Packaging Apprentice Review

On a day to day basis, I will participate in many project development meetings with my team members as well as the wider organisation and regularly with people external to the organisation i.e. contract manufacturers. I will also complete work in the labs, testing components and writing up experiments.

I have completed a few internal training courses provided by AZ including personal development courses, presentation training courses and ambassador training courses with STEM and SIP. I am also on the route to achieving my degree in packaging design and technology at university.

The company culture is unbeaten due to the values of the company itself. Everyone is willing to help, kind and friendly. My team are inviting and encouraging, pushing me to try new challenges and to get involved with new work packages. I really enjoy working for AZ.

I have a 80/20 split, working 4 days a week with AZ and then having the 5th day as a study day for University. Every 2 months, I travel to Sheffield for 3 days to receive face to face lectures. I have a meeting once a week with my mentor to support University and work.

My manager and mentor both have a 121 with me every week to catch up and discuss work and University. My team have a very positive attitude to support me with any work packages. AZ really advertise support systems for mental health, stress etc which isn't hard to access on the intranet or through the phone.

I have a quarterly review with my work based learning coach and AZ mentor to discuss my progress, any worries and targets for the quarter. My tutors are easy to communicate with and look to align the way they teach to what suits the students best. I really enjoy university and like the balance been that and work at AZ.

My team at AZ do their best to align any work that I am doing at university to a work package. This way it helps me apply theory to practical. I am able to share what I have been learning at University in the team meetings and have found that especially in my second year some of the content I am learning at University has been applicable to helping my team.

There is an Apprentice Comity which organises social events inside and outside of work, including volunteering activities and social activities. There are many areas on campus for apprentices to get together on site for their lunch or catch up meetings as well.

Yes

AZ has really helped grow my confidence both inside and outside of the workplace. The transition from A levels/ college to the workplace can be difficult but AZ made this as seamless and comfortable as possible. The campus is nice to be on, lots of green space, seating areas, places to get lunch from etc and the people on campus are nice to speak to and genuinely want to support you to achieve.

- Do background research on the company before the assessment day/ interview. - Get involved with all the onboarding social activities to be able to network with other apprentices. - Don't be shy in getting things wrong, AZ are really open to failure and growing from it as that's what makes you more knowledgeable.