Packaging Technology Apprentice Review

As a packaging technologist apprentice, we spend time on our course moving around the different areas of the packaging team in six month stints. When I first started I was working in the lab and on design and several other areas. Now as a final year apprentice I am working with other packaging technologists on brands. It involves developing products all the way from the design stage, to the products being launched into market. I also spend time helping the sustainability team and the new technology team, developing innovations for our brands to use. In addition I work as one of the safety officers of our team, ensuring that all equipment and documentation is up to our safety standards.

I have learnt many skills during my four years at Unilever. I have learnt about lab testing and the use of equipment to ensure our products are satisfactory for consumers, and have become fluent at using the machines, as well as training others on them. I have learnt how to CAD and render during my time on the design team, as well as a lot of skills pertaining to the adobe cloud apps. During my time working full time on the new technology team, I learnt how to carry out mould component approvals. For this, I also learnt how to program a coordinate measuring machine, and write programmes for the dimensional testing of our packs.

I enjoy my programme a lot. During COVID, it did get hard, as working from home it did take away a bit of the love for my job. Though still working from home mostly, the opportunity to now go back into the office and labs and see my colleagues has been refreshing. When I first started I loved my job, working in the lab and in design were some of my favourite placements, and I am grateful that I now get to spend some time back in those areas, whilst also working on new and exciting projects within our team.

My apprenticeship programme was well organised. My placement rotations were organised in advance to me even joining the company, and were sent to me so I could see beforehand. I have always had plenty to do and I have gotten to experience a variety of different projects, some being one of a kind. During COVID, there was an issue with one of my placements, as I couldn't go onsite to complete it, but the team and managers were great in finding me something to do, and I spent time on a rotation that other apprentices previously would have not gotten to. From a university side, though everything has gone well, sometimes it was difficult to get replies to emails and updates from our course leader as to what to expect. It did feel everything was left to last minute, or ignored from a university standpoint, but I cannot fault Unilever for this as they were always there to support and help gain responses from the university.

I receive full support from my employer. They are highly understanding and empathetic, always prepared to go the extra mile to help you out, whether that is a work based problem or a personal one. Our team has always had a really strong connection, and all of the people are great support systems, not just the managers and directors, but all of the work level ones too. Unilever itself offers great support for a variety of different things. You do not have to look far to find support for anything; mental health, physical wellbeing, illness, bereavement . They are a company who puts employee wellbeing first and will find anyway to support them.

As mentioned in a previous answer, the university were a bit harder to gain support from. As a part time cohort, it did feel like we were left until last or often forgotten about. This was a shared feeling amongst our cohort. The lectures themselves were great, and were generally there to support and help over our course, but the management team for our course was a lot less supportive.

My qualification definitely helps from a more technological standpoint. So, during my time in the new technology team, I found myself using several things I have learnt from university to assist on projects. From a brand side, and general packaging side it has been less relevant, but definitely still worth doing. Our course was selected at the time as it was the closest relevance to our job at the time for course available in the UK. Newer apprentices have since been doing a degree that focuses in packaging. Unilever however have paid for me and other apprentices who did not get to do the packaging degree to do a packaging diploma, which I am currently studying for now.

Unilever has plenty of extracurricular events. They have a netball team, a onsite gym, a couch to 5k programme. There is plenty to get involved in. There's several yammer groups that we can share photos in and chat in that provides a good social connection. We are also able to carry out our on events within smaller teams. For example our hair team often goes out together for team building, or to celebrate a big achievement of someone in the team.

Yes

For everything that I have mentioned so far. The wellbeing and health support, the social aspect, the training. Unilever are also massive on safety, so there is never something that makes you feel like you are in danger or unsafe whilst working on site. The people are amazing, and everyone just wants to help boost everyone else. It is a refreshing and positive environment to work in.

Make sure you've done your research and you know a bit about Unilever (and if you're coming into packaging make sure you know what you're favourite Unilever packaging is - it's one of their favourite interview questions). Other than that, just be yourself and don't stress too much! I know it's easy to say, but honestly everyone here just wants to help you excel and do the best you can.