Manufacturing Graduate Review

My role is manufacturing based. I work within food manufacturing for Nestle. This will include ensuring that the product made by the factory is made in the most efficient way, without compromising on safety or quality of product. This is a fast paced environment which is ever changing, which I enjoy.

The number of skills I have learnt and developed, it is difficult to count. Communication is key to work alongside others in the factory to contribute to a common goal. But also deciding on the level of communication depending on who you are speaking to is important. Time management, listening, problem solving, resilience, leadership, management are all skills I have developed in my time.

I enjoy my programme. The graduate programme with Nestle offers the opportunity to network alongside other graduates within your cohort, such as supply, HR, marketing, sales etc. This gives you a good head start in your network at a world leading business and helps your confidence. It is a good scheme to fast track into management too.

The programme is 2 years, which will include two different placements for a year at two different locations. This is structured through the champ and offers the opportunity to move around the business, looking at different divisions and manufacturing. There are also weeks allocated to graduate based tasks and university work.

My boss, employer and grad champ are all supportive. My progression and next steps are reviewed frequently and I am often provided with potential job openings. The support is always there from my line manager if required which was utilised much more at the beginning than what it is now.

Less support than my employer, this is because the contact is less frequent and not in person. It would help if we could have sessions at the university to allow a better rapport. We also could do with the time allocated to enable us to be given the time to complete the expected work.

The qualification I am put on is in leadership and management which is the kind of role I want to go into post scheme. This enables me to understand the ins and outs of the tools I should be using before I go into the role full time which is beneficial.

We are working on a network, but there aren’t many social activities unfortunately. Ones have been set up for the whole Nestle academy, but these have only been attended by around 15 people each time. Other than that, in the factory we rarely have the time to plan social activities.

Yes

Nestle are an amazing world leading business who are great with young talent, offering the correct scheme but also talent planning. I am taken seriously from the start but I am also given the time that I require to carry out the work I need to do externally such as uni or graduate work.

Be yourself! Enjoy the process. Do your research on the business. Understand your own core values, and why and how they relate to Nestle. Look at the job description and understand which ones you currently possess and what examples you have to show this. It is a great company to work for.