Business Administration Apprentice Review
at Unilever
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Business Operations
Churchfield Rd, Reigate RH2 9RH, UK
Review Submitted: May 2022
Overall Rating
4.7 /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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.4/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
I worked in a data team supporting account managers and a field sales team. My role involved taking ownership and responsibility for data & dashboards for large national retailers along with wholesalers and the field sales team. I also became an expert in these areas and acted as the key point of contact for stakeholder queries and resolving any issues.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoyed the masterclasses delivered by the training provider, these were every 6-8 weeks and sometimes I even had the chance to work with apprentices from other organisations. My manager also gave me autonomy to manage my tasks how I wanted, I felt empowered by this and I believe I was more reliable at delivering projects and tasks as a result.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I've improved my time management skills, the ability to prioritise when under deadlines and overall I feel more confident delivering presentations and providing updates on team/departmental calls and answering questions from other stakeholders. I've developed all of these through my varied experience in the role and practicing these skills regularly since.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Despite the fact that we were all working remotely when I started the programme we were given an effective introduction by Unilever to the business and key stakeholders. The communication from the training provider was also excellent as to the order of the programme and the timeline to complete the apprenticeship qualification.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
My line manager, Unilever and Manpower (apprentice employer) were fantastic throughout given that we were working remotely during a challenging time. My line manager in particular was always ready and willing to help, she really helped my self development by involving me with different stakeholders and asking me to present to senior stakeholders. She also regularly checked in to find out how I was coping and also where I wanted to go within Unilever following the completion of my apprenticeship.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I undertook regular masterclasses where we ran through subjects required to complete the programme and an assignment was usually given at the end of the masterclass. My coach was always on hand over email too to answer any questions and peer review work- my coach gave me practical feedback to really help my self development and we also had regular catch-ups with my line manager to discuss my progress and future areas for development.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
I'm now an account manager and my apprenticeship taught me core skills like effective communication, presenting to stakeholders, making data based decisions and managing my time effectively. These are key skills which can be used in many roles within Unilever and outside of Unilever while real work experience gave me the ability to put these skills into practice. This was important for me as I learn by doing.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
2/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Unilever is a fantastic place to start your career- I found that all of my colleagues were so supportive in developing me as an employee and as a person. I was always busy in my role so I could practically apply what I was learning to real work situations. My line manager and coach were so supportive, I was never afraid to ask any questions.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?
Make sure that when highlighting your skills at the interview/assessment centre you also talk about the areas you'd like to improve/develop on and how you think Unilever can help you with these. Unilever offers great training & development opportunities from e-learning courses to workshops plus the practical experience of being in the world of work.
