Process Safety Review

I am part of the Process Safety team within Chemical Research and Development at Sandwich. My role involves assessing the thermal stability of pure compounds and reactions mixtures to understand their physical properties. Every day in my role is different as some days I may be working with colleagues globally, assessing the explosive properties of different compounds, or assessing a processes thermal stability before being transferred to the Pilot Plant onsite or Global supply in Ireland.

My technical communication and writing skills are becoming better due to the exposure that I have been given with regards to presentations and technical reports. My presentation skills have grown since beginning at Pfizer due to the number of presentations I have carried out. I have done a GMP training course, Health and Safety course and a first aid basics course. These courses have allowed me understand how certain aspects of the company work and how to keep myself and others safe whilst working along with knowing what to do in the event of an incident. I have also been on the Outward Bound course in the Lake District, this program allowed me to understand the culture that the company wishes its colleagues to use. It allowed me to become a better team worker along with understanding when I had to speak up and voice my opinions.

My department are very friendly, since starting I was made to feel very welcomed into my job role. A number of departmental and site-wide events are held throughout the year, allowing the department/company to thank us as colleagues for the work we do. The companys culture is very laid back within my department where no questions are bad questions. Its encouraged to want to learn and find out more information about other aspects of the job role/department/company. The company met my expectations well, I am treated as an equal although I am a contracted apprentice. The work I carry out is trusted and not scrutinized because I am a contractor.

I feel valued by my department more than the company as a whole. My departments management team take time to congratulate me on achievements or good bits of work that I have carried out. My supervisor is very supportive and appreciates the work that I carry out. I am allowed to get involved in projects and tasks that will benefit not only the company but myself also.

I would say that my program was very well structured during the first year of my apprenticeship. I was given a full weeks induction, I was told everything that I needed to know when joining. Courses that would benefit me during my apprenticeship were available to me. However after the first year the level of structure decreased . My supervisor however has been very supportive and together we arrange a bi-weekly meeting to discuss workload and delegate tasks that were coming to the team.

My tutors are available through email and telephone, they are available to arrange telephone calls when needed. The student support officer was easily accessible and was very happy to help with any problems. The support systems were available when they were needed, they just had to be asked for.

Cogent weren't particularly helpful throughout my apprenticeship.

As I live at home my salary covers my basic needs and allows me to put money aside each month into my savings account.

I am a STEM ambassador this allows me to take park in STEM events at primary and secondary schools promoting STEM.

Yes

because by having x amount of years experience at a big pharmaceutical company on your CV is a great way to get into the business if that is something you're after. It is also socially a really good place to work as it allows you to build up relationships with people and companies.

Stay calm, ask lots of questions and don't panic if you get a question wrong.