Research & Development Review

I help develop and make new and improved formulations of ice tea. I make prototypes in the lab to be sent of for consumer testing. I have been involved in writing specifications for new products and I have gained experience at factory trials.

I have learnt how to make ice tea and the importance of each step in the process. I have passed the level 2 food hygiene and manual handling training. My IT skills have improved (use of excel of teams on a daily basis). It has helped me mature and I have gained experience of how to work in a professional environment.

I enjoy working with my team and the people in my office are very friendly. However my job was rather repetitive at the start, I was just making lots of formulations of ice tea for people but I wasn't understanding the projects or why I was making them. Its a very professional environment in the office, which i don't like so much. When working in the labs it s a very relaxed environment and you can have a laugh

When I first started the program was not well organised. My manager was away for the first month and my work buddy wasn't really around either. I felt like i had been abandoned with a laptop and know one knew what i was meant to be doing. Know one took responsibility of me until a couple of weeks in and then they started to teach me basic lab work. However after a couple of months a started to understand what i was supposed to be doing and had more structured days.

In my first 4 months i only had a couple of 1-2-1 meetings with my line manager and they never really saw or spoke to me. However after a complaint was made my line manager now has weekly meetings with me and is there to help and support me. The apprentice lead is very supportive and always happy to offer help and support.

The staff at Nottingham Trent uni and always happy to help and are quick at replying to emails. Your tutor phones you a few times a year to make sure you are getting on okay and they visit you at work once a year. However the lectured don't really care if you don't do or hand in work.

I don't feel like what we learn at Nottingham Trent uni helps me at all in my role. So far in the first year, it has been a recap of biology and chemistry Alevel. The produce that we have made in the labs at uni have all been very straight forward and we use shop bought ingredients. ( e.g ready made mash for fish cakes and ready made pastry for meat pies)

Due to not knowing anyone when when i relocated to bedford, i mainly socialise with work colleagues outside of work. We organise night out in bedford and house parties most weekends. There is a strong apprentice community and other social events like escape room are organised.

Yes

They really look after their employees and its a professional but friendly environment to work in. Its a good name to have on your CV for the future. I have gained valuable experience and they pay well compared to other apprenticeships!

make sure you be yourself and be confident. At the interview everyone is really supportive of you and wants you to do well.