Laboratory Scientist Degree Apprentice Review
at Unilever
Degree Apprenticeship
Science
Port Sunlight
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.8 /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!
3.5/5
-
Overview of Role
4/5
-
Skills Development
3.6/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
4/5
I work in and around the labs. I rotate between different areas of the company each year, I spent one year as a formulation scientist in Laundry Liquids and I have spent 6 months in Hair Care Science and Technology. My previous role involved formulating laundry liquids and carrying out stability tests, whereas my current role involves gathering data.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I thoroughly enjoy my role at Unilever, my colleagues and managers are very supportive in work and towards my uni work which I can find overwhelming. The course is also all year round, the lack of a proper break from uni work is extremely tiring and demoralizing.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I have developed my time management skills, balancing my degree work with my job. I have developed my analytical and problem solving skills within the lab and I have learnt how to adapt well to change.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The organisation of our placement is very good, however my role within my placements just involves taking on required projects. My uni course is structured well but Moodle can be confusing to navigate at times and sometimes lectures do release work on time or meet their deadlines for providing results.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from management and colleagues in work, they are always happy to help out in work and with my uni work.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Lecturers are keen for us to do well and help, however they don't seem to consider our workload involved with our job when setting deadlines.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
A lot of the content is not relevant to my role and a lot of coursework involves trying to force a link to my work projects. However, setting coursework which is designed to be relevant to our job is good. The chemistry degree will also provide good problem solving and analytical skills for a career as a laboratory scientist.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
Yes before the pandemic there were loads of clubs available to join and teams often organize socials, especially during the Christmas period.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Great benefits, such as flexible hours and access to cheaper Unilever products. Unilever is also very safety conscious and management is very supportive.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?
Ensure you can manage your time effectively and have evidence to show that you have been successful in the past.
