RDQI Chocolate Apprentice Review

My job title is RDQI Chocolate Apprentice (Research,Development, Quality and Innovation). Day to day I support product developers on trials of new products or updating already existing products. I create samples of these products which are then used in consumer testing. I learn each day about moulding chocolate, the process of making the chocolate itself and also different filling that go into chocolates.

One new skill I have learnt is how to hand temper chocolate. By learning this, I can do press- events and other events to show other people how to do it. I have also learnt how to use the machines we have that help us day to day from the temper chocolate machine to the vibrating table which helps us remove air bubbles. I have also gained chocolate making skills leaning about the process and how to test for particle size. Personally, I have learnt to work with lots of types of people and overcome friction when you might not instantly get on with someone. I am also learning about time management and how best to fit everything into the time I have.

The team I work in is extremely supportive of the apprentices and are willing to help in any way. They are also very fun to be around which makes the atmosphere in the office really good. The work is also enjoyable. It has met my expectations pretty well.

I feel really valued by Mondelez. I am included in a lot of tasks and handed lots of responsibility from others within my team. My manager has weekly one to ones with me to check on how I am doing and things that they could improve to help my learning and well being.

The inductions I had to the company were very good. On my second day, there was a whole department away day which got us straight into knowing a lot about the team we would be working with. We also had to do a number of online courses. The training could be structured better so we know what we need to be trained on and how best to go about it but we are learning a lot. The support is really good. I have both weekly one to one meetings with my manager and also my mentor both who help me with any troubles I have and try and push my learning.

We did have trouble to start with, with our tutor from college but this has been sorted and the support we get from our new tutor is really good. They link what we are learning in college to the company we work in. Our advisor is also supportive. They try and help us understand the course and the apprenticeship and how we need to go about the work in order to achieve a good grade.

Lots and lots of support! My employer is concerned with every aspect from how well I am doing in the workplace and at college. They support me from pointing me in the direction of others who can help with my work and how I can improve in the workplace from technical to personal development.

The salary I receive meets my costs really well. I am living at home which helps but I do pay a bit of rent to my parents. I am able to afford a train, bus and tram pass much cheaper as I am an apprentice which helps a lot and I am looking at the possibility of insuring my car myself rather than my parents paying which I could do on my salary (but not as well as having the pass). Having taken out the things I have to pay for, I still have enough to socialise with friends and buy things such as lunches at work if I wish.

Each year, each team within the company does a couple of volunteer days to support local charities or organisations. There are lots of PR events that happen at work and as apprentices, we are often invited to these to show our skills. I am not aware of any leisure or sport clubs that available but there is a gym onsite.

Yes

The support you get is really good and their main aim is to help you develop in all aspects technically and also personally.

Technical Academy Process through University College Birmingham is the way to get into the role I am in. I would say to show a lot of interest, ask questions and put a lot of work into the tasks set.