Level 6 R&D Food Professional Degree Apprenticeship Programme - Colworth, Bedfordshire – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

Would you like to work with and learn from the biggest brands in the world, bringing your purpose to life with your work? We care as much about the sustainability of our business as we do about the success of our brands and our people. Together, we can feel good about the work we do every day.

Annual wage: £22,716 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Food industry technical professional (integrated degree) (level 6)
Hours: Typically Monday - Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.
40 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 8 September
Duration: 4 years
Positions available: 2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As an R&D Degree Apprentice, you will work with the Colworth Research & Development teams, leading the way in developing new products in Ice Cream and Beverages. Over the 5 years you will study for a BSc while experiencing working in different aspects of Refreshment Research & Development, including:

The Ice Cream Global Design Centre to develop Ice Cream Products for the global market, designing and utilising new technology to develop products for innovations truly ahead of the competition
Beverages: delivering world class innovations in great tasting drinks that meet the vitality needs of our consumers
The Science and Technology team whose aim is to be the primary source of sustainable, new science bringing great inventions for Unilever long-term competitiveness

You will follow 4 placements (rotations): 1st 2 years in one team including a short-term placement in an Ice Cream Pilot Plant followed by 3 1-year rotations, enabling you to learn about a variety of roles within Ice Cream & Beverages R&D and gain the skills you will need as a Foods Professional/Foods scientist including:

Product development
Foods, law, and nutrition

Where you’ll work

Colworth Laboratory

Sharnbrook

Bedford

MK44 1LQ

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Food industry technical professional (integrated degree) (level 6)

Equal to degree

Course contents

Lead, develop and implement the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system and team on site
Interpret microbiological results; spot and analyse trends to diagnose or a nticipate issues; define and implement action plans
Develop product specifications taking into account the key risk factors in product design; ensure customer pre-requisites are implemented and followed
Manage, develop and implement internal audit schedule to ensure compliance with legal, industry and customer standards; keep abreast of new standards; credibly host third party audits
Select the most appropriate tools and methodology to demonstrate compliance, food safety culture and delivery of consistent quality of products
Establish cleaning and hygiene programmes and audit methodology; set up monitoring programmes; interpret data; identify different risk zoning in an operational area and the different hygiene requirements; manage internal and external cleaning contractors
Manage complaint performance through the identification of trends and the design of corrective action programmes to improve credibility with customer
Design and implement site procedures to ensure legal compliance with current food law; lead any investigation into legal contravention with the relevant enforcement authorities
Establish process parameters and control requirements; measure the impact of process on product, set limits and take action to deal with process and product non-conformance
Optimise and control parameters that influence common industry processes: washing, mixing, heating, cooking, cooling/chilling, freezing, drying, freeze drying
Be able to liaise and co-ordinate with other functions to deliver New Product Development projects. When appropriate take the lead and drive the project
Use project management tools to deliver projects to time, cost, specification and quality
Coordinate investigations into and responses to non-conformances and participate in incident management teams; implement incident management procedure
Review and select relevant scientific techniques taking into account cost and practicalities; experiment, collect and analyse data and formulate solutions
Manage supplier intake controls; carry out supplier a udit & performance reviews and risk assessment; maintain approved supplier, contractor and vendor performance process
Design and implement traceability system fully compliant with customer and legal requirements; monitor to verify validity of process
Lead and develop a small technical team on site
Develop and demonstrate critical evaluation/analysis of complex information and data

Your training plan

As an apprentice, you’ll receive on-the-job training and experience in an administrative position along with formal training to gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need to support our business operations
You’ll join a team with a dedicated line manager committed to enhancing your career experiences
You will receive the BSc in Foods Science & Technology upon completion of this programme

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level or equivalent in:

3 subjects, including 2 STEM subjects (grade B,B,C or above)

GCSE in:

in 5 subjects including English and Maths (grade 4/C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Creative

Other requirements

Please note: we open for applications once a year and work on a rolling basis, which means that as soon as we reach the required number of applications, we will close the process for that role/business area. Therefore, we advise applying as early as possible once applications go live to avoid disappointment.

About this company

Unilever are one of the world's largest fast-moving consumer goods companies, meaning we own, make & sell products that people use in their everyday lives. We own over 400 brands found in homes all over the world – including iconic global brands such as Dove, Lifebuoy, and Magnum. Our apprenticeship programmes allow people from all backgrounds to find their purpose and rise to their full potential, whilst learning invaluable skills and earning a wage. All our programmes offer you on the job experience and formal training to give you the knowledge and skills to fire-up your career and give you the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised qualifications.

https://careers.unilever.com/uk-apprenticeships (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• A pension Scheme • A discounted staff shop • Subsidised Gym Memberships • Shares • 25 days of holiday allowance

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Good chances of progression temporary/permanent employment

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000284767.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 5 March

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Apply online through our website!

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Level 6 R&D Food Professional Degree Apprenticeship Programme - Colworth, Bedfordshire

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