Automation Specialist Apprentice Review

My role is to support specialst automated equipment in the Pharmaceutical Technology and Development departement at AstraZeneca Macclesfield. As well as this a am working along side chemist to build my knowledge of chemistry. I have a dedicated supervisor that I meet with weekly and see everyday. I often get to meet with other apprentices as my team has more than one apprentice.

I am studying towards a Chemical Science foundation degree with Manchester Metropolitan University during my apprenticeship. At AstraZeneca there are many different opportunities for development which are open to all apprentices. Most recently I went on a hands on LinkedIn workshop where I was informed on how to make a good LinkedIn profile. Within my deparement I sit on the culture team shaping the way the department approaches its work. This is very important as roles in my department are usually laboratory based. Last month during a visit to AstraZeneca Macclesfield, I met Greg Clark - Secetary for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - to demonstrate the roles of apprentices within Pharmaceutical Technology and Development. Other opportunities for apprentices that I am involved in include the AstraZeneca Operations Apprentice Council, the Brathay Apprentice Challenge as well as taking part in interview days for new candidates for the next intake of apprentices.

I really enjoy the work I do at AstraZeneca. The people I work with are world class in their field and I am learning from their experience - something that university cannot offer. My work allows me to build experience and build up my knowledge of what my deparment does in the business. The company culture is good - in my deparement there is a culture teamt that I am a member of. As well as this apprentice are well regarded are very much active membes of the deparment and wider. My apprenticeship has met my expectations well. As the apprenticeships at AstraZeneca develop to become even better, they become even more competitive with university courses.

I am definately a valued at AstraZeneca. I have a dedicated supervisor who has helped me shape myself and my apprenticeship since day one. I have 1-1 meetings with my manager every month where we catch up and look ahead to where my apprenticeship is taking me. I have also won awards for raising Health and Safety observation cards and the way I carry out my job from my deparement which really shows that AstraZeneca values its apprentices, myself included.

As I am in the first cohort of 3 year apprentices in my deparement at AstarZeneca, the programme has not been as structured as it will be once it has become more established. My supervisor has been excellent in developing a structure for me to work against to provide a framework for progress throughout my apprenticeship. However this was not pre-determined - more made up as I have progressed. This has not been a problem though as it has allowed me to determine where my apprenticeship is taking me in the department.

My training provider is Manchester Metropolitan University and my course is a distance learning course. In the past they have been hard to contact however this has got a lot better over time. They course content released online is average and could be made better and more appropriate to distance learning. Feedback on our work is outlined in the general university guidlines at 1 month however we usually get our work back late, often over 1.5 months after it is handed in. Despite ongoing liason with the provider they still have alot of room for improvment and could be trying harder to improve.

I receive more support from my employer than I would expect. I have weekly 1-1s with my supervisor who I can always go to during the week for any problems I have. She has been significant in my development and for me, this is one of the best things about apprenticeships at AstraZeneca. I have a monthly 1-1 with my manager who is very intersted to find out how I am developing and is very helpful in suggesting how to build on the work I am carrying out. In regards to Uni work, my colleagues are always open for me to ask questions and are really helpful when I encounter problems that can't be easily resolved over email with my university. I have a dedicated sandwich student that is currently studying chemistry to help me with any problems I have.

My salary package just about meets my costs. I have moved out of my parents house and currently rent a room local to my workplace which is my biggest overhead. This is something that not all apprentices do though.

As apprentices, we are enrolled onto something called 'AZ Inspire' which is a platform for graduates, sandwich student and apprentices to network during training sessions and meet ups. There are also bimonthly apprentice network meetings run by the apprentice council. I have been leading AstraZeneca Operations' Brathay Apprentice Challenge 2017 team. As part of working for AstraZeneca we are allocated one volunteer day per year. This year I went to the SeaShell Trust - a residency and schooling centre of excellece for people with profound disabilities - to carry out regeneration on the grounds of the Trust. As for leisure and sport there is a gym onsite which is fairly cheap with classes and a 5-a-side football pitch. In summer my department have walks in the Peak District, just up the road from the site.

Yes

The work I carry out at AstraZeneca is developing me as a young person. I am gaining experience I can't get a university. I am doing this whilst studying towards a foundation degree with the option to top this up to a full degree. I am also get the oportunity to take part in 'extracurricula' activities such as the Brathay Apprentice Challenge and the AstraZeneca Operations Apprentice Council etc.

Applying for an apprenticeship at AstraZenca is a great way to study ultimately towards a degree whilst gaining world class experience in your field.