Apprentice Technician

Apprentice Technician

School Operations (COO)

Aston University is a leading university in the heart of Birmingham, known for its focus on employability, real‑world impact and an inclusive, supportive culture.

The opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our amazing technical team within School Operations to join our Vision Sciences Technical Team as an Apprentice Technician. We are seeking a proactive, reliable individual to join our team which supports teaching and research facilities.

The successful candidate will provide practical and technical support across the School of Optometry, including the Aston Eye Clinic, clinical skills spaces, teaching laboratories and dispensing-related learning areas. The post will help ensure that teaching rooms, clinics, equipment and consumables are prepared to a high standard, supporting a positive experience for students, staff, supervisors and patients.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you will work closely with technical colleagues, academic staff, and students to ensure our clinics run smoothly, safely, and effectively. The main responsibilities of this role include:

• Assist with the setup and preparation of optometry and audiology teaching clinics, practical sessions and clinical skills spaces.
• Check rooms, equipment, computers, test charts and teaching resources before sessions begin, escalating any issues appropriately.
• Support the issuing, tracking, cleaning and safe return of clinical and teaching equipment.
• Help maintain stock levels of consumables, frames, lenses and other teaching or clinic supplies.
• Maintain tidy, safe and professional working areas in line with local procedures and health and safety requirements.
• Support staff, supervisors and students during teaching sessions where required.
• Develop knowledge of dispensing, optical appliances, frame handling, lens types and clinic workflow as preparation for the apprenticeship pathway.
• Complete agreed training records, reflective notes and development objectives as part of the in-house training programme.

About you

We are looking for a practical, organised, proactive individual with a strong commitment to teamwork and customer service. You will thrive in a busy, dynamic environment and enjoy working collaboratively with a diverse range of people, from students to academic staff and external suppliers. Excellent communication skills and a strong attention to detail are essential for supporting practical classes and demonstrating equipment.

Training and Development Pathway

• In-house technical training: The apprentice will receive supervised training across clinic preparation, equipment checks, stock control, health and safety, basic maintenance tasks, patient-facing professionalism and support for teaching sessions.
• Dispensing Optician apprenticeship: Completing a recognised Dispensing Optician apprenticeship pathway, combining workplace learning with formal study.
• Ongoing support: The apprentice will receive regular supervision, feedback, probation/development conversations and opportunities to build confidence through practical experience.

Working at Aston

We are committed to the Technician Commitment and to supporting the career development of technical staff across all disciplines. You will be supported to undertake a range of training and development activity, as a minimum, you will undertake relevant technical and health & safety training.

Aston University is located within Birmingham city centre and benefits from excellent transport links by bus and train. Discounted on-site parking and a cycle-to-work scheme are also available. Information on our Benefits and Rewards can be found here.

For further Information, please contact the Technical Team Leader – Matthew Hancock

m.hancock@aston.ac.uk

The University celebrates the rights of freedom of speech and academic freedom and is committed to maintaining and protecting these rights within the law. An offer to work at Aston University will never be denied on the basis of an individual’s lawful expression of their beliefs, ideas or opinions.

Aston University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. It promotes equality and diversity in all aspects of its work. We strive to have robust inclusivity strategies in place, to encourage colleagues to have the confidence and freedom to be themselves in the workplace. For more information, visit: https://www2.aston.ac.uk/about/inclusive-aston

Guidance on AI-Assisted Applications

While we cannot prevent applicants from using AI tools to support their application, we ask that all submissions reflect your own experience, achievements, and motivations. We want to understand what you personally bring to the role, so please ensure your application represents your own voice and capabilities.

We recognise the value of flexible working. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss what flexible working options are available for particular roles.

If you require the job details document or an application form in an alternative format please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@aston.ac.uk