Eurofins|BLC is a small but growing business specialising in testing and consulting and operates within the Eurofins Softlines and Leather division. Established for over 100 years specialising in leather, consumer and chemicals we have the technical pedigree and experience to provide targeted, testing and consulting solutions up and down the supply chain.

Eurofins|BLC is part of the Eurofins network of companies which is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience contract research services. It is one of the market leaders in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and in the support of clinical studies, as well as having an emerging global presence in Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations. It also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products. In over 35 years, Eurofins has grown from one laboratory in Nantes, France to 61,000 staff across a decentralised and entrepreneurial network of ca. 900 laboratories in 61 countries. Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods to evaluate the safety, identity, composition, authenticity, origin, traceability and purity of biological substances and products.

In 2022, Eurofins generated total revenues of EUR 6.7 billion, and has been among the best performing stocks in Europe over the past 20 years.

The Role:

Analysis of leathers, textiles and polymers for a wide range of restricted substances at low concentrations according to international test methods using various solvent extraction and matrix clean-up procedures to prepare the test samples followed by their analysis using advanced laboratory instrumentation.  

Main duties:

• Deconstructing consumer products such as shoes and handbags into their individual components
• Cutting and grinding the product components and pre-production swatches using industrial grinding machinery
• Accurately weighing specified amounts of the ground or chopped sample into a range of method-specific containers and labelling them with the unique sample identity and precise weight
• Preparing liquid extracts from the samples using standardized solvent extraction and solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up procedures
• Identifying and quantifying the specific restricted substances in the sample extracts using advanced analytical instrumentation such as gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy and electron capture (GC-MS and GC-ECD), liquid chromatography (HPLC, LCMS, LCDAD), ion chromatography (IC), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and UV-visible spectrophotometry.
• Processing the raw analytical data and maintaining analytical quality control charts
• Maintaining a clean and tidy laboratory
• Performing any other reasonable duties to assist the analytical testing team and the business.

What We Are Looking For:

• Ideally degree BSc in Chemistry or related chemistry subject
• Practical experience in the operation and maintenance of GC and HPLC
• Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with colleagues
• Ability to use initiative
• Positive attitude with a sense of urgency in a fast-paced environment reflecting the high sample volume of this market-leading commercial laboratory
• Adherence to the highest standards of precision, accuracy and record keeping for maintaining our UKAS accreditation for a wide range of methods
• Initiative and an ability to multi-task and plan work effectively to meet strict deadlines
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office software
• Accountability and responsibility 
• A flexible approach to working additional hours when required.

Weekly working hours are 37.5 per week Monday to Friday with 45-minute unpaid lunch break each day. Core hours are 8.45 am to 5.00 pm.  The company operates a flexitime system allowing you to vary your contractual start and finish times by 30 minutes, providing your daily contractual hours are worked each day.  During your initial training period, you will be expected to perform the core contractual hours. 

Competitive Salary, Life Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Income Protection, Group Pension Scheme (match contribution of up to 5 %), Perkbox, Free on-site parking