Modern Apprenticeship – Manufacturing Process Operator, Irvine, UK, 2025 (gsk)

Join GSK’s Manufacturing Process Operator Modern Apprenticeship Programme – UK, 2025: Help us get ahead of disease together and earn while you learn 

GSK Apprenticeships are full-time, early starter jobs that offer Year 13 secondary school and post-16 students the opportunity to begin their career while studying towards a qualification. This qualification is fully funded by GSK so that you can avoid having any debt. 

This role is based in Irvine where we manufacture the active ingredients and starting material for an antibiotic belonging to a group of drugs called penicillin. Around 135 million patients are treated with our finished product each year in over 140 countries. 

Education required: 

• Must have/be predicted to achieve a minimum of five National 4/5 (previously standard grades) or equivalent, including Mathematics, English and Science. 

Plus 

• One higher grade (or equivalent), preferably in a Maths or a Science subject. 

Other requirements: 

• If offered a position the candidate must be willing to enroll and meet entry requirements. 

• Must be able to commute to either the Irvine site or Kilmarnock College. 

• Irvine is a penicillin manufacturing site. Please consider this if you are allergic to beta-lactam penicillin. 

Expected Start date: August 2025 

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

Assessment centre date: Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and April 2025. 

 We want you to feel truly motivated and passionate about the Apprenticeship you choose. Take the time to research thoroughly before applying, as you’ll need to show us why this role is the role for you. Wishing you the best of luck with your application! 

Are you looking to gain a head start in your career where you can help positively impact the health of billions of people? Apply for the Irvine Apprenticeship programme at GSK today! 

You will be working at GSK’s Irvine’s manufacturing facility where you’ll be learning how to maintain and improve our pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment and facilities, helping to ensure we can make the medicines and vaccines that we supply to patients. 

Here’s how one of our current Manufacturing Process Operator Apprentices describes their role: 

Elisha Bennison, Process Operator (former apprentice): 

“The role involves variety, with different jobs each shift based on a rotation – so every day is different. You can be in the control room running the extraction plant one day and kegging our final product the next. 

You will be monitoring the equipment in the plant to ensure it is adhering to set control parameters by gathering data from the control systems and analysing trends. Problem solving involves being aware of adverse conditions in temperature, pressures, pH, flows, back pressures etc., and responding in the appropriate manner.” 

Ahead together with tailored training and career development 

This is a 3-year practical, hands-on apprenticeship where you will be working towards a Manufacturing qualification through Kilmarnock College. The first year involves 4 days each week at college and one day on site. The remaining two years are spent on site full-time. 

Your studies are fully funded by GSK, and through your day-to-day work you’ll have lots of opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge in a real-world manufacturing environment. 

Other perks include: 

• Eligibility for NUS Extra card providing you with discounts to many high street and online outlets.  

• Access to NxtGen – a social group where you can connect with other GSK apprentices nationally and internationally. 

• Access to healthcare and well-being programmes. 

• Employee recognition programs, which reward exceptional achievements. 

• A buddy and/or mentor who will help you to prepare for joining GSK and who will be there to offer support and guidance throughout your apprenticeship. 

What will you be doing day-to-day? 

During the apprenticeship you will study the theory of pharmaceutical production, first touch engineering and lean manufacturing as well as safety and risk management. 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 operate equipment in the manufacturing process.

  View Orignal JOB on: nursingjobs.site
   

• Investigating and solving problems and breakdowns. 

• Collecting data and analysing it to identify improvement opportunities. 

• Carrying out improvement projects with other apprentices and your team. 

• Learning about the functions that support manufacturing (laboratory, engineering, logistics and scheduling). 

• Assisting in new equipment introductions. 

• Ensuring the safety of our people and products. 

• Maintaining the quality and accuracy of our products. 

What do we offer you? 

• Starting salary of £18,400 per year, increasing to £25,400 after 1 year + annual bonus based on company performance. 

• Kickstart a long-term and rewarding career with nationally recognised Manufacturing qualifications. Lots of our current manufacturing Shift Team Leaders and Managers have started their careers as Manufacturing Apprentices, so this is a great starting point! 

• All costs of your apprenticeship will be paid for by GSK. 

Top tips for your application  

For hints, tips and guidance for getting onto a GSK apprenticeship click here: Apprenticeships | GSK. 

Register on our GSK insight and engagement platform GSK Get Ahead – Connectr to learn more about working at GSK, our culture and the application processes. 

You can also learn more about GSK apprenticeships here: GSKUKDigitalApprenticeBrochure.pdf. 

Once you’ve completed our short online application form, you will be invited to an online video interview.  During this, we will ask you to tell us why you think our programme is a good fit for you and how your skills and interests will help you to succeed at GSK. 

To help you prepare, we wanted to share some top tips to bear in mind while you’re answering the interview questions! Our Apprentices need: 

• An interest in, and motivation for becoming a multi-skilled Manufacturing Process Operator – you don’t need to have had any prior work experience, but you’ll need to tell us why you think this practical apprenticeship is for you.  You may have interests, hobbies or experience that show you have a practical side – perhaps there are specific practical projects or subjects at school or college that you enjoyed; clubs that you’ve been part of; work experience or extracurricular activities with friends or family or volunteering, charity or community work that you want to tell us about.  Your reasons will be personal to you, and we look forward to hearing about these during the application process. 

• Communication skills – you’ll meet and work with lots of different people across the site, so you will need to be able to listen to others and be open, honest and respectful in your communication.  You can expect the same respect from others.   

• An ability to work within a team – you will have lots of your own tasks and/or projects to work on through the apprenticeship. You’ll also need to be able to work well with other people and consider the impact of your work and actions on other people too. 

• Ability to follow instructions / Personal responsibility – it is critical that you are able to follow work instructions and follow health and safety guidelines at all times – to keep you and your colleagues safe whilst ensuring the highest quality of the products that reach our patients.  Don’t worry, you’ll get training on all of these when you start. 

• A focus on quality (right first time) and problem solving – we’ll teach you how to safely work with manufacturing machinery and documentation tools.  As you develop in your role, you’ll need to take a logical approach to problem solving whilst seeking opportunities to improve quality, speed and/or efficiency.   

• Ability to balance your work and study time – you’ll have the best of both worlds – a great start to your working career in a great industry and gain a nationally recognised Manufacturing Technician qualification.  You’ll need to be able to manage your time and workload, and to stay motivated and committed when facing challenges.  Rest assured, you’ll get lots of support from your manager and your teams, as well as your college tutors through your Apprenticeship. 

Apply now  

Please note we will update you regarding your application by the end of February 2025, if you have any questions please contact: UK.EarlyCareers@gsk.com. 

Assessment centres for shortlisted candidates will be held between February and April 2025. 

Need help with your application? 

Please email us at UK.EarlyCareers@gsk.com and let us know how we can help you.  

You don’t need to have any previous work experience to be successful. We’re looking for candidates who are motivated to learn and who are excited to develop practical, hands-on manufacturing and problem-solving skills.   

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