Formulation scientist Review

by Unilever

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

5.6/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

running tests and then collating the data from analytical machines to then run through data software's to get quantitative data to then bring together into a presentation

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

I have developed the independent worker skill as I have learnt how to take control of my own workflow as well as learning how to use different programmes which will help me with analytical work

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I enjoy the ability to learn new things and work with new people however each year the first 3 months are spent trying to learn new people and new ingredients and it can be overwhelming and feel like you're doing no work while you wait for training

7/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

While the work side of this apprenticeship is well structured, the university timing and structuring is very poor giving student no time for breaks or for rest leaving no suitable time to take time off or recover from exams with new content being released the same day as the exam

4/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

Support varies from manager to manager and it can be pot luck as to whether you'll get a manager that understand and supports your studies or one that makes you feel bad for not being a full time worker.

4/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

The university offers little to no useful help. It offers students in year 1 a service to have someone proof read your essays but offers no real essay coursework until at least second year and when they offered a maths lesson in preparation for the maths in a new course had someone who didn't understand the chemical symbols, units or language and we spent most of the class teaching her rather than learning.

3/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

There is very little correlation between the learning in our training provider and the content of my work. While some people on the course I know touch on a few things in their job, the role within Unilever holds no crossover with the content studied and would be better suited to a proper chemistry degree.

2/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

There are plenty of activities both within the lunch break and sports etc after work

9/10

9a. Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

If not in an apprenticeship it is a nice place to work with lots of ability to move to a slightly new area to find what really suits you and your working style

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?

make sure you throw your personality into the interview and your job, even if it doesn't suit the first rotation you will find the people that suit you and make friends.