Business Administration Apprentice - HR:Global Finance Review

I am currently undertaking a Business Administration Apprenticeship through Unilever. I am working within the HR department for Global Finance, as an assistant for a HR Business Partner. I undertake a lot of data checks and admin work for my team and also deal with employee concerns, reports and data. My role also entails a lot of wellbeing practices for the Unilever employees. I love it!

I have learnt a lot of new technology skills, such as how to run reports from the internal databases, as well as a lot of communication skills. I have also learnt a lot about wellbeing, and how it can help in your everyday work. I have also been able to develop my knowledge in the Microsoft packages, especially PowerPoint and Excel, as I work with these pretty much everyday.

I absolutely love my apprenticeship, and actually look forward to coming into work everyday (which is something I've never experienced before!). My team are very supportive, which makes me enjoy my time spent at work even more! I love that I feel as though my team need me, and that they trust me with important projects. I also really enjoy the time I spend with my fellow apprentices, everyone is so friendly and we all get on really well.

From the day I started I felt part of the team. I have been helped and supported greatly, and my manager always stops to guide me if I need it. My manager also likes to get me involved in very important projects, and helps to develop my skillset in order to do so.

I believe that the apprenticeship I am on is very well structured. There is a good range of knowledge and competency based coursework, that fits in to my everyday work activities.

I receive a great deal of support from my training provider. My assessor always replies quickly to my emails or instant messages, and is generally available throughout the day to contact. They mark any work that I have submitted within 5 working days, and so far this has not changed. My assessor even meets with my line manager to answer any of their concerns and queries about the course itself, and to see if there is anywhere else that I could be supported.

The support I receive from Unilever is amazing. My team, and others within the HR department are always available to help. They understand that I am an apprentice, and are patient and guide me if I get stuck or I am unable to complete a piece of work. They also understand that I may need time in the day to complete my coursework so that I do not fall behind with my training provider.

My salary covers my rent and travel, with some left spare each month. I believe that the pay for this apprenticeship is very generous compared to other apprenticeships of the same level at other organisations.

As part of Unilever's work towards sustainable living, there are opportunities to spend a day volunteering with one of the charities they partner. There are also 'team days' where you can either go out somewhere fun with your team or visit one of Unilever's many UK factories.

Yes

I feel that Unilever is a great place to work and I am very proud to be working for such a large and successful organisation. Unilever's aims and work towards making sustainable living commonplace is inspiring and makes me feel that I am helping the world to thrive! Everybody I have met so far has been lovely, and there is a real sense of 'community' within each workplace, which helps you to feel settled an be yourself.

If you decide to apply for a Unilever apprenticeship, make sure that you research their business goals, and their past business performance. It is also useful to recognise the brands that Unilever make, as you most likely use some in your day to day life! Be honest on your application, and make sure to include all the things that you have done that make you stand out from the crowd.