Training helps cleaner into lab technician’s role

Sep 10 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

FROM laboratory cleaner to laboratory technician – Sue Crighton wouldn’t look out of place on the set of hit TV show Crime Scene Investigation (CSI).

Sue, from Carley Hill, Sunderland, a lab technician at Complement Genomics Ltd, has transformed her career with the help of training from her boss, Louise Allcroft, and the region’s leading business membership organisation the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC).

Sue has successfully completed an NVQ Level 2 in Laboratory and Associated Technical, which she combined with her work at the company, based at Sunderland’s Business and Innovation Centre.

Sue, whose work includes extracting and amplifying DNA for analysis in paternity testing as part of the company’s UKAS-accredited dadcheck® service, said: “Working as a laboratory technician is obviously a new direction from my original role at Complement, but the training from both Louise and NECC has really helped me to adapt to the new job.

“Working and learning at the same time is brilliant.

“The job is very varied and receiving training at the same time makes it really interesting,.

“Better still, I’m gaining nationally recognised qualifications to go along with my new skills.”

In addition to its accredited paternity testing service, dadcheck®, Complement Genomics Ltd’s Geneblitz® service specialises in geno- typing, residual DNA analysis, DNA sequencing and more, for the pharmaceutical, healthcare and academic sectors.

Louise Allcroft, chief executive of the company, said: “Through the Train to Gain initiative, we contacted NECC for training support for Sue, and we are delighted we did.

“The training and support has been brilliant. NECC, and in particular Sue’s training adviser Rebecca Flintoff, have been extremely helpful.

“Through partnership working between Complement and NECC, Sue has thrived in her new role and her progress has been fantastic. Everyone at Complement is very proud of her.”

Patricia Wilkinson, NECC interim director of training and skills development, said: “Sue’s progress and development is great news and we are delighted to have contributed to her new skills.”

The NECC is one of the largest and most successful training providers in the North East, delivering apprenticeships and NVQs – vocational work-based training combined with theoretical study – in an extensive range of disciplines from engineering, construction design, retail and warehousing, to business administration, dental nursing and much more.

For more information on NECC training, call 0800 195 7373, visit www.necc.co.uk or email onestopshop@necc.co.uk