent English verbal and written communication
- Takes accountability and does the right thing
Education requirements:
- BBC or equivalent at A Level, excluding Citizenship, General Studies and Critical thinking
or
- L4 Data Analytics at Merit or Distinction level
Locations:
Stevenage, Ware or GSK Global Head Office, Central London
Engineering Technician & Manufacturing Apprenticeships
Our Advanced (level 3) Apprenticeships are a brilliant alternative to sixth form or college for those looking for hands-on learning in a practical manufacturing or engineering technician role. Alongside a real job in a world class manufacturing facility and a real salary, you will be supported to complete nationally recognised qualifications at college. Don’t worry – you will have lots of support and training throughout your apprenticeship to help you develop personally, professionally, and technically – and all your course and associated fees are covered by GSK. These apprenticeships offer you the opportunity to kickstart a long and rewarding career.
Typically we require 5 GCSEs at grade 9-5 or Scottish National 5s at A-C (or equivalent), including English Language, Science and Maths. However, the exact requirements vary per role, so please review the individual job descriptions when making an application.
What impact will you have?
Engineers at GSK are responsible for designing, maintaining and improving our leading-edge manufacturing facilities that deliver life-saving treatments. The Engineering Apprenticeship programme is designed to create the technicians and engineers of the future.
Our Engineering Apprenticeships roles typically typically open between November to February each year, and open roles can be found here: Engineering Apprenticeships
Programme details:
-
4 year, level 3 Apprenticeship
-
This practical, hands-on apprenticeship focusses on developing engineering skills as well as gaining engineering qualifications.
-
In Year 1, you will spend time learning practical skills and engineering theory at a local college. Following this, you will then typically spend 4 days on-site at GSK developing your engineering skills and 1 day a week at college.
-
Engineering technicians work a shift pattern which attracts additional shift pay. The shift pattern depends on your age and which area you are working in.
-
Career pathway roles include but are not limited to; engineering technician, engineering manager, automation technician or engineer, utilities and facilities manager, engineering director and beyond.
What will you do?
- Develop mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and automation skills
- Learn how to maintain production equipment and/or utilities
- Carry out routine maintenance
- Fault find, diagnose and resolve breakdowns
- Help install and test new equipment
What skills/strengths are we looking for?
Someone who can demonstrate a genuine interest in engineering through their practical, hands-on hobbies and/or work experience and/or by giving good examples of why engineering really interests them. No prior knowledge is expected as all training will be given during the apprenticeship.
Education requirements:
5 GCSE’s with a 5 in Maths or Scottish National 5s at A-C, including English Language, Science and Maths
Locations:
Ware, Barnard Castle, Irvine, Montrose
What impact will you have?
As a manufacturing apprentice you will develop the skills and knowledge required to operate the systems and equipment that produce our pharmaceutical products - from chemical processing to tablet and syrup manufacturing or pharmaceutical filling and packaging.
Our Manufacturing Apprenticeships roles typically open between November to February each year and open roles can be found here: Manufacturing Apprenticeships
Programme details:
- 3 year, Level 3 Apprenticeship.
- This practical, hands-on apprenticeship focusses on developing pharmaceutical manufacturing skills as well as gaining related qualifications
- During the apprenticeship you will study the theory of pharmaceutical manufacture, first touch engineering and continuous improvement as well as safety and risk management.
- In your first year you will typically spend 1 or more days at college learning engineering and manufacturing theory. After that you will typically spend 4 days on-site at GSK developing your manufacturing skills and 1 day a week at college.
- Manufacturing technicians work a shift pattern which attracts additional shift pay. The shift pattern depends on your age and which area you are working in.
- Career pathway roles include but are not limited to; manufacturing technician, shift manager, continuous improvement technician, scheduler, operations manager, manufacturing director and beyond.
What will you do?
You will complete a series of on-site job rotations, learning how to operate the different equipment that makes our pharmaceutical products. Your role may involve:
- Learning how to 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
- Improvement projects
- Learning about the functions that support manufacturing (laboratory, engineering, logistics & scheduling)
- Assisting in new product and equipment introductions
- Ensuring quality, safety and accuracy
What skills/strengths are we looking for?
