Mondelēz International is to give young people in Sheffield the opportunity to begin careers in food manufacturing with its apprenticeship scheme, which closes next Friday.
Dawn’s top five tips for aspiring apprentices
1. Try to get as much information as possible about all of the opportunities available to you before you apply
2. Don’t be afraid to ask your potential employer questions and make sure you know exactly what is needed so you can highlight your best attributes
3. Look into the college or training providers. Are you going to get the right qualification for you?
4. The most important thing is to choose something that you’re interested in – this will give you the drive to study and learn successfully
5. Picture your long term ambitions – where do you want to be and what steps do you need to take to get there?
The programme gives school leavers the opportunity to earn money while learning, on top of picking up industry skills whilst working on brands such as Oreo, BelVita and Bassetts.
The Multi Skilled Maintenance Apprentices, who will undergo four years’ training, will begin with a year’s study at a local training provider to prepare them for their roles in the factory.
Once on site, apprentices will train under a mentor in a range of areas such as manufacturing, packing and factory quality, hygiene and safety requirements, whilst also continuing their studies towards NVQ & BTECH qualifications.
Vanessa Smith, Sheffield site lead at Mondelēz International, said that due to the evolution of the food manufacturing industry, young local talent is needed to help create innovative and exciting products.
“Our apprenticeships give young people the skills and experience they need from day one, and allow them to earn while they learn. Local teenagers are vital to the success of the factory in the future, so we’re keen to get as many young people as possible thinking about a career in the industry,” she said.
“To support our established apprenticeship programme we have also created a new school leaver scheme for 18 year olds as an alternative entry point into the world of work.”
The confectionery giant is keen to address the skills shortage in Sheffield, where only 7% of 16-18 year olds questioned said they saw themselves working in the manufacturing industry, less than the national average.
Local apprentice Dawn Woodcock, who is in her third year of the scheme, said she pursued her interest in engineering and manufacturing after seeing the range of job opportunities available for skilled people.
“I’ve learned really quickly and have been able to get involved in exciting projects. Last year I was part of the team introducing the first ever Oreo production line to the UK, which can produce over a million Oreos a day,” she said.
The deadline for the 2014 intake closes on Friday 28th February. To apply, please visit the website.
TM will be running its social media for manufacturers event across the UK in 2014. For details on dates, locations and how to attend, please visit the website.
