850 jobs available at Covid testing laboratory

Around 850 jobs are now available at a laboratory in Leamington as part of the UK’s NHS Test and Trace programme.

Laboratory support technicians are needed at the high output diagnostics laboratory which will be processing Covid-19 tests.

The technicians will provide support with testing the coronavirus samples when they arrive through processing and storage, and will work with junior and senior laboratory technicians and biomedical scientists.

Details of the fixed-term contracts, starting in March, have been posted on the free Coventry and Warwickshire Employment Solutions website which connects job seekers and employers with a range of services including current vacancies and access to advice and support.

The portal has been funded by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) in partnership with the CWLEP Growth Hub, Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council, the District and Borough Councils, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the FSB.

The CWLEP Growth Hub is also working with the CWLEP’s Careers Hubs in Coventry and Warwickshire to contact colleges particularly in Leamington, Kenilworth, Warwick and Coventry to attract students who may be finishing their courses and have the skills needed.

Craig Humphrey, managing director at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said: “As well as playing a vital role in supporting society’s return to a more normal way of life by helping to break the chains of the Covid-19 transmission, the laboratory support technicians will gain invaluable experience and exposure to some of the country’s most highly skilled individuals in the scientific community.

“These roles represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go above and beyond to support public health. Successful candidates will be offered the opportunity to be trained on new processes and develop a wide set of laboratory skills.

“The laboratory is looking for staff who are able to learn new skills, work as part of a team, have excellent attention to detail and are able to follow health and safety standards.

“They initially want 850 staff to join which will rise to 2,000 jobs eventually and all the details to apply are on the CW Employment Solutions website.”