Supply Chain Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Pharmaceutical
Macclesfield
Review Submitted: March 2025
Overall Rating
4.5 /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!
4.5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.2/5
-
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
Currently in third & and final rotation as a Clinical Supply Study Lead:
- Plan and project manage the delivery of clinical supplies, effectively & consistently.
- Lead and provide direction to Study Drug Working Groups (with members from R&D, Supply Chain, Clinical Development and external partners.
- Understand and translate clinical study protocol requirements into demand for drug products within a clinical study.
- Use simulation tools and supply chain expertise to design optimized, lean supply chains for individual studies and ensure delivery of the end-to-end supply of materials to meet study needs
- Plan and project manage the delivery of clinical supplies, effectively & consistently.
- Lead and provide direction to Study Drug Working Groups (with members from R&D, Supply Chain, Clinical Development and external partners.
- Understand and translate clinical study protocol requirements into demand for drug products within a clinical study.
- Use simulation tools and supply chain expertise to design optimized, lean supply chains for individual studies and ensure delivery of the end-to-end supply of materials to meet study needs
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy my programme and I am very pleased I managed to secure this apprenticeship. It has provided me valuable experiences to use as I begin my career as well as a solid network built up during my time here.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have developed numerous skills during this role and previous 2 rotations with the key below being:
Leadership - I have been provided the opportunity to lead meetings, project deliveries and take leadership in my own everyday work, building me towards a career in the industry.
Digital capability - Alongside every day supply chain work, AZ have consistently emphasised expanding our digital capability and so I have gained knowledge in Ai, Microsoft Apps & Automate as well as exposure to PowerBi.
Supply Chain based learning - Working through the programme in rotations aids me to get vast supply chain experience in all different teams developing key supply chain skills in inventory management, logistics and aids my understanding of the AZ supply chain network.
Alongside the above AZ consistently pushes for high standards in efficiency, time management and doing the right thing.
Leadership - I have been provided the opportunity to lead meetings, project deliveries and take leadership in my own everyday work, building me towards a career in the industry.
Digital capability - Alongside every day supply chain work, AZ have consistently emphasised expanding our digital capability and so I have gained knowledge in Ai, Microsoft Apps & Automate as well as exposure to PowerBi.
Supply Chain based learning - Working through the programme in rotations aids me to get vast supply chain experience in all different teams developing key supply chain skills in inventory management, logistics and aids my understanding of the AZ supply chain network.
Alongside the above AZ consistently pushes for high standards in efficiency, time management and doing the right thing.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Structurally, the programme is very well organised. I was informed I would partake on 3 rotations when I joined and this has been the case. I particularly like and appreciate that these rotations are not yet decided and performance and expertise in certain areas helps decide where you move, with the apprentice having a say on where they would like to rotate to align with job goals & aims.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
I receive consistent support from my employer in monthly 1-1s with my manager and quarterly meetings with the apprenticeship lead to ensure I have all the support I need and any queries are answered.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Support from my training provider is varied, in the final year I have noticed a great leap in support which is positive. There have been times previously where I have felt I could have had more support. Upon raising this, this has been fulfilled as needed.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
My qualification is a supply chain leadership degree and this helps me understand the ongoings in my workplace supply chain through informative lectures but also the module work makes us look into our supply chains closely and this aids learning. Each year we must implement a project in the workplace and doing this provides us a great opportunity to perform and deliver something.
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 - I play football and there is a gym on site.
The apprenticeship team provides professional networking events throughout the year.
Social activity is often dependent on the team you are part of, however I have found these occur frequently.
The apprenticeship team provides professional networking events throughout the year.
Social activity is often dependent on the team you are part of, however I have found these occur frequently.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend AZ to a friend, they are consistently aiming to be a 'great place to work' and I have had vast experiences delivering projects and being part of the supply chain team. These experiences provide me great evidence to propel my career in supply chain.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
I would always say to someone who has left school and wants a degree apprenticeship to always gain workplace experience in the industry you'd like to enter. This gives you experiences to differentiate yourself in an interview scenario as most of the time everyone can bring up experiences from education and so showing you have gone out and got real workplace experience gives a real advantage.
