Mars Wrigley UK apprentices Summer Walker (left) and Malcolm Toms (right).
For last month’s National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February), James Devonshire found out what apprenticeships at Mars Wrigley UK are like by talking to two individuals who are apprentices at one of the world’s largest food and beverage manufacturers.
Summer Walker, who is in her 20’s, is enrolled on the Food and Drink Technical Operator programme at Mars Wrigley and is a strong advocate for apprenticeships, especially for young women. Drawn to the value Mars places on its Associates, she knew this was the perfect place to start her career. Summer initially expected her apprenticeship to be classroom-focused, but she soon discovered that the real learning happens on the shop floor.
Malcolm Toms, who is in his 60’s, began his apprenticeship at Mars Wrigley at the age of 57, having worked at Mars for 30 years. He encourages older individuals to consider apprenticeships as a way of pivoting careers later in life. Throughout the programme, Malcolm enjoyed the formal learning and the opportunity to share his real-life experiences with younger members of his cohort.
Find out more about Summer and Malcolm’s apprenticeships at Mars Wrigley by clicking below:
What made you choose an apprenticeship initially?
SW: I was 19 when I applied for my apprenticeship and at the time a lot of my friends and peers were considering University. I wasn’t sure it was the right fit for me and an apprenticeship seemed like a great alternative.
It’s such a good way for young people who don’t know what they want to do in their careers, to try something out. It’s everything to gain, nothing to lose.
Of course, the idea of earning while learning seemed great and the opportunity to work for a big business like Mars, with iconic brands like Extra, Snickers, Maltesers, was super exciting. And who knows, in the future I could be working in other areas of the business like Pet Nutrition.
An apprenticeship really does open a lot of doors and I’m excited about hopefully – building a long career here are Mars.
How much influence did your parents, peers and teachers have on your decision?
I definitely talked to my family and friends about it – they’re always supportive. But ultimately the decision was mine.
An apprenticeship seemed like the perfect way to dive-in and get real world experience in something I’d never tried before. I wanted to challenge myself and this was my chance to do that.
Did you always want to work in the manufacturing industry?
I grew up in Plymouth and always knew about the Wrigley factory, because its based there, so . when it came time to apply for jobs, I thought ‘why not?’
I saw the apprenticeship programmes and decided to take the leap and apply, and I was thrilled when I was accepted!
Now I’m in in my second year on the programme and I’m loving it. Largely that’s down to the culture at Mars – everyone is so supportive and you really feel like you’re part of a family.
What does a typical day look like for you at Mars?
Right now, I work on a shift pattern, so every day is a little different. But mostly I spend my time on the factory floor, learning and getting hands on experience with really cool brands like Hubba Bubba and Extra.
As an apprentice at Mars, you spend 80% of your time on the job and 20% on the academic side of the course. I had some reservations before I started the programme, because I thought most of my time would be classroom based, but that’s not been the case at all.
I’ve even dabbled a little bit in making TikTok videos for our recruitment team to show people how things work in the factory.
What’s the most rewarding part about your role?
I’ve got to say, working on the Hubba Bubba line is super cool!
There’s something about seeing the production line running smoothly and knowing what you’re working on is going to land in the hands of a consumer somewhere.
What’s the biggest challenge you have faced so far and how did you overcome it?
I’ve never really felt like I had huge barriers or roadblocks, but I think that’s down to the support of my team leader and the people around me. It’s reassuring to know that I’ve got a great team behind me, and whenever I face something tricky, I never feel like I’m on my own.
What would be your advice to young people out there who aren’t sure if an apprenticeship is right for them?
For anyone who is thinking about an apprenticeship – I’d say go for it!
I think apprenticeships are the best way to get stuck in and help you figure out what kind of career you might want for yourself.
Coming into a big business like Mars has really opened my eyes to just how many – and how varied – the long term opportunities are.
I actually recently learned, for example, that we have a Marine Biologist in our Petcare business which isn’t something you’d automatically assume. So, the routes are endless.
