Chemical Engineering Apprentice Review

Item: Chemical Engineering Apprentice at Unilever
Rating: 3.9
Author: Anonymous

at Unilever

Degree Apprenticeship

Chemical Engineering

Port Sunlight

Review Submitted: March 2026

Overall Rating

3.9 /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 - Overview of Role

5/5 - Skills Development

3.6/5 - 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

I swap teams in Unilever each year. This year i am in a processing team which invloves alot of batch work in the plant and small scale lab work, alot of hands on work basically. I have to analyse all my data i collect and present it back to the team monthly if not before then. I also spend 2 days a week on university studies. I have got the opportunity to be involved in mutiple projects allowing myself to learn new skills.

To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

4/5

I think the programme is good that it supplies you with different rotations in new teams each year. I enjoy learning new things each year and getting insights into different areas of the business. Since i am provided with the opportunity to know what areas of the business i have an interest in. I don't think the end stage of my apprenticeship in the sense of being employed afterwards is quite set strongly enough yet and i think as apprentices are lacking the support needed there. I think the managers who look after the programme (not the managers who look after indivudal apprentices for the 5 years) should be more involved then what they are as i feel we have to dicuss issues as apprentices together since there is no point of contact really for this since i dont think they are as knowledgable as they should be on the scheme.

Skills Development

Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

5/5

Yes through rotating many times each year i have been able to learn new skills each time. Since i am an apprentice i have to be competent in many areas to pass the EPA process this means i get set time to learn needed skills (some ones you dont necessarily do in your day to day job) that will allow myself to get the most out of this apprenticeship

Structure and Support

How well organised/structured is your programme?

3/5

The apppreniceship is well sturctured but it also holds a self reliablility for you making sure you get what you want out of the apprenticeship. You should try decide where you want to go each year to ensure it. You have to find extra opportunities yourself. There is no real connection between univeristy and work most of my univeristy studies is in the biochemical and oil and gas areas of chemical engineering. I think the end part of your assessment needs to be better structured to aid you with applying for jobs internally.

How much support do you receive from your employer?

4/5

I get two days off a week when the university semester is running helping myself to achieve the best grades and knowledge in the areas i am studying. My line manager is great at helping acheive my career goals or get opportunities in areas of interest.

How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

4/5

Strathclyde University is very good at communicating with its distance learnign studies. If i have any issues the course leader and other staff are always fast at replying and trying to resolve or find alternative solutions. We get one lecture a week and have an online class forum for each module for Q&A on the course topics.

How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

3/5

My course is mostly oil and gas aswell as biochemical related so it doesnt necessarily link. However what i study is on alot more complicated processes then what is required of myself in work therefore i can exceed expectation in work. I have also gained problem solving skills through my course with many different modules which have aided myself in work.

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

i have done some STEM events.

Recommendations & Advice

Would you recommend Unilever to a friend?

Yes

Why?

they have good apprenticeship schemes that allow you to study and work at the same time. allowing you to gain the knowledge and relevant work experience at the start of your career journey.

What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Unilever?

Before applying i was involved in many extra curricalur clubs and thorugh this i had many opportunites to be invloved in projects related to science and engineering which helped myself with the application/interview process.

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