Lab Scientist Review
at Unilever
Degree Apprenticeship
Science
Port Sunlight
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.4 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3/5
-
Overview of Role
3/5
-
Skills Development
2.8/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
-develop recipes to meet project brief
-comply with safety regulations
-define benefits of products in accordance to consumer needs
-work closely with other functions e.g. processing and packaging
-innovation in sustainability and cost effectiveness
-consider markets at both regional and global scale
-outreach events to promote degree apprenticeship to younger students
-comply with safety regulations
-define benefits of products in accordance to consumer needs
-work closely with other functions e.g. processing and packaging
-innovation in sustainability and cost effectiveness
-consider markets at both regional and global scale
-outreach events to promote degree apprenticeship to younger students
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
-work with predominantly kind people who are willing to help and support each step of the way
-work is challenging but thought-provoking
-increased responsibility has enabled me to make independent decisions and be pro active
-developing transferable skills is a great positive
-company focuses on equality, equity and diversity which is incredibly important
-work is challenging but thought-provoking
-increased responsibility has enabled me to make independent decisions and be pro active
-developing transferable skills is a great positive
-company focuses on equality, equity and diversity which is incredibly important
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
-generating data and recognizing its value
- technical partnering
-analytical thinking
-agile delivery
- design for value
- digital tool proficiency
- creativity
- trust and transparency
-decision making
-confidence
-category expertise
-creating, understanding, assessing and corroborating risk assessments
-creating, understanding, assessing and corroborating COSHH assessments
completed training course for starter skills in FMCG industry
- technical partnering
-analytical thinking
-agile delivery
- design for value
- digital tool proficiency
- creativity
- trust and transparency
-decision making
-confidence
-category expertise
-creating, understanding, assessing and corroborating risk assessments
-creating, understanding, assessing and corroborating COSHH assessments
completed training course for starter skills in FMCG industry
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
-organisation could be improved
-from a university standpoint, deadlines aren't explicitly clear and it's difficult to mange your time in the long-term because of this
-from a work standpoint, project briefs could be better specified and my personal tasks more greatly defined
-there was no timetable for key training, that would have been helpful
-from a university standpoint, deadlines aren't explicitly clear and it's difficult to mange your time in the long-term because of this
-from a work standpoint, project briefs could be better specified and my personal tasks more greatly defined
-there was no timetable for key training, that would have been helpful
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
-apprenticeship cohort is very supportive and there is always someone available for a chat
-having people who are going through the same experience or have gone through the experience is the by far the most helpful form of support
-regular catch ups with manager and team, both formal and informal meetings
-having people who are going through the same experience or have gone through the experience is the by far the most helpful form of support
-regular catch ups with manager and team, both formal and informal meetings
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
-university has lots of wellbeing resources e.g. managing stress, time management, looking after both your mental and physical health
-in university reviews, wellbeing is always asked about
-resources are very accessible
-each student has an assigned mentor
-specific weeks are allocated for webinars, some of which include improving wellbeing
-in university reviews, wellbeing is always asked about
-resources are very accessible
-each student has an assigned mentor
-specific weeks are allocated for webinars, some of which include improving wellbeing
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
-transferable skills through my training provider's assignments have helped e.g. business environment, project management, ethical practice etc.
-lab skills assignments help me realize and reinforce what I know and determine how to further improve e.g. record management, data analysis, quality control, company targets etc.
-theoretical chemistry is also applied
-lab skills assignments help me realize and reinforce what I know and determine how to further improve e.g. record management, data analysis, quality control, company targets etc.
-theoretical chemistry is also applied
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
-social events organised by apprenticeship cohort
-university regularly sends out voluntary initiatives e.g.
-company has many societies e.g. choir, football team, running club etc.
-company events include events organised for National Apprenticeship Week where there are networking opportunities with apprentices throughout the UK sites and throughout lots of different branches e.g. engineering, data science, marketing etc.
-university regularly sends out voluntary initiatives e.g.
-company has many societies e.g. choir, football team, running club etc.
-company events include events organised for National Apprenticeship Week where there are networking opportunities with apprentices throughout the UK sites and throughout lots of different branches e.g. engineering, data science, marketing etc.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?
Yes
Why?
-rotating around departments each year gives exposure to many different people (how teams work for example), many different chemistry principles and concepts, many different digital tool systems and many different technologies
-people are very encouraging and always happy to help
-there are so many avenues to venture down once the apprenticeship is complete
-people are very encouraging and always happy to help
-there are so many avenues to venture down once the apprenticeship is complete
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?
-research! know Unilever's code, what is stands for, its goals regarding sustainability, equality, diversity and innovation etc and how it intends to achieve these
-think about how you would fit into to Unilever as a company and how you would help Unilever serve its purpose
-sounds cliche, but be yourself! it truly is the only way to be!
-think about how you would fit into to Unilever as a company and how you would help Unilever serve its purpose
-sounds cliche, but be yourself! it truly is the only way to be!
