Food Manufacturing Aprrentice Review

On a day-to-day basis my jobn role is very varied. As a first year manufacturing apprentice I am heavily involved in loss analysis. This involves investigating into why we have had losses and what we can do to prevent them from reoccuring. We view losses in many different forms. We view monetary losses, time losses and speed losses. To investigate losses means that you work with many different departments to gain further knowledge. These include engeineering, safety and the opperators on line. Another part of my day-to-day role is activity planning. This is a plan that has all the activities of any not-routine activities that the operators will be doing on a daily basis. For example a technical operator may be planned to do some maintenence on a machine. In order to plan this I run two meetings per week with different managers in order to push the factory forward with their TPM goals.

During my apprenticeship I have learnt many new skills. For example before joining the business I had no experience with Excell. They have trained me to a good standard and I can now create graphs, charts and tables using this technology. I have also develloped existing skills. For example I have really develloped my presenation delivery skills. Nestle have enabled m get lots of practice and so now I can do this confidently. I have also been trained in pathogen swabbing which I help out with. Pathogen sawabbing is done so that we compluy with the law.

I am really enjoying the experience of my apprenticeship so far. I did not expect to have as many opportunities within every department of the factory. This enables me to gain a really wide knowlege and a real understanding of how the food manufacturing industry runs. The people within the factory are so willing to help and there is no such thing as a silly question! The company are really understanding with my college requirements and enable me with enough time to complete this to a good standard.

In some ways my apprenticeship is well structured. For example Lincol university are so well organised and the delivery or lessons and work to do whilst is the work place is excellent. I do owever sometimes feel that Nestle need more structure for their apprentices. Although we are welcomed into joining in in many projects and teams it can soemtimes feel that on a day-to-day basis I have to find my own tasks to complete and push colleagues to give me new learning experiences. I feel that Nestle apprentices would benefit from a syllabus type document explaining what we should have learnt and when by. I think this would give us more direction.

My Manager [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] is brilliant at supporting me with anything that I need both personally and business related. However due to her being on shift and me curfrently working days it sometimes can be hard due to not having someone there daily. The other shift managers however are brilliant and are always there to support me when [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] cannot.

My tarining provider, Lincoln university are constantly supporting me both whilst in the wok place and when at studyy weeks on campus. They do this through reviews which take place every twelve weeks. These reviews always have a section in the meeting about if i am enjoying my role, if I am having any problems in my riole and if I am being treate equally and fairly. They also always have a 24h contact that I can call if I have any issues. Their genral attitude to me as a student is very proffesional and compasionate.

Completing my qualification has enabled me to do research and investigative work into areas of the food manufacturing industry that I otherwise may not have had any involvement with. This has enabled me not only to have a broader knowledge of the industry but to also open new doors of potential roles that I can asspire to post apprenticeship. For example, pathogen monitoring.

At Nestle the comunity is extreemly important. Nestle complete many charity events every year as well as giving donations both in monetary and product form. I have also been involved in what we call 'campus teams' this is where small groups of current apprentices vissit schools and colleges to promote nestle apprenticeships and give them a taste of what apprenticeships within the business are really like.

Yes

I would reccoment Nestle to a friend because it is such a large global, forward thinking business. They have huge amounts of opportunities for the right people and support their employees in their roles. As I entered this apprenticeship straght from doing my A-levells I had very little knowledge into the industry. Nestle reallyl helped me to gin a true understanding.

I would advise others to really push themselfs whilst they have the opportunity of working for such an iconic brand. At first it can be scary entering such a huge business. But rather than thinking of it as you're a small fish in a ginormous tank. Think of it as many doors that you have not yet opened.