World Class Maufacturing Summer Intern Review

I really enjoyed my internship as it provided me with a hands on role which made me feel like I was part of the company and my work was valued as opposed to simply being a temporary visitor just here for my own benefit. The people I worked with were very welcoming as well which obviously helped me to enjoy my time here.

My work is extremely important to the team I am working with and so they were very keen to make me feel a part of that team and the work they were doing. Being given the opportunity to present on a number of occasions to senior members of the company on site and to receive positive feedback on the work and how it would benefit the company going forward really made me feel like my time with Unilever has been valuable to them.

The project I was working on was very specific and is a relatively new concept to the site where I have been based. This meant that there was very little known about what I was doing and so the support they were able to offer was limited. This however, I believe contributed to many aspects I enjoyed about the placement as I was able to go out and learn about new concepts and systems on my own and teach others including people who have been with the company for a very long time about the work I was doing and this contributed to me really being valued during my placement. Away from the technical work though the support and advice I have received has been excellent and people have always put aside time to discuss any queries I have had.

Depending upon the stage I was at during my project meant my workload fluctuated. I was however always busy and was never waiting around for something to do which was a good thing in my opinion. Being in charge of my own project meant that I could try to manage my own workload and time along with other work commitments so that I could try and get my project finished in the 12 weeks I had available.

I was left to manage my own project with the aim of seeing it through to completion during the time I had available. I was left to this task on my own with very few occasions where I was asked to feedback my progress to anybody. This obviously placed huge amounts of accountability on my shoulders and I was trusted to take charge of the task. Consequently there was a significant amount of responsibility involved as my team expected this work to be available to them when I left and they continue working towards an upcoming audit.

During my placement I have undertaken a role which differs slightly to what I study at university and so returning to my final year there isn't going to be much knowledge which I can transfer back to my course. However, my placement has exposed me to so many different things in a large company which will be extremely valuable going forward in my career and personal development. Interacting with so many different people in a variety of roles is invaluable experience and something which I would not have had the opportunity to otherwise do.

For the most part the office I was based in was quite isolated from other offices nearby and so occasionally it did feel quite quiet and isolated. My role did provide me with the chance to spend time in different areas on site though and interact with other people which was really enjoyable and the atmosphere in those places was always positive and welcoming and at no point was I ever made to feel unwelcome. Unilever are a really friendly company who make a big effort with their staff to create a relaxed but productive environment and that is felt everywhere.

The structure of the placement and the number of people I have been put in contact with for different lines of support relating to my placement has been excellent. The structure of the 12 weeks and the progression through to the grad scheme has been well thought through and is fairly carried out giving you excellent opportunities to prove yourself and then retain a position within Unilever.

The nature of my role and being within the company for a short 12 week period didn't really lend itself to a great deal of training. I did however still manage to undertake a couple of training courses which all of the operators do as well as some more technical training relating to manufacturing techniques. These were extremely insightful and significantly improved my knowledge of machinery and how it works.

Unilever have been very supportive and encouraging with the work I have done and made me feel like I would continue to be valued if I was to stay with the company and this is really important to me. There are so many opportunities available and a great deal of variety so you are not limited to one specific role within the company from the moment you walk in. It is in fact the opposite and new and exciting opportunities will always come along.

There are a good number of students who are all undertaking internships or placements with Unilever in Port Sunlight. Particularly being in a new city this was really important and we managed to develop a really sociable group who all got along and would regularly go out and do something at the weekend or even during the week on occasions. There are also a number of graduates on site who are of a similar age and stage in their careers and so there are plenty of people around to socialise outside of work with.

The prices in Liverpool are fairly cheap and much cheaper than places such as London. This applies to both social activities as well as the cost of living.

Liverpool has an excellent nightlife with lots of bars and clubs on offer in the centre of town. There are also lots of other activities to do in Liverpool both during the day and in the evening, you will never be short of things to do and it is a really exciting city with plenty to offer.

I had the chance to volunteer at a family open day one weekend on site where I spent the day dressed as a cornetto ice cream! Aside from that there is a group who meet up weekly and hire a 5-a-side football pitch which is something to do with colleagues outside of work.