R&D Degree Apprentice Review
at Unilever
Degree Apprenticeship
Science, Research
Sharnbrook
Review Submitted: February 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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
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
Designing ice cream formulations and then producing these on lab or pilot plant scale. Then carrying out physical measurements and tastings on the products made. Working within a team of people to develop new or improve current products.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I enjoy it a lot, as food science apprentices we rotate into different teams which allows us to deepen our understanding about different teams in the ice cream business. There is a group of apprentices at Colworth which creates a nice community.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Presenting projects back to senior stakeholders, different research methods, formulating
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
We work 4 days a week and then have a study day one day a week. I go up to uni for a block week 4 times a year (this decreases to 3 in 3rd year). As mentioned before we also rotate into different teams and change roles.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
We are given 1 day a week which allows us to do our university work.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
We are given 1 day a week which allows us to do our university work. Also the projects we work on at work help us towards our uni work
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Yes they both work well together, some on the projects completed at work are written up as final submission for some of our modules at uni.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
3/5
Yes Colworth has many sports clubs you can join and as they is a group of apprentices we often do activities together. There isn't many professional networking events at our site, they are more based in the London/Kingston offices.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It's a really good company to work for and this apprenticeship is a great way to study and work at the same time, helping you gain the skills and knowledge of working in the food industry.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?
Research the company before, in your interview make sure you ask questions
