Colin
Project Manager – Aero Bubbles
I always wanted a career in Engineering and I chose Nestle because the company offered me the possibility to develop as an Engineer.
This has proved to be the case as since I finished my Apprenticeship I have been a Technical Support Engineer, two years later becoming Process Engineering Manager. Currently I am the Project Manager for Aero Bubbles, the highlight of my career so far as I am responsible for moving the Aero Bubbles plant to the new factory.
The Apprenticeship programme was just the start of my development at Nestle. I have not stopped training since I started. On completion of my apprenticeship I went on to take an Engineering degree and I am currently doing my Masters degree.
What is Nestle like as a place to work? Very interesting, very busy with a lot going on but one of the highlights is you work with great people!
Long term, I aim to become a Chartered Engineer once I have finished my Masters degree and hope to be a Chief Engineer at one of the Nestle factories in the next ten years or so.
Kyle
Kit Kat Maintenance Engineer
After completing my GCSE’s, I decided to follow ‘in my father’s footsteps’ and become an Electrician. After looking into the Modern Apprentice schemes, I decided that the Nestle Scheme was the biggest and the company was the most appealing to work for and I successfully joined the scheme in September 2003.
After spending my first year at College I then found my job was very varied, moving departments regularly and being involved in both Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, which has made the job more interesting.
During my time on the scheme I spent six months to a year in a number of departments, such as Central Maintenance Workshops, Polo Maintenance, Aero Maintenance, Milkybar, Aero Bubbles and Kit Kat Wafer plants. I am currently a Kit Kat Maintenance Engineer working on Frontline Maintenance.
Doing an apprenticeship at Nestle is good because you have the opportunity to gain high qualifications and experience in an Engineering environment. There are many opportunities for further qualifications and development, and best of all you get paid while doing all this! I have also had the opportunity to take part in a work exchange to Germany which I found extremely interesting and beneficial.
My career highlights so far are completing my apprenticeship and gaining all my college qualifications.
Going forward I would like to gain more plant experience and further qualifications through the Company.
Tony
Front Line Maintenance Electrician
Nestle offered a great opportunity to do a four year apprenticeship, with the first year full time at College and then a further three years on day release at college and four days in work . This was a great opportunity to learn a really good trade and be paid whilst learning, and I joined the scheme in 2001.
Whilst on the scheme I worked in the Engineering workshops, six months with an Electrician and six months with a Mechanical Engineer, I then moved into different plants which included Polo, Aero, and one of our Kit Kat plants, finishing my apprenticeship in Milky Bar and Aero bubbles. Throughout the scheme I spent time working alongside both Electricians and Mechanical Engineers.
Throughout my apprenticeship the people I worked with were great and helped me towards finishing the scheme and taking the leap into being a fully fledged Front Line Electrician.
Having completed my apprenticeship I have decided to carry on studying for a degree, after this I anticipate taking further qualifications.
For me apprenticeships are a great way for people to learn a recognizable trade While you are learning and progressing your knowledge you also get paid for it. For me it was the only route I wanted to go down.
Andrew
Electrician
After considering a number of trade jobs such as plumber, motor mechanic and even a chemical engineer. I joined on the Nestle Apprentice scheme in 1998. My decision to apply to Nestle was due to having a good reputation of being a good employer who paid well with opportunities to develop and study further, i.e. a degree.
As an apprentice I spent time with both Electricians and Engineers doing general work in and outside various departments. I spent time in a Kit Kat plant shadowing electricians and assisting engineers with changeover of machines, scheduled maintenance of equipment in Polo and reactive and scheduled maintenance in chocolate formulation. Currently I am an Electrician in another Kit Kat plant which produces 2 Finger Kit Kat’s.
What’s interesting about the job is that it is hands on, you get to know how things work and the processes by which they work. The team I work with are great, we get along really well and we have a laugh!
At Nestle there is always the opportunity to develop yourself and currently I am taking an Engineering degree which I have nearly finished. Moving forward I start a new Plant Technician role in a couple of months which has a good development programme. At some point in the future I would like to complete my Masters Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Oliver
Craft Apprentice
After completing my ‘A’ levels I decided I wanted to pursue a career in Engineering. After discussions with a Careers Advisor I put together a CV and applied for the Apprentice scheme at Nestle and was successful joining the company in 2005.
I completed the first year at college where I learnt all the basic skills in mechanical and electrical engineering and then started working in the factory. The first 6 months I worked with the factory maintenance electricians, the second 6 months was spent in Milkybar and Aero bubbles working with both electricians and engineers, followed by some time in a Kit Kat plant. I am currently working in the moulding and packing section of another Kit Kat plant where I am completing electrical projects.
The training and development at Nestle is very good. At the start of my first year I was given a portfolio book in which to record evidence of the various jobs that I have undertaken which I am still in the process of completing as part of my apprenticeship. I have now passed all my exams and have started a foundation degree.
Longer term, I hope to finish my foundation degree, gain more experience in different departments, possibly be in charge of large projects and eventually specialize in a specific area of electrical engineering whilst working my way up the employment tree at Nestle.
