Chemistry (fragrance) degree student Review

My role was to train as a fragrance expert, evaluating fragrance performance in both the hair and laundry categories within the Unilever Port Sunlight site. Day to day the role was to commmunicate with external partners by phone and email to organise smaples to arrive to sight for assessment either for existing or new products. Since finishing my apprenticeship I have taken a role as a fragrance expert in the Unilever hair category, using the skills I developed during my apprenticeship.

I developed my communication and presenting skills throughout my apprenticeship scheme as I was given the opportunity to present my work in site wide drop in sessions. Professionalism is also a key skill that I feel I learnt within my apprenticeship as I was exposed to 1-2-1 meetings with external partners.

I enjoyed my apprenticeship as I was responsibility beyond what I was expecting and this gave myself the opportunity to show what I could do within the professional environment. The opportunity to rotate within the four years as an apprentice extended my experience within more science based roles as well as project organisation to give me a rounded experience.

It was well structured as I only had limited options for my rotation pattern within fragrance. The University eduction part of the degree student scheme was well organised but quite seperated, only having one lecture a day at times which didnt optimise the time that could be spent on the Unilever site.

I received optimal support from my line managers at Unilever throughout my 4 years apprenticeship. We had yearly reviews on the work we were completing and presenting this to format leaders to test our understanding. These sessions were somewhat benefical to develop skills but were at times put apprentices in the cohort under pressure at times of exams/assessments etc.

Comparable support to all other full time degree at the University of Liverpool. The student support office provided leaflets on stress relief, working with others and offers 1-2-1 chats if anything was on students mind. My personal tutor was very supportive especially when choosing final year modules and reviewing exam results.

The degree that was provided by the University of Liverpool gave me good grounding from which to apply the science for my role within Unilever. Especially modules within Sustinability and Environmental aspects of science that I can apply now within Unilever agendas. The scientific education also provided me with a level of kudos when talking to professionals within and outside Unilever.

Unilever provides many different extra-curricular activites such as knitting, book club, golf, 5 a side football, netball, rugby, swimming and badminton. I am an acitve member of the gym on Unilever site, attending HIIT, weight and spin classes. This has allowed me to interact with members of the Unilever community that I wouldnt interact with in my role.

Yes

They pay a good salary, have supportive staff, have good development programmes and allow people to flourish in the work place. They also have a structured framework for promotion and newjob oppotunities, for example there is also the opportunity to 'hot shoe' (step in to another role) across the site.

Make sure you have good competency responses to working with others, improving individual performance, communication, creativity and improvisation. The USLP scheme is essential to know for the interview process as well as the DNA of the company and environmental responsibilities including lobbying for better regulation in terms of a cleaner planet with fragrances being a key aspect of this initiative.