Refreshment R&D Apprentice Review

My current role at Unilever is working with R&D for Ice-cream on the Magnum brand. This involves working with suppliers and the global team to help to create new products and improve existing. My current tasks have involved approving different chocolates and therefore have been doing a lot of lab analysis and pilot plant trials. As part of my apprenticeship we will work on rotation in 4 different areas within R&D at Unilever. My placements will involve working in: Ice-Cream, Beverages and Discover. This will then give me a full overall view of the R&D process.

The qualification that I am studying towards is a BSc (Hons) in Food Science and Technology and therefore when attending University I have learnt a lot about the Food Industry and how this relates to my role. Unilever are very keen to ensure that your studies are linked with your job role and therefore help to ensure that the theory I learn at University I can then put in to practice whilst I am at work. This is really useful way to help develop my understanding and ensure that I can take in the theory and the practical side.

I really enjoy my programme because every day is different and I am constantly learning new skills. The culture at work is extremely friendly and everyone is willing to help. The level of responsibility that Unilever gives apprentices really helps you to know that your job role is important and means that every day is busy and varied. There are also additional roles that apprentices can take on within the apprentice community to help give you more responsibility and develop skills are leading a team.

I do feel extremely valued by Unilever as I am given a large amount of responsibility and included on lots of projects. They treat apprentices as much part of the team as any other member of the team which really helps your development as you are able to understand other people's roles too.

The programme is very organised as we are given 20% of our working hours to focus on studying, which is flexible on how you take your 20%. Therefore, from your first day you are aware of the balance you should have between work and studying. We know when we will rotating in to our next role when we first start and therefore nearer the time can begin discussions on where we will be rotating to next. We are aware who is able to support us if we have any issues with the apprenticeship or studies and therefore always know the best person to contact depending on the situation.

The training provider are used to offering the course as an apprenticeship and therefore are very good at teaching it from an industry point of view. As we only attend university 4 weeks a year, the contact isn't that much - but, we are set a timetable of work to complete inbetween each block so you can keep track of your progress and quickly recognise if you are falling behind. We are able to contact our lecturers with any queries inbetween the blocks, sometimes responces can be quite slow - but, they do always answer your queries.

We receive a lot of support from our employer as we are provided with a line manager, mentor and buddy. This helps to give you differnet people to go if you require advise so you are always able to access support if you require it. Unilever are very passionate about apprenticeships and therefore if you do have any issues with programme they are keen to hear them and help to resolve them as quickly as possible.

The salary package is extremely good for an apprenticeship. It allows me to be able to live on my own, run a car and still save plently of money to buy a house. Pay rises are also offered annually as you continue through the programme.

There are a lot of opportunities outside of work to get involved in. The apprentices have a monthly social which is a useful way to make more friends and with Unilever most weekends there is some sort of social event happening. The apprentices also have a Fundraising Team for Charity in which we will organise events outside of work to help fundraise for our chosen charity.

Yes

I think that is an extremely good apprenticeship, which offers a lot of opportunties and a fantastic way to step in to industry. You are able to learn so much in a short space of time and develop every day, which means that no day at work is boring and you constantly feel that you are able to contribute to your team.

If you are applying to Unilever then it is really important to just be yourself. In the interview process they are not looking for someone who already has all the industry knowledge or who has a lot of interview experience. But, instead they are looking for someone who shows a genuine passion, eager to learn and motivated to achieve well in both their studies and at work. You also need to be organised to be able to ensure that you can manage your degree and work load at the same.