Laboratory Scientist apprentice (MCT) - Pfizer
Qualification Requirements
• 5 GCSEs at grades C/4 or above (or equivalent) including mathematics and English.
• Will have, or are predicted, A-Levels equalling 104 UCAS points, including Chemistry or Biology at grade C or above plus an additional Science or Mathematics.
• Equivalent Level 3 qualifications (e.g., BTEC) will also be considered (with a minimum requirement of 104 UCAS points)
Salary - £20,500 per annum
Benefits- Holiday Allowance - 25.5 Days Holiday Allowance, plus Bank Holidays
- Pension - Employee 5%, Employer 3%
- Flexible Working Hours
- Casual Dress
- Discount Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Onsite Canteen
- Onsite Parking
- Employee Recognition/Awards
Location - Discovery Park House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ
Working Hours
Monday to Thursday, 9am – 5.25pm. Fridays, 9am – 4.05pm
12pm - 12.45pm lunch break
Duration - 60 months
Start Date - 1st September 2026
Interview Date - The Assessment Centre for this position will be on the week commencing March 9th 2026
Closing Date for Applications - 16th February 2026
To Apply
To apply, please click the Apply Now button and complete the form. If you are having difficulty in completing this, please contact recruitment on recruitment@cogentskills.com for assistance
Job Description
Laboratory Scientist in the Materials Characterisation Team (MCT), part of Global Technology, Engineering and Launch Division
Join a team that’s solving real-world challenges in medicines. The Materials Characterisation Team supports Pfizer’s global manufacturing sites and external partners by investigating and resolving quality issues, developing new analytical methods and evaluating new materials, all using state-of-the-art analytical technologies. The team provides material sciences expertise to our manufacturing network to help solve complex manufacturing challenges ensuring that patients have continued access to our medicines. The team comprises of experiences scientists from multiple disciplines work on many different types of materials, including active ingredients, excipients, process intermediates, finished dosage forms and packaging materials.
What you can expect from a Pfizer science apprenticeship:
- Real Impact: Your work will help to ensure patients have access to critical medicines.
- State-of-the-art Technology: Work in high-spec labs with the latest advanced analytics.
- Mentorship & Growth: Learn from experienced scientists and develop with structured training.
- Creative Science: Use experimentation and critical thinking to solve problems.
- Career-Ready Skills: Build communication, planning, and innovation skills.
- Purpose-Driven Work: Be part of a company that’s improving lives globally.
- Inclusive Culture: Work in a diverse, collaborative, and supportive environment.
- Future-Focused: Get the tools and mindset to thrive in a science career.
Candidate Requirements
Skills
- Have an interest in science, especially chemistry and mathematics.
- Passion for solving problems and ability to apply scientific knowledge to them.
- Rational, innovative and creative approach to problem solving
- Passion to continue learning and improving themselves
- Ability to work collaboratively and effectively within teams as well as independently
- Good report writing and oral communication skills
- Ability to apply learning from prior experience to new situations and problems
- Ability to evaluate information from a broad range of sources
- Communicates with clarity, purpose and efficiently
Personal Qualities
- Enthusiastic attitude and approach to teamwork with positive influencing and listening skills
- High energy level; hard working; makes things happen
- Demonstrates sound judgement when making decisions
- Self-driven and able to set personal goals which are realistic and challenging
- Agile, flexible and resilient
- Have an interest and a desire to work and develop as an analytical scientist
- Desire to work in a laboratory environment
Training To Be Delivered
Qualification to be delivered: BSc Chemical Sciences
Apprenticeship Standard: Scientist
Training Provider: University of Kent
Delivery model: The training for this apprenticeship will be delivered online
Future Prospects
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be eligible to apply for other positions within the business.
Things To Be Considered
The apprentice must be able to demonstrate the required attitudes, behaviours and interpersonal skills associated with the professional workplace. The apprentice must be willing to commit an amount of personal time to study. Please ensure you check out travel options to be able to commute to the workplace.
About Pfizer
You’re the future. Your ambition, talents, ideas and unique way of looking at the world will help us drive innovation in every part of our business.
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.
We need people with a hugely diverse range of talents. Love Science? Want to work on the business side? Get stuck into an apprenticeship to launch your career.
Pfizer’s apprenticeship scheme, run in partnership with Cogent Skills, offers the best of both worlds. You’ll work with world-leaders in your field, from researchers to business gurus. You’ll study towards a nationally recognised academic or professional qualification. And all the time, you’ll be earning a highly competitive salary.
Looking for an alternative to college or university, where you can earn while you learn, and build experience with a global leader? Find it at Pfizer.
- Department
- Chemistry
- Role
- Apprenticeship Degree (Level 5,6,7)
- Locations
- Kent
- Yearly salary
- £20,500
- Employment type
- Apprenticeship
- Company
- Pfizer
- Industry Sector
- Life Sciences
- Role Level
- Level 6 Apprenticeship
- Full Address
- Discovery Park House, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9NJ
Pfizer, Sandwich
Not sure where this career can take you?
Take a look at our dedicated Careers hub to see what this career could look like for you in the future!
Diversity and Inclusion
Cogent Skills group (Cogent) is working hard to ensure a clear strategy towards proactively supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives that seeks to improve diversity and create opportunities for all. GDPR will be complied with when collecting and using this data and the data that you provide will be used for monitoring and analysis only.