Material Controller Review

Studying a digital & technological solutions degree, specialising in Business Analysis. However currently I am working in the Material Control team within Logistics. My role consists of getting parts from across the world to the Congleton factory. This is vital that these parts are received as without them production will stop. We have to deal with suppliers on a daily basis and react to supply issues and global situations!

In my new role I have learnt how to break bad news to people who really want to hear good news!! - Having parts arriving from Asia that are stuck on a ship and are delayed for weeks, affects the supply chain throughout the organisation. Therefore I have to regularly speak to stakeholders in the business to keep them up to date with the latest challenges and solutions we are applying.

I love my apprenticeship, I have managed to do so much in such a short space of time! I am almost at the end of my apprenticeship and I have accomplished winning Apprentice of the year, travelled to Germany and become an ambassador for many different causes and organisations. The people at Siemens Congleton are brilliant, and fully embrace the family culture, they have also made me feel incredibly welcome.

Support is great from colleagues, they are more then happy to help with tasks. However I have found that I create my own tasks to fill my day and ask others if they need support with activities. I see this less in my new role, where I work as part of the team and action the daily tasks the same as everybody else. I organised my own workplace Mentor to support me, and she is brilliant.

I organised my own workplace mentor to support me in my apprenticeship. My old manager would have monthly one to ones with me and the head of the department would have quaterely meetings with me. However my new role is very sporadic in regards to 1-2-1s, but this is understandable due to the volume of challenges in supply chain. Any problems I have faced I have had excellent support from my managers, senior management and the apprentice support community!

The university has organised mentors to have reviews with us regularly to ensure we are happy and content. I haven't fully utilised this, as any problems I had have now naturally ironed out at the start of my studying. I understand that this would be beneficial to new apprentices joining the scheme.

I have learnt a lot through my studying and have implemented it in the workplace. During my degree I have had to regularly reflect on the topics I have learnt and how these can be used in the workplace. I regularly put into practice the soft and hard skills I have gathered from Uni into my role. Though I am disappointed that I am almost at the end of my apprenticeship and the role I have been moved into does not fully endorse my degree I have studied for. However in future I hope to use my degree I have worked so hard to gain.

Yes, pre-covid we had Monday night sports activities: football, netball, rounders and dodge ball!! This saw different employees from across the vast range of departments networking and having fun. We also have social club where employees can go on day trips for a small fee. There are also the Christmas Parties, and other social events that crop up throughout the year. However through Covid the Sports & Social team have tried to organise virtual events such as Virtual Quizzes and pubs.

Yes

Siemens offers many different opportunities if you really want it! If you work hard you get the most out of it! Before I worked at Siemens, I worked in a role where I really wasn't happy, they never wanted to upskill me or help me with my personal development. However Siemens is always keen to upskill employees further and want you to achieve great things!

Get some work experience and experience Siemens for yourself, I did this and I deffo found the company I wanted to stick with. Research the company and learn about the wide range of products we make across the world, not only will this support your application but its so interesting to learn about Siemens as an organisation, as Siemens has products in all industries!!