Commercial Apprentice Review

I am a Commercial Apprentice, getting the opportunity to rotate, over the course of 2 years, between Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain and HR. As a result I interact with lots of different groups both internally and externally, for example with marketing agencies and HR training providers.

By completing my scheme I will earn both an BaHons as well as a Chartered Managers qualification. On top of this I have had the opportunity to do a lot of training within the business. With this and my day-to-day roles I have been able to develop many skills, including organisation, communication and teamwork.

I absolutely love my scheme and the organisation. The company culture is, for me, the best part about working for Nestle. Before I joined everyone talks about the culture and you question how true it can be but I can honestly say it far exceeded any of my expectations. The value the company place on the employee and thus the benefits and rewards available are brilliant.

I feel very valued by Nestle as some of my roles have been very independent, meaning I am responsible for getting it right and ensuring we do things correctly, yet there is such a good support network around you to help. Line managers do their best to challenge and stretch you in order to help you learn and grow.

The induction for my programme was great, we all went to a business centre for a week and had an in-depth learning week, by the end of which you knew so much! There are many training and support opportunities but they are unfortunately not often well organised or illustrated. Similarly we are assigned mentors but this is as far as the support goes unless you really push for it. However day to day role structure and organisation is great (this is dependent on your line manager though!).

The university who host our course specialise in distance learning, meaning we get emails as though we are regular students and can contact our lecturers at any time. However the feedback and developmental support we have found to be weaker.

On the whole there is a lot of support available should you want or need it. Day-to-day the team are always willing to lend a hand where possible and answer any questions (this does vary by business unit). From my interactions with HR they are always willing to listen and help where and when they can. The academy team are often good at reacting to problems when they arise and picking up issues when flagged but don't always appear to act in a preventative manner.

For an apprentice and considering the amount of money they invest in us, our pay is very reasonable. However to say it well meets costs would not be entirely true. Living near London the cost of living is significantly higher (more so than the difference in pay between sites). I am fortunate enough to be living at home and therefore can otherwise cover my costs but if I were in a position where I needed to move out I would be stuck!

We have an onsite gym offering many classes throughout the day, however due to the location of the office there is little 'out-of-office' life unless you are willing to travel to or live near Croydon and Clapham Junction. Each business unit does different things for events, such as some watch a group movie in our Auditorium for valentines day. We are entitled to two additional days off a year for volunteering purposes and we are encouraged to take these, with the company sometimes sending round opportunities we can get involved in.

Yes

It was by far the best decision I ever made. The opportunities it has given me, the experiences I have been fortunate enough to have and the skills I have been able to learn and/or develop will stay with me for a long time! The company really value the individual and policies such as flexible working make it such a great place to work which can suit pretty much everyone!

What employees say about the culture etc. really is true! Whilst the application process may seem daunting and scary it in itself is a great opportunity. No question is a silly question. Make the most of every stage and use your nerves to motivate yourself, particularly at the assessment centre! The reality is Nestle want to know about who you truly are as a person not who you can pretend to be to ensure you are a match for them as much as they are a match for you.