R&D apprentice Review
at Unilever
Degree Apprenticeship
Engineering
Sharnbrook
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
4.1 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.6/5
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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
Being in research and development mean that every day is hugely varied, however a typical day will include connecting with suppliers, creating ice cream samples, organise tasting sessions and creating, updating or reviewing specifications of current and new products. Other responsibilities will include connecting with other functions such as marketing and supply chain, to ensure projects run smoothly across every function.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I thoroughly enjoyed my apprenticeship programme. Is there anything better then working with ice cream! The programme offers opportunities to work on really interesting projects, including exciting innovation projects, where you can see your hard work end up on store shelves! It also offered a great environment to learn and apply skills into projects immediately. There is also a great apprenticeship community and you can connect and build relationships with other apprentices!
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
Throughout my apprent6schip, i have learnt a variety of new skills, both technical and professional skills. Examples of technical skills developed have been how to manufacture ice cream, how to organise tasting sessions and also how to effectively conduct trials and lab development. Professional skills that have been developed include presentation skills and stakeholder management. The apprenticeship creates a environment where you are trusted and given responsibility to learn and develop whilst also having the support network so you can get advice and learn from others to effectively develop skills.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
My programme is very well organised and structured. The programme involves block release to university so there is a few weeks over the year purely dedicated to uni study and then you have one dedicated day a week to learn remotley, which ensures you stay on top of learning. From the work side, the scheme involves 4 different placements within Ice cream R&D. This is fantastic, as it ensures you experience different teams and different projects so you can work out what truly interests you before starting a permanent role. It also ensures a wide range of learning which you can apply to new teams!
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
Unilever creates a environment where there is plenty of support. When you start the scheme, you are buddies up with an older apprentice who is there to support on any 'silly' questions. There is also plenty of of wider apprentice events where you can meet other apprentices. Unilever colworth is also very used to having apprentices so teams are aware of potential struggles of being new to work and the industry so you are always supported on projects, whilst also being trusted with responsibility so you can develop and learn.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Nottingham Trent university have a great online system which supports remote learning and all resources uploaded are available throughout the whole duration of the programme so you can always refer back to them. You are also assigned a university mentor who is available to support and answer any questions and you have a regular progress review with them and your line manager, which i found very useful.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
I actually found the opposite, that my role helped me perform better at university. There were modules which had a direct link to what i had been working on and this meant i could grasp the concept quicker or understand exactly how that process or concept is used in the food industry.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Unilever colworth has itsof extra curricular activities and is a great way to relax from work and meet new people and create new relationships. Colworth is a fantastic site with lots of green spaces and a sports club attached to this, this means three is plenty of sports clubs such as football, tennis and cricket! There is even a handy extra curricular booklet which is published yearly so that everyone knows what activities there are available.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Unilever is a great place to start a career. Its a huge company with lots of different and interesting operations and projects. There is a great combination of being able to learn from true experts of the industry whilst also being given the space to develop personally and professionally. You can also work on so many different well recognised brands!
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?
My advice would to make sure you are your authentic self. This will make the process easier as your are not pretending to be something you are not. I would also make sure your research Unilever, understand Unilever different brands and brand values as well as understanding Unilever sustainability values! And finally, ask questions, the recruitment process is also a chance for you to find out about Unilever and weather its a place you would like to work and commit to.