Someone who can demonstrate a genuine interest and give examples of why working in pharmaceutical manufacturing really interests them. An interest in practical, hands-on hobbies is also valued but not essential. No prior knowledge is expected as all training will be given during the apprenticeship.
Locations:
Ware, Barnard Castle, Irvine, Montrose
Digital Apprentice Brochure
Read our Digital Apprentice Brochure to learn more about our UK Apprentice programme and what our current Apprentices have to say about their experience.
Applying to our Programmes
We do not expect you to have any previous work experience in the role you’ve applied for, but you will need to meet the basic education criteria listed in the job advert and be able to tell us why you are interested in the specific role you’ve applied for. We use a strengths-based approach to recruitment which focuses on your future potential, rather than any prior work experience, and we’re really excited to hear more about you and your motivations, skills and strengths related to the role you’ve applied for throughout the recruitment process.
Our recruitment process varies slightly for our Advanced (level 3) and Degree (level 6) apprenticeships, but all are designed to help us get to know more about you whilst also giving you more insight into GSK. Make sure you save a copy of the job advert you've applied for so you can refer to it throughout your application.
If you have a disability and require an adjustment during the application stage, please contact us on 0203 862 2277 or send an email UK.EarlyTalentRecruitment@gsk.com.
The first stage of the process for all our apprenticeships is a short eligibility questionnaire where we’ll ask you some basic details, including your education history to date.
Make sure you meet the entry criteria listed on the job advert for your chosen programme. If the basic role qualifications are not met, you may receive an automatic response declining your application.
You will be asked to upload your CV as part of your application. This helps to auto-populate some of your details in our recruitment system but please note that your CV is not used during the screening process, so it’s important you tell us all of the important information that you want us to know in your application responses.
To ensure your application is considered, we recommend applying as soon as possible so you can complete all stages of the process in a timely manner, as our vacancies will close once we have received a sufficient number of application.
If applying to our Degree Apprenticeships, we will invite you to complete our 'World of GSK' online assessment. This stage is not part of the process for our Advanced Apprenticeships. You will have up to seven days to complete this assessment from the time it is sent to you. You do not need any prior knowledge of GSK or the pharmaceutical industry to complete this assessment!
This assessment is designed to give you a better insight into GSK and the way we work, and it also get a better idea of your strengths and suitability for the programme. During the assessment, you will watch a number of videos and respond to a series of multiple choice or rank order questions. . There is also an ‘optional’ video of two of our apprentices which tells you more about the work they do here, these are optional but definitely worth watching if you have time.
- You don't need to have any prior knowledge of GSK, or the healthcare sector to succeed at this stage of the application.
- You will have up to seven days to complete the assessment, starting from the date the assessment link has been sent.
For our Degree Apprenticeships, you will be invited to complete the GSK Life Job Simulation online assessment.
This stage of the application process will help us understand how you may perform in your chosen programme. You’ll be presented with a scenario with some key business facts and asked to respond through video, writing and multiple choice. We’ll also ask you more about why you want to work here and, if you’ve applied for a technical role, there will be some technical questions. You may want to consider why you want to work for us on the programme you’ve chosen and share your reasons honestly.
For our advanced (level 3) engineering and manufacturing technician apprenticeships, you'll be asked to complete a short video assessment where we'll ask you to tell us more about your motivations for the role you’ve applied for, along with any relevant interests, skills & strengths you want to tell us about relevant to the role.
.
If you progress to our assessment centre (interview day) then congratulations — you’re through to our final stage! Our virtual, interactive half-day assessment centre will give you the chance to meet with some of the team members and peers you might be working with. Some assessment centres may be in person on site – further detail will be provided through the recruitment process!
It will consist of a mix of activities, including a strengths-based interview that help us learn more about your interest and suitability for the role you’ve applied for.
Depending on your chosen programme, you might also have to give a presentation and complete a technical or practical exercise. You'll will have the chance to demonstrate a wider range of skills than you would have been able to during a traditional interview. Don’t worry – when you reach this final stage, we run some interactive pre-assessment centre calls to answer your questions and help you prepare.
