Jennifer Lynch
Apprenticeship Project Manager, BioPharmaChem Ireland
It is important to remember the many contrasting routes of entering a career in the biopharma industry, one of which being an apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship is a system of training that incorporates on-the-job training with some accompanying study. Apprentices have the opportunity to earn a wage while they learn and build valuable skills through practical work experience. While apprenticeships were once mainly suited to particular trades i.e. plumber, electrician, plasterer; the post 2016 apprenticeships have incorporated many different professions/sectors including pharma.
The new post 2016 apprenticeships in Ireland are led by consortia of industry and education partners with a minimum of 50% on-the-job learning, allowing the candidate ample of time to apply their knowledge. At present, there are 58 earn and learn career options and over 6,500 employers who have been approved to train apprentices. An apprenticeship can assist in building valuable, work ready skills in their chosen field.
At present, there are 58 earn and learn career options and over 6,500 employers who have been approved to train apprentices.
The laboratory apprenticeship programme
For a candidate looking towards a career in the biopharmaceutical industry, the laboratory apprenticeship model may be a perfect fit. Laboratory apprenticeships are a higher certificate and degree programme that combine paid on-the-job learning with academic study. These programmes are suitable for leaving certificate students or mature students who have an interest in pursuing a career in science.
There are two programmes available; the first is a level six, a two year program which leads to a Higher Certificate in Science as a laboratory technician. The second is a level seven, which is a three year program leading to an ordinary Bachelor of Science degree as a laboratory analyst. As part of this program, apprentices will follow a learning structure of three days per week on the job and two days per week academic study/lectures/labs and they will be paid a salary as set by their employer.
Gaining hands-on experience
This program began in September 2018, when it was launched by the lead education provider, Technological University Dublin, Tallaght. The program expanded to Waterford Institute of Technology in 2019 and will be up and running in further education centres in the future. The apprentices will have a detailed list of learning outcomes and will be fully supported by the education provider as well as their colleagues in the lab. They will work with an industry mentor who will be there to guide them during the on-the-job portion of work and answer any questions to help them achieve their goals.