Channel Marketing Apprentice Review

My role is project management based. I was responsible for creating a training platform for my team to use and remain responsible for the maintenance of the platform. I create the trainings, monitor the teams performance and make improvements where needed. Another big part of my role is working with our distributors to get ice cream point of sale out to customers around the country. I also work with our field team to understand the needs of each customer. I also mange an internal auditing process called Perfect Store where we audit stores and report the data back to the team.

The main skill I have learnt is project management. I hadn't really had much experience in this before but I have learnt so much by being responsible for a project and shadowing others to understand the most effective methods. I have also developed my confidence during my role as I am constantly meeting new people and put in different situations. I have learnt how to adapt to these situations and act professionally.

I really enjoy my programme but this is completely down to the team I am in. My team is really fast paced and exciting and it involves a lot of different functions so it is great to learn from and to gain experience in all kinds of areas. I really enjoy my role and the projects that I work on.

Personally, I don't think my programme is as structured as it should be. As soon as we are placed in our teams we don't hear anything from the apprentice team. I like the fact that we have quarterly meetings with a contact at our employer (third party). However, I think the structure is bad when it comes to the end of the apprenticeships. We aren't given any guidance on next steps or CV skills.

Our third party employers are really supportive and give us any advice that we need. We have a point of contact who we meet with regularly and we can email at any time. I think it works really well. Also, my host employer (manager) gives me a lot of support too, whenever needed.

I don't think the support from the training provider is always as strong. The webinars are always really helpful but some of the information we are given to work on independently is not at all detailed enough. We do have a point of contact but they are not as responsive as our employer.

Personally, I don't think the qualification helps me at all with my role. I already have a level 3 business studies qualification so I am just learning the same stuff. Most of the modules are too broad and top level to actually be able to support us in our roles. The project management module is really helpful though. I think there should be less modules, that are more in depth as I think this would be more beneficial to the role.

Some of the apprentices often set up some social activities for all of the other apprentices. But we don't really have any extra curricular activities that are set up or funded by the employer. Within our teams, there is usually sports clubs and events in the summer that you can get involved in.

Yes

I think Unilever are a good company to work for and all of the teams are really supportive. Everyone is really invested in helping us. However, I think the programme could be structured better by giving some potential options at the end of the scheme and helping people to stay on. I don't think the salary at Unilever is as high as other companies employing apprentices.

Do some research on Unilever and get to know the business values and brands. Use this to show you have the passion they are looking for. Be yourself at the assessment days, but push yourself to speak up, don't sit there quietly the whole time. Try to stay calm as everyone is in the same situation.