Multi skilled engineering apprentice Review

by Unilever

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

7.5/10

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

My role as an apprentice at Unilever entails shadowing engineers, and part taking in other jobs to improve our knowledge, and better our understanding of the processes used to maintain the production line. We are also involved in the planning of jobs, and we are given quite a bit responsibility, when it comes to doing our own jobs.

8/10

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

My skills of using tools has improved massively, and I have also improved my interpersonal skills, and my socialising has improved too. I have also been able to develop my communication skills, by widening my engineering vocabulary. This allows me to communicate in a more professional way with the engineers.

9/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

Quite a high extent. I thoroughly enjoy mechanical work, and also really enjoy the thought that this course could provide me with a lifetime of knowledge within engineering. This course also gives the incentive that it opens so many doors as to what I may want to do in the future.

7/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

My programme is very well structured in some aspects, however in quite a lot of aspects I would appreciate more structure. For example, a site based mentor, who could come in and tell us exactly what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and also help us get through the course.

6/10

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

Unilever have been very supportive to me over the last year and a half. We have been having progress reviews, and we have also been sort of mentored by the engineers whenever they can, and they have been helping us out when it comes to finding jobs that we can do.

7/10

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

My training provider has been quite supportive when it came to working towards my qualifications. They never let me lose sight of my goal, and they always stayed on my back ensuring that I get the work done. This helped as I felt pressure to complete the work, instead of it being relaxed.

8/10

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

There are quite a few skills that I learnt at college that I will be able to take with me into my work life. Such as programming PLCs, and doing bench work etc. The college gave me the basic foundations of understanding, that I can later improve as my career progresses.

8/10

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.)

We have been to two extra curricular activities so far, we attended the outward bounds course in our first year, and earlier this year we also attended the Apprentice connect event in Leatherhead. These are good because it allows you to get to know your colleagues from across the country

7/10

9a. Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

The Unilever apprenticeship programme is very good for many reasons. The first being the amount of qualifications you receive from completing the course. This is god because you will be very employable when it comes to the end of the course. Also, the wages are very competitive, if not one of the best in the region.

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

Go in to work with an open mindset, ensure that you are open to new ideas, and ensure that you listen, and take in everything you are told in the factory. The engineers are all very helpful, and will all go out of their way to help you in your course.