At Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP) and across the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, we’re dedicated about supporting the next generation of talent through apprenticeship opportunities. Our apprentices bring fresh ideas and valuable skills to organisations across the campus. These opportunities highlight how the campus is making hands-on experience in a range of fields more accessible to students, helping to shape their careers.
Featured Apprentices:
“Apprenticeships are a way in, helping you build a career and gain the skills and confidence to succeed.” Cat Leigh, Events Assistant Apprentice
Cat Leigh is Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP)’s first apprentice, located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. She supports the coordination of events across the Cambridge Life Science and Innovation ecosystem!
After completing her degree in Classics and Philosophy, Cat entered a challenging job market with little work experience to draw on. Unsure of her next step, she tried working in hospitality but soon realised it wasn’t the right path for her. Discovering an apprenticeship as an Events Assistant changed that, offering the ideal opportunity to blend her interest in events with practical, hands‑on learning.
Now, three months in, Cat is thriving in her role where she’s learning by doing. She’s supporting key events like the hashtag#InnovationBreakfast, hashtag#CareersFair and many more, learning everything from event logistics and marketing to liaising with speakers and external stakeholders. She’s also gaining skills with tools like Excel, Microsoft Teams, Canva and SharePoint, all of which are key to her role and helping her further build her experience and skill set.
Cat’s apprenticeship is part of a new scheme introduced to the life sciences sector. Delivered through a flexible partnership model, TrAC acts as the flexi‑apprenticeship employer, Ginger Nut Training provides the training, and CUHP serves as the host organisation. This structure gives employers greater flexibility while offering apprentices strong, tailored support to build the skills they need to succeed.
“Apprenticeships aren’t about how much you know, but how willing you are to learn.” – Henry Clay, Research Apprentice
Henry Clay is a Laboratory Science Degree Apprentice at the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
Henry discovered his passion for life sciences while studying biology at sixth form. Rather than following a traditional university route, he secured a competitive degree apprenticeship. His supervisor, Dr Stephanie Hall, highlighted the demand: “We advertised one degree apprenticeship and had over 100 applicants.”
He is gaining hands-on experience across a series of laboratory rotations in lab management, imaging and genomics, before transitioning into a research group for an 18-month placement. Along the way, Henry has developed technical skills across many techniques and technologies, particularly in imaging and software, showing the real value apprentices bring to teams.
Henry also attends weekly technical laboratory training and lectures at Anglia Ruskin University. Relocating from Nottingham for the first time was a big step but he has thrived in his new environment, gaining confidence and expertise.
“Apprenticeships provide hands-on experience, financial independence, and set you up for a great career.” – Aggie Ward, Research Apprentice
Aggie Ward’s journey started when she was selected for a T Level placement at the world-renowned MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus while studying at the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology.
Now in her second year of the Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprenticeship, Aggie spends four days a week at the LMB, learning hands-on skills in flow cytometry – a technique that analyses thousands of cells. She also supports research programmes across protein and nucleic acid chemistry, cell biology and neurobiology.
She spends the fifth day at Anglia Ruskin University, where she develops the broader skills needed to become a laboratory scientist.