Laboratory Scientist Materials Degree Apprenticeship; Level 6 - BBA

Laboratory Scientist Materials Degree Apprenticeship (Level
6) - BBA

Department: Science Apprenticeship
- Materials L6

Employment Type: Apprentice

Location: Watford

Compensation: £20,000 - £25,000 / year

Location: BBA Test, BRE Innovation Park, Bucknall Lane, Watford, WD25 9BA

Expected

Start Date:

ASAP

Working for BBA

The British Board of Agrément (BBA) drives industry safety by providing services that help clients create accountability and mitigate risk. Since 1966, the BBA has built its position as an independent certification body in the Construction and Civil Engineering industries.

We have a rich heritage of expertise and skill, as well as rigorous and robust processes and procedures which equip us with an acute focus on construction innovation of the future. Through extensive product and system research, testing and certification, auditing, and inspection, the BBA helps to instil confidence throughout the construction and manufacturing supply chain in both the UK and Global marketplaces.

About BBA

The Package

• Starting salary: £20,000 - £25,000 (dependent on age and experience)
• Monday
  - Friday, 37.5 hours per week
• Flexible working hours (start times are 7am – 9.30am)
• On-site
• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays (increases to 30 days after 5 years)
• Company pension (BBA 6%/Employee 5%) with salary exchange
• Life Assurance (4x annual salary)
• Health cash plan
• Electric car scheme with salary exchange

BBA is pleased to be able to offer you the opportunity to both earn a salary and study towards a nationally recognised qualification through our Level 6 Laboratory Scientist (Materials) Apprenticeship.

Within this role, you will be assisting in laboratory testing of construction products and systems, and will progressively take on and carry out such work with developing skills, knowledge and capabilities. You will learn how to plan, co-ordinate and carry out tests without supervision.

• Assist with and progressively carry out tests and report results in accordance with specified procedures
• Work with the Team Manager and colleagues to clarify assigned tests and program work to meet requested report dates
• Assist with equipment calibration, maintenance and development as necessary
• Advise and highlight progress and problems to Team Manager to indicate potential failures of a product
• Provide information on which test time estimates can be based
• Assist and develop knowledge of calibration duties relevant to tests
• Assist Test Technicians in the set-up, installation, operation, maintenance and dismantling of test equipment and facilities.
• Prepare samples for test, as required by testing staff
• Assist with keeping the laboratory, buildings and yard areas clean and tidy (requires operation of handling equipment such as cranes - training provided)
• Assist the Test Support Supervisor in the execution of his duties and to deputise for him in his absence.
• General labour, for example, demolishing test walls.

You’re naturally curious about materials and how they perform in real-world conditions. You’re interested in understanding why materials behave the way they do — whether that’s how they respond to stress, temperature, or environmental factors, or why they sometimes fail or degrade over time.

You enjoy hands‑on work and are comfortable carrying out physical testing, preparing samples, and working with equipment to assess properties like strength, durability, or corrosion. You take a methodical approach, following technical standards and procedures carefully, and pay close attention to detail to ensure your results are accurate and reliable.

You think analytically and enjoy interpreting data, linking your findings back to real-world performance and engineering outcomes. You’re confident working with measurements, calculations, and reports, and can communicate your results clearly to others. Motivated to build expertise, you’re interested in developing your skills in materials testing and analysis, contributing to safer, more reliable products and structures.

Apprenticeship Eligibility

• Be 16 or over
• Not be in full-time education
• Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years
• Have the right to work in the UK

As…