Supply Chain Apprentice Review

My role at Solenis is to support my peers in their day to day roles of material management. This means I am responsible for deciding which customers receive material out of production cycles and managing the stock efficiently to prevent us running out and customers not being able to have the stock they need. I also have to communicate effectively with the external transport provider to ensure deliveries are on time and the customer receives correct documentation.

Everything I have learnt since joining Solenis is completely brand new to me, I had no experience in the industry before joining this company and I have learnt, how to use SAP, how to manage stock and fairly distribute between customers. I have developed customer relationships through my role in customer services. I have also done some internal courses, such as the fire extinguisher course, earned my Fork lift licences and much more.

I really enjoy my apprenticeship because of the different opportunities that are out there for us to take if we want them, I enjoy the variety in the job I do, how no day will be the same, there is always a new task or challenge for us to take on.

The programe is very well structured, we have a dedicated memeber of staff who leads the programme and ensures every apprentice has their own needs catered for. The leader of the programme supports apprentices by ensuring coursework is up to date, having regular meetings with each individual, having regular meetings with the course providers, also having regular networking days for all apprentices and interns to get together and discuss how things are going and gaining continuous feedback to try and better the programme.

I receive as much support as I need from either my manager, my mentor or the Apprentice programme leader. Everyone is very helpful and welcoming when you either, join a new department or just need some general support in your current department, this can be support on a personal, educational or business level, everyone tries to support you as much as possible.

Our training provider, Kirklees College, do provide us with the support we need. They have dedicated members of staff to help you with any struggles you may be having either at college or at home and they try to support this in any way they can. In terms of the qualification, the tutors do try their best to support you to an extent in which they bring the best out in you and help you develop your skills but they don't carry you through your qualification, the balance is perfect.

My qualification is very well linked with my day to day job role, so the qualification helps me understand the roles and responsibilities in Supply Chain. My course tutor and manager have regular meetings to determine whether what I am doing at work is relevant to the my coursework as Solenis believe that an apprentices priority is their qualification.

There are many opportunities to get involved in, such as regular networking events once a month, the Continuous improvement team, the STEM ambassadors programme, events held at manufacturing week on site, careers events. All these are supported by employees in the company, apprentices are always encouraged and invited to get involved with these things.

Yes

I would always recomend Solenis to a friend, as I previously have done, because the company is a fantastic place to work, besides the benefits you receive working for the company, it is generally a great place to work, with fantastic people who will always go out of their way to help you, supportive management teams and a ladder to climb if you have the ambition.

When applying for Solenis, I would always say, be yourself, be confident and be friendly, everyone on this site would say the same. Confidence is key to shining in the assessment centres, you have to stand out in the best ways, but also being yourself is important, Solenis respects every candidate that walks through the door, getting into the assessment centre shows you are a good candidate so show your best self.