Over the past two months, Alfred H Knight has partnered with local college Liverpool Life Sciences UTC to deliver a training programme designed to support students in the development of lab and technical skills. Our team has worked alongside the specialist technical college, giving pupils valuable experience as they prepare for their future careers.

The programme was led by AHK representatives, Nik Kapagolou, (UK Laboratory Manager), Adrian Speed and Greg Mattinson, (Senior Learning and Development Advisors). During this, students were set various tasks designed to test their skills and abilities within the lab. These included producing calibration curves, making standard solutions and analysing samples.

“Forming a partnership with Liverpool Life Sciences UTC enables us to support young people in making informed decisions about their future by actively putting their learning into practice and seeing what a career in science can look like. This collaboration provides students with hands-on experiences and real-world insights, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional application. 

“Through this partnership, we can inspire and equip the next generation of scientists. This will help them visualise and work towards their career aspirations in the life sciences. By investing in such initiatives, we not only nurture talent but also ensure the continual growth and innovation of talent within our industry, securing a brighter future for both our company and the broader scientific community.”

Adrian Speed, Senior Learning and Development Advisor

AWARDING EXCELLENCE

The students were assessed on their professionalism, safety, technical approach and interview techniques. Nikolaos and Adrian then awarded two students with the Outstanding Report Achievement and three with the Practical Excellence Achievement award. Students also had the opportunity to visit Alfred H Knight’s headquarters, located in Liverpool. Here, they received a brief presentation on company history, before James Knight, Corporate Development Manager, presented them with their awards.  

We are also happy to announce that in recognition of their fantastic efforts, the students have also been awarded one week of work experience at John Knight Laboratory. Following the presentation, Andy Johnson,  Group Health and Safety Training Advisor conducted an Induction before the placements began.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to Alfred H Knight for enabling our students to not only critically think about their lab skills, but also dream big about their potential future working for a company that operates a global network of accredited laboratories.”

Dr John Dyer, Lead Teacher for Science Innovation, Liverpool Life Sciences UTC

Congratulations to the students for their outstanding achievements—they are a testament to their hard work and dedication. We look forward to sharing their accomplishments during their work experience here at Alfred H Knight.