Technical Services Apprentice

Description du poste:

About the Role

About R&D Applications
Join Incorez's R&D Applications team, working at the heart of product formulation, testing, and customer support for Incorez's global business. Incorez has been part of the Sika Group since 2009, giving you the backing of a global leader while contributing to innovation for Incorez's customer base.
You will be based in the Preston Global Technology Centre, helping to develop new products, evaluate materials, and provide technical advice to our sales team and customers alike-activities that directly support Sika's transformation towards net-zero and better customer outcomes.
Purpose of the Role
As a Technical Services Apprentice, you'll start your journey by supporting the day-to-day running of the laboratory before progressing into hands-on lab work which will involve product testing, product application, and ultimately chemical formulation work. As you reach the second half of the apprenticeship, you'll be designing experiments, analysing data, and seeing your industrial and academic training come to life in a real-world setting.

What's In it for You?
The Opportunity:
The Qualification
Level 3 Laboratory Technician
The Details
Employment Start Date: 3rd August 2026
Salary: Sika Living Wage
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm (30-minute lunch break).
Fixed Term Employment Duration: 24 months

The Rewards:
You will be rewarded with a competitive salary, and a sweep of great benefits. We pride ourselves on our total reward package:
* Holiday 25 days rising to 28 days with service, plus bank holidays
* Core Hours Working (8am-4pm)
* A company pension contribution of up to 10%
* Private healthcare for you, with option to add family
* Group life cover at 6x your annual salary
* Global Income Protection (PHI)
* Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
* Staff discount platform & Cycle to Work scheme
* Dedicated Service Awards for reaching key milestones

The Support:
At Sika, there is a significant commitment to professional and personal development from day one. You will be an integral part of the R&D Applications team which is within the wider UK R&D network. Mentorship and supervision will come from across the team at different stages teaching you new skills and providing guidance. The team prides itself on a strong basis of openness and support where successes and mistakes are freely exchanged.

The Skills:
You'll develop a strong understanding of industrial laboratory science, project management, and commercial strategy. In addition to honing your time management and presentation skills, you'll gain hands-on experience with a range of lab-specific techniques that are central to daily work:
* Safe handling and use of chemicals for the formulation of polyurethanes and waterborne epoxy hardeners.
* Application techniques of such formulations and products.
* Physical testing of prepared formulations to evaluate their real-world functionality.

The Future:
Potential Career Routes:
Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be eligible to apply for other positions within the business.

Your Skills and Experience

What we need from you?
* Have an interest in science, especially chemistry.
* Communicates with clarity, purpose and efficiency.
* Enthusiastic attitude and approach to teamwork, with positive influencing and listening skills.
* Passion to continue learning and improving themselves.
* 5 GCSE at grades 4 or above including Mathematics and English.

Why Join Us

Commitment towards Diversity
We welcome expressions of interest from all eligible applicants. The Construction Industry and the Sika salesforce remain disproportionately under-represented by women and we therefore particularly welcome applications from women interested in a sales career in the building supplies and materials industry. Accordingly, we aim to provide an enabling and inclusive working environment for all.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training. We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

About Sika

We're looking for an Apprentice to join our R&D Applications team
Preston
About Sika
Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for sealing, bonding, damping, reinforcing, and protecting in the building sector and industrial manufacturing. Sika has subsidiaries in 102 countries around the world and manufactures in over 400 factories. It's more than 34,000 employees generated annual sales of CHF 11.7 billion in 2024