Manufacturing Apprentice Review

I've currently worked for Unilever as a manufacturing apprentice for 9 months and I am still learning and developing new skills I never thought I had. On a daily basis I am able to interact with high speed machinery and the newest technologies in manufacturing which is great! Me along with the other team members ensure that the productions line are working to full capacity which involves checking equipment, ensuring ingredients are available, problem solving and performing maintenance on the machinery. Everyday is different one day you could be performing tests on products and the next you could be thinking of innovative solutions to make the production line work better. Being part of the apprentice ambassador team allows me to be able share experiences and updates with aspiring apprentices which is not only helping me develop skills such as project management and marketing but its allowing me practice skills I otherwise wouldn't get the chance to use. I also attend college once a week where we learn engineering and business improvement skills, not only am I gaining recognised qualifications I am able to put these into use in the workplace which is highly rewarding.

Unilever pride themselves on bringing the most out of their employees through continuous development and with me it has been no different. Over the course of my 3 year apprenticeship I will gain 3 qualifications in engineering and business improvement all of which form a technical certificate which is a highly valued qualification. Apart from my college studies internal training is a key area at Unilever, since starting my apprenticeship I have learnt how to deal with spillages and fire in the work place and have most recently had the opportunity to take part in emergency response training which was a fantastic opportunity and allowed me to develop an understanding of how to stay calm when under pressure. One of the most enjoyable part of my apprenticeship was the outward bound training programme, myself and other apprentices spent a week in the lake district performing fun activities such as mountain climbing and kayaking not only was it great fun it also taught us the importance of teamwork and communication. Unilever has taught me many things but the most important is to believe in yourself and that with the right attitude anything is possible and the company makes this clear with job progressions and opportunities to those who want it.

Working at Unilever is an opportunity I am very grateful for. On a daily basis I interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds and it real does improve your interpersonal skills. Working in a small team you get to know each other very well and it’s so much fun working with people who are friendly and can make you laugh. Even when I am performing my daily duties it’s fun, the environment and the site culture just has something about it the radio is played through speakers on the production line and the facilities on site are excellent. My first expectations where that working in a manufacturing environment it would be a role that would consist of a lot of pressure but I couldn't have been more wrong the support from employees is amazing and many people will go the extra mile to ensure you feel confident and satisfied.

From the day I started my apprenticeship Unilever has made me feel valued. On receiving confirmation I got the apprenticeship I was sent a hamper of Unilever products only with a card congratulating me and welcoming me to the company along with this I was given a discount card which saves me so much money! Unilever have also given me 2 pay raises since the start of my apprenticeship even though the starting wage was already nearly double many apprenticeship programmes. On several occasions of my time being at Unilever I have had managers thank me for my work and effort which is satisfying to know you’re doing your job to the best of your abilities and being thanked for it. Similar to this the full site spent a day bowling as a reward which was all paid for by Unilever. As an apprenticeship I have had the opportunity to be involved in a series of projects most recently I have been able to suggests solutions to reduce the time it takes to perform activities which is a key focus on my site at the moment. After 6 months service I also got a free gym membership pass which is worth £40 a month. Overall I couldn't feel any more valued Unilever already make me feel valued through the qualifications and experience they are giving me everything else they have given me just makes me proud and grateful to be an employee here.

On the first week of my programme we performed a full induction week which consisted of training sessions and meeting my colleagues. After my induction a sent 3 week with a full time operator who taught me basic skills and knowledge I would need for my role which gave me a strong foundation. The support from my colleagues and managers has been fantastic since the start of my apprenticeship, people will go the extra mile here to ensure you feel safe and confident in what your doing. I also had monthly meetings with my manager where I was able to give an update of my progress and voice any concerns I may of had although this was a monthly occurrence I was able to go talk to my manager if ever needed. On site we have a dedicated computer room for apprentices to use this allows us to perform college work and even learn about the machine from the large amount of learning resources available both online and in training manuals. The programme structure is followed by me doing block placements in different areas of the site this is outlined in my training folder along with details of what I must achieve from my placement. Furthermore the college we attend has excellent facilities and tutors with expert knowledge showing us how we can apply the knowledge we learn to the workplace.

The training provider we use is very helpful in supporting us apprentices. We have meetings with the head of the college frequently to check our progress and also have a learning adviser who is there for advice and support if we need it. We receive personal learner reviews from our tutor regularly to show us where we are and if any improvements need to be made. Overall the trainer provider gives massive support to ensure we are learning and developing.

Unilever has done nothing but support me throughout my programme. My manager checks up on me regularly to ensure I have not had any problems or if I have any concerns. The HR team on site are fantastic they are always willing to help and solve problems as soon as possible, the HR team always give advice and try help your situation be resolved swiftly. On site we also have an occupation health department which can give mental and physical advice as well as a free physiotherapist. Unilever has a great support structure and any problem can be resolved through the many support systems put in place for employees.

My salary at Unilever is fantastic. My salary covers all my costs and bills and still leaves me plenty of money to enjoy myself, I am very grateful. We also receive a yearly bonus which is more than a moths salary. Being paid the salary I do makes me feel highly valued.

From the start of my programme there has been plenty of opportunities available outside of work. All apprentice every year can take part in the kids Christmas party which is great fun! employees are often asked to visit suppliers from around the world this is a great opportunity to see how our materials are made.

Yes

The benefits and career progression Unilever offers is excellent. The family culture which is spread throughout the company and the recognition which is rewarded for your service is phenomenal. At Unilever there is many opportunities to progress and even change careers if that's what you want, the guidance and support along with the many benefits makes Unilever a great employer.

When applying to Unilever it is important to be yourself and be confident. My experience from the application process is to show you want the role you are applying for be enthusiastic, be creative and demonstrate you can work with others. Having a good understanding of Unilever history and future plans is key to having a successful interview, it shows your interested and have researched about the employer your applying for, it shows great initiative and effort which are good traits to demonstrate. The assessment days consist of a series of tests to see if your suitable for the role, just be yourself and understand that although you may have conflicting ideas with someone it is how you discuss this what matters. Show teamwork and demonstrate the correct skills and traits and ensure your confident and creative. During my application process Unilever supported along the way given me information on what the role will require and allowed me to demonstrate I was suitable for the role throughout the application process.