Laboratory Technician Apprentice; Level 3 - Assay Office

Department:
Science Apprenticeship - Materials L3

Location:

Birmingham

Compensation: £20,875 / year

Location:

1 Moreton St, Birmingham B1 3AX

The Birmingham Assay Office is a leading authority in the testing, hallmarking, and certification of precious metals and gemstones. It provides advanced analytical services, valuations, and gem grading, supporting quality assurance across the jewellery, fashion, and consumer goods industries. With a strong focus on innovation, education, and consumer protection, The Birmingham Assay Office plays a vital role in maintaining industry standards and trust.

At our Analytical Laboratory, we’re proud to offer a diverse array of industry standard and unique testing, together with certification services and expert analysis across multiple industries. While we have a rich history of specialising in the analysis of precious metals, we’ve expanded our capability significantly in recent years. Through investment and understanding market trends, we’ve gained extensive knowledge and experiences in testing various products including costume jewellery, watches, luxury products, fashion items, other consumer goods and metal recovery/exploration.

It’s worth mentioning that our Analytical Laboratory holds UKAS Accreditation, ensuring the highest quality in a wide range of international tests, including those required for product safety compliance under REACH and RoHS and US regulations and legislations.

Find out more about The Birmingham Assay Office’s rich history here:

Website

• Starting salary: £20,875 per annum (increasing to National Minimum/Living Wage after 12 months, if applicable)
• Working hours:
  
  37 hours per week
• Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm, flexibility start times available
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Additional 3 days of leave given to cover Christmas shut down once probation is passed
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Cash Plan
• Death in Service Benefit
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Length of Service Awards
• Regular training and CPD opportunities

Kickstart your career in science and metallurgy with hands‑on experience in a specialist laboratory! As an Apprentice Laboratory Technician, you’ll gain practical skills in analysing precious and base metals, platinum group metals, and rare earth elements, while working with cutting‑edge laboratory equipment.

This is a long‑term apprenticeship programme designed to take you from foundational skills to advanced expertise. You will begin with a Level 3 apprenticeship, then progress through a Level 6 degree apprenticeship, which encompasses levels 4, 5, and 6, giving you comprehensive training and qualifications that are highly valued in the industry.

You’ll be trained by real‑world professionals, develop a deep understanding of chemical testing and contribute to exciting projects from day one.

• Precious metal analysis, including weighing the samples, carrying out operational procedures of potentiometric titration, cupellation and acid parting, calculating the results and producing a report
• Operating XRF and ICP‑OES spectrometers to analyse a variety of samples including precious/base metal content, rare earth elements and plating thickness determination
• Provide operational to other staff
• Preparing samples and associated reagents
• Following methods of analysis for testing of samples to satisfy appropriate regulatory and in‑house compliance
• Touch acid testing
• Washing of glassware will be required an ad hoc basis amongst the laboratory team
• Use of internal systems to be able to create and process customer orders, type reports, invoice jobs, etc.
• Liaising with internal and external Customers
• Ensure adherence and maintenance of all ISO accreditation

This isn’t just an apprenticeship, it’s a five‑year journey that could set the course for your entire career. You’ll start with the Level 3 Materials Technician apprenticeship, gaining hands‑on experience in a specialist laboratory, learning how to test, analyse, and understand metals and materials in a way that few people ever get to.

From there, you’ll progress…