Science Industry Process & Plant Engineer Apprentice Review
at AstraZeneca
Degree Apprenticeship
Chemical Engineering
Macclesfield
Review Submitted: February 2025
Overall Rating
4.4 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
I am involved in solving engineering problems related to the development and manufacture of new medicines, as well as training on engineering equipment. I work within my own team and cross functionally to deliver work packages for different drug projects. I'm given a lot of responsibility considering how new I am, and the work I do actually makes a difference!
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I love it here! I have a lot of fun whilst learning a lot and working towards my degree. Everyone is so kind and friendly and I receive a lot of support from AZ as a company as well as the people around me. There is also an amazing cohort of many other apprentices, so I still get a good social side because there are so many of us in the same situation and we get along really well.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
I've learned a lot of new skills! I've definitely improved on my time management and teamwork, as well as learning how to communicate professionally to different scientific and non scientific audiences. I feel much more confident in my public speaking ability and I have also gained experience of working in a lab on small scale experiments as well as working in processing rooms on much larger scale equipment.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
I think the structure of my apprenticeship is good. My university is completely online and I have a day release every Wednesday and I use that to study. I have pre-recorded lectures and then 2 hours of live tutorial sessions per module to go over the content and do guided questions. There's not an overload of work, so I'm able to do all my uni work in 1 day and my weekends and evenings are completely free. At work, my uni day is respected and I never have to do AZ work on Wednesdays.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive lots of support from my employer! I moved across the country and was supported in finding a place to live, settling in to Macclesfield and work. I have regular meetings with my manager and supervisors to make sure I am happy at work and to check-in on my progress. There are also lots of workplace support networks that I'm able to be a part of and I feel comfortable to talk to anyone.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
The training provider is very supportive as they have weekly 2 hour support / tutorial sessions for us for each module. Our cohort at uni is very small so there is a lot of opportunity for us to voice our concerns and ask any questions we have. The lecturers are also generally available outside of the scheduled time if we have any surprise questions. There is a bank of information on all of the uni websites and we use Blackboard where there is even more information.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
2/5
So far, I wouldn't say that my qualification has helped much in my role as at work as it's still very early in the degree. The type of chemical engineering I do in my role is not as traditional as we will learn about but I think there will be some overlap in the future where I can apply my learning.
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
There are lots of networking events and extracurricular activities to get involved in! We have many employee resource groups, including a big one for early careers and new starters. Through them, I have been on nights out, gone for dinners, joined a netball team, done a pottery painting class, and met people from all parts of the company. They also do celebrations for things like Black History Month, Pride and International Women's Day to ensure that everyone feels included and able to socialise.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend AstraZeneca to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I have had a great experience here so far and am really excited for the rest of my course. I have felt really welcomed and supported! The only thing I would change is the location as Macclesfield is not as sunny and dry as I'm used to.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to AstraZeneca?
Be yourself! You have to be yourself when you're applying because you'll have to be yourself at work! Make sure you do lots of research about the company and talk to people who work there!