How can manufacturers come across as more attractive places to work for younger generations?
I think it’s about showcasing the variety of opportunities. Manufacturing isn’t just about assembly lines – there’s so much more happening behind the scenes!
If companies can highlight the innovation and cool tech they use, plus the variety of roles from operations to engineering and even marketing, younger people will definitely take notice.
I also think manufacturers need to show how they invest in their people – not just with training, but with mentorship and support. That’s what makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger here at Mars.
What are your long-term plans?
I’m excited about building a long career here.
I am loving the operations programme, and for now, can see myself continuing to learn in this role. But the great thing about Mars is that there are so many different job roles and paths here, operations doesn’t have to be forever and I don’t need to decide that now. So, it is genuinely so exciting.
What made you choose an apprenticeship initially?
MT: I wanted to do an apprenticeship to ‘scratch an itch’ and it ended up being a game-changer for my career.
I went straight into the world of work after school and often wondered what it would have been like to go to university. But being 57, having a wife, a house and a mortgage – I just couldn’t see how going back into education would work.
Then, 30-odd years into my career with Mars, came across the apprenticeship programmes offered by the company. Initially I thought I might be too old to apply but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there wasn’t an age limit to the programme so I decided to go for it as it would give me the flexibility I needed to learn whilst continuing to earn.
It’s been one of the best decisions I made for both, my career, and personal fulfilment.
Did you always want to work in the manufacturing industry?
I was initially drawn to Mars for the opportunity to work with iconic brands in confectionary and food M&Ms and Maltesers, and pet nutrition brands like Sheba and Whiskas.
One of the great things about working for a big manufacturer like Mars, is just how diverse the environment is – where manufacturing, engineering, sales, data and marketing all come together. No day is ever the same.
Whilst all this makes the everyday interesting, what has kept me working for Mars for over 30 years is the culture and how much the business values its Associates.
What does a typical day look like for you at Mars?
Now that I’ve completed my apprenticeship, my days look a bit different. But when I was in the programme, there was of course the academic side to it, but I also got to practice what I was learning, on the job.
In fact, most apprentices at Mars spend about 80% of time on the job, learning the trade while you work, and the other 20% in the classroom.
I learned a lot on my programme – everything from data science and data analysis to creating toolkits for business transformation.
Now as Detection Engineering Senior Analyst I work on analysing data from thousands of servers and finding patterns on those logs to see if there is anything suspicious, that we need to investigate.
What’s the most rewarding part about your apprenticeship?
Honestly, the best part has been sharing my experience with other people, both in and out of Mars. Most people have a misconception that apprenticeships are for young people, but that’s simply not the case. At the stage in my career, it was a great way to pivot and gain new skills.
It’s also incredibly fulfilling to be able to pass on the knowledge that I’ve gained over time, especially those lessons that you just can’t pick up from a textbook.
What’s the biggest challenge you have faced so far and how did you overcome it?
I had some reservations when I began my apprenticeship at the age of 57, as I felt like I was too old. Now I’ve completed the programme, I look back and don’t know why I was ever concerned.
That’s the great thing about apprenticeships – they really are for anyone, at any age. It’s never too late to start something new.
What would be your advice to older people who might be considering an apprenticeship?
Go for it! There is no upper age limit to apprenticeships – they are for anyone, at any age or stage of life.
They broaden outlooks in ways that traditional academic degrees might not… you won’t regret it!
The personal and professional growth you’ll experience is so rewarding, and you’re never too old to learn and grow. Whether you’re looking to switch careers or just gain some new skills, an apprenticeship is the way to go.
What are your long-term plans?
Since finishing my apprenticeship, I’ve advanced to the role of Detection Engineering Senior Analyst at Mars Global Services. I get to support all parts of the business, from our Pet Nutrition brands like Pedigree and Whiskas, to our Confectionery favourites like Maltesers and M&Ms, and even our Food brands like Dolmio and Ben’s Original.
I’ve been with the company 36 years and am excited about what comes next for me here.
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