Manufacturing Apprenticeship Review

On a day to day basis, the role involves manual inspection, automated inspection, hand packing and automated packing of vials. My team ensure medicines are of high quality by inspecting for defects, particles and rejects. Once confirmed that the products meet the set high quality standards, these are sent off site.

With this apprenticeship I've had the opportunity to taker part in extra curriculum like beekeeping which learning to look after an aviery is a completely new skill; I've been able to take part in webinars doing presentations which has derveloped my confidence in public speaking, one audience was 2,000 students!

I thoroughly enjoy the programme. Having worked in various full-time roles before starting this programme I can fully appreciate the opportunities and experiences it offers. The manufacturing apprenticeship means we study towards and engineering qualification so this is challenging, the team I started with are a great laugh which make the job enjoyable, and finally the support and encouragement I receive from different people across the business demonstrates how GSKs culture is integrated within its people.

Overall I would say very well. The apprentice lead ensures that we follow a structure throughout the 3 years. I am in the one of the first years to change college with the engineering BTEC however, and this came with its challenges, for some reason they decided to condense our 2-year BTEC into 1 year - a couple of months after starting - so this has been quite a challenge.

I have received 100% support from my peers. No matter what I ask they always seem to go above and beyond within a very quick time. For instance, I asked for some help with understanding what milling and lathe machines were for one of my college assignments, and my colleague gave me a contact number of a local company who ended up giving me a tour of their workshop so that I could see first hand what these machines were.

They are incredibly good, because if I feel at all that I need to dedicate more time to my studies, all I have to do is ask. They emphasise that I am an extra pair of hands so that they do not become reliant on me, which means that I am able to do either work, or studying towards my qualifications.

It has certainly expanded my knowledge of industry, which in turn has contributed towards helping me have a better understanding of the workplace. For instance, in one of our design modules we learnt about FMEA, then this week I actually took part in a teams meeting about FMEA and I was actually able to contribute towards the meeting thanks having already learnt about it.

Usually there are loads including a whole week offsite doing teambuilding activities, resilient training and DofE - this is for apprentices. As for employees we can volunteer one day a week in what's called Orange day so we get paid to contribute towards our community. Since there was covid our year has missed out on most of these opportunities but they have instead done virtual events such as an escape room and resilient training from an external provider.

Yes

I feel that GSK value their staff, has the right business focus and is always looking to improve. There are so many benefits and little things they do that make me smile, for instance free coffee vending machines onsite, christmas chocolates, this easter we even got sent a voucher through the post for a free meal in the canteen along with chocolates they ordered from a local business. It's the little things.

Be yourself, by which I mean accept that nerves are there to give you adrenaline and keep you focused; believe in yourself and your abilities, I applied for this apprenticeship with very little grades however I demonstrated that I am able and willing to step up to the challenges of studying towards a HNC in engineering; and do your research, the core values of business most improtantly.