Research and Development technician Review

Product developing, testing new formulations, new ingredients and developing new products to be launched, This requires carrying out trials at lab scale and at pilot plant scale before then attending factory trials. Also involved in 5s projects and product improvement tasks. Attending meetings and communicating with the different functions, internal and external.

I have learnt a large range of skills at the apprenticeship. Time management, organisation, communication, people management as well as more tangible skills such as improvement to excell, powerpoint, word and outlook, training on specific pieces of equipment needed for my role and also developed my independence by being allowed to carry out tasks alone or with a slight helping hand.

Very much so, i really look forward to coming to work each day. the site i work on is a great community with many extra curricular activities such as football and rugby and netball. The rotation aspect of the scheme allows you to experience a wide range of roles which helps keep things fresh.

The programme is very well organised, there is a clear path outlined to you when you begin and it is made clear how things will work out over the next 5 years unless you have a request to make changes to this which they are very accommodating to. There is a 2 year role to begin with followed by rotations into 3, 1 year long roles.

A lot of support, whether this be through line managers, mentors, buddies or just general colleagues, everyone is always very forthcoming with support with both work and university. From day one you are assigned a buddy and a mentor and these stay consistent throughout the rotations so you always have someone to turn too.

A lot, nottingham trent university and the lecturers i have had over the course have all been super easy to contact when im not at university and always very quick to reply over email or even put in a short call with to discuss any issues you may have in more depth.

To a certain extent it does as it gives you background knowledge on the topics you will be working on at work so you go into meetings with a base understanding that then allows you to more easily understand the more industry specific knowledge you will need in the work place.

There are loads of extra curricular activities on my site, as we are located in the country side we have access to a large field where you can play football, rugby, tennis, netball, squash, and a running club just to name a few. there is also a large community of younger people from the apprenticeship/graduate/placement student schemes that are always keen to do things!

Yes

Unilever has been very supportive in helping me get everything i can out of the apprenticeship, they always allow me to put university first if i require it and being a global company there are so many opportunities to develop and people to learn from throughout the 5 years you are here.

Dont panic or stress, at the start it can seem very daunting and like you are out of your depth but people recognise that you are straight from school and are not like a normal university student so dont put pressure on you but they do this is in a way that isn't patronising and if you feel ready for more responsibility they are happy to give you this and support you with it.