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Loughborough College Chief Executive turns lab technician for National Apprenticeship Week

Posted: 7th March 2017 - 11:49am

Loughborough College Chief Executive Heather MacDonald has returned to her roots and turned lab technician to help mark National Apprenticeship Week 2017.

Heather donned a white coat and joined a practical lesson led by Lecturer in Science Charlotte Hamadache with Laboratory Technician Apprentices from across the region.

Joining with lab partner Nick Lee from locally-based multinational 3M, Heather admitted to feeling apprenhensive about her apprenticeship challenge: “As a scientist and former researcher and teacher, it was a fantastic opportunity to return to the laboratory to promote National Apprenticeship Week. But it was also a little daunting because I couldn’t pretend to be a novice - so I made sure I had genned up on my subject in advance!

“I paired up with Nick, armed with refreshed expertise on how to test foods for proteins, reducing and non-reducing sugars, lipids and starch and we lined up our test tubes ready for action.

“With my CEO hat firmly locked away, Nick too the lead, demonstrating his skilled lab techniques with me in learning apprenticeship mode. Nothing phased us, not even the grinding of dried peas!

“The work ethic and diligence of all the Laboratory Apprentices was a joy to behold and under the watchful eye of highly skilled lecturer and technician Charlotte I completed my assignment, successfully.”

During National Apprenticeship Week, celebrating its tenth anniversary year, the College Executive and Governors will be heading for ‘the shop floor’ over the coming days to test a jet engine, get hands on in hair and beauty, tackle electrical installation and customer service and face perhaps the toughest challenge of all, working as a childcare assistant in the nursery.

Pictured: (left to right) Charlotte Hamadache, Nick Lee and Heather MacDonald in the lab at Loughborough College during National Apprenticeship Week 2017