“I’m confident I made the right choice swapping to an apprenticeship.”

Anna is a level 5 applied bioscience FdSc technician scientist with Achilles Therapeutics.

Why did you choose to pursue an advanced therapies apprenticeship?

I always had an interest in chemistry and biology through school and knew it was something I wanted to pursue once I had finished. Long term, I wanted to be able to help people and make a difference in the medical sector, however I wasn’t too sure how I would fulfil this aspiration. When I discovered this apprenticeship and saw the goals of the company, I knew I had found what I was looking for. Achilles works in the advanced cancer therapies sector and knowing that my role is supporting the company goal to help treat and potentially cure cancer patients is so rewarding.

How has ATAC supported your development?

ATAC have been brilliant in supporting me at Achilles. As one of the first apprentices here at Achilles it was a new concept for everyone, but ATAC were great at getting the ball rolling and aiding with the onboarding process. As learning opportunities, they provide regular meetings with a range of different companies outside of my day-to-day role as GMP technician scientist to help understand other sectors of advanced therapies manufacturing practices (ATMPs) and show insight into other opportunities available once completing the course.

ATAC arranges events for all the apprentices, which meant I was able to meet lots of new people to share my experiences with. This really helped with the university aspect of the apprenticeship as we were all able to form friendships as well as help and support one another throughout the course.

What has been the most rewarding or interesting project that you have been involved in and why?

I have been involved in many projects over the three years I have been with Achilles, each with a different focus and varied tasks including areas of process improvement.

My most rewarding project would have to be my first project that I lead by myself. It involved optimisation of the new materials management system for production, which required a high level of communication with a range of internal and external departments of Achilles. I successfully created and implemented new processes, led a range of training sessions, whilst still being involved in daily production activities. The project really challenged me to stay organised and focused whilst giving me the opportunity to increase my skillset and extend my knowledge of project management.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of pursuing an apprenticeship in advanced therapies?

Apprenticeships are a brilliant option to further your learning and gain valuable experience and qualifications. I would highly recommend researching the area of work you are interested in, the course you’ll be studying, and the companies you’re applying to.

Apprenticeships are challenging as you are working and studying simultaneously but it is well worth it as with the work you get great rewards. Once you’re qualified, you will be in a great position having acquired vital key skills and experience required in industry as well as the qualification to start your career. Don’t worry about not having enough time for the university work, as 20% of your time is dedicated to studying, which for me equates to one day a week, ensuring I have a good balance of work and study. Having experienced university for a year prior to starting my apprenticeship, I am confident I made the right choice swapping to an apprenticeship.  An apprenticeship offers so much more, and you get all the benefits of having a degree and no university fees!

There’s a cohort of apprentices at Achilles, how do you support each other?

As Achilles grows, so does the apprentice community and because a lot have started within a few years of each other it has meant that we are able to support and guide one another through the challenges of university. This has really benefited me as it means I have people to turn to and ask questions about the course. Knowing that we’re doing it together has pushed us all academically to present our best work.

Why did you choose the apprenticeship route over university?

I initially applied for university to study biomedical science even though I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do long term. I knew I wanted to continue my education in biology and medicine but once I got there, I quickly discovered that it wasn’t for me. I realised that hands-on, lab-based learning was much better for me than theoretical learning. Looking back now, I wish I had known more about the range of scientific apprenticeships available to me prior to applying for university. However, I am so grateful that I found my apprenticeship and for the opportunity it has provided me. It was certainly the right choice for me.

What are your future plans? 

Firstly, I plan on completing my level 5 apprenticeship and progressing to the level 6 course so I can gain my degree in applied bioscience. I then hope to continue working in the advanced therapies sector and increase my knowledge and understanding of cancer treatments and the potential to cure patients.

To find out more about ATAC apprenticeships, visit advancedtherapiesapprenticeships.co.uk or email apprenticeshipsinfo@ct.catapult.org.uk.