Megan Kendal
Megan finished her apprenticeship in operations with us in 2021 and now works full-time as a Line Performance Manager in Dalston, liaising across multiple teams. She is currently studying for Level 5 Leadership and Management. Her four and a half years with Nestlé began when she left Sixth Form and has seen her take great strides in both her professional and personal development.
I saw Nestlé was advertising apprenticeships locally to where I lived in the Lake District and decided the opportunity was too good to miss. It was one of the first times I'd seen such a big company offering a degree apprenticeship.
I had come from a family where both my mum and dad had found their careers through apprenticeships so there was a lot of support for me.
If it feels a bit scary, it's good. It means that you’re really learning something.
Finding the right career path
Working with Nestlé seemed perfect because it offered me the chance to explore multiple areas to see what I liked. By having the option to experiment and get a feel for what I was good at, I really felt that they valued my personal development.
A huge part of that was seeing the confidence Nestlé had in me that I didn't quite have in myself to begin with. Across my time with them I've felt my confidence grow and my career has reached a point where I'm the line manager for 30 people, giving them advice and helping to guide them. It's rewarding to be able to see how far I've come since I started with the company.
Professional and personal development
One of the benefits of an apprenticeship is the practical learning I've had throughout. I didn't want a typical office job, I was keen to be hands-on from day one.
Now my time is spent working in cross functional teams to ensure the safety and quality of my team and product, whilst working to production timelines. To this day, my job role remains varied with new challenges and experiences.
What would I say to anyone looking to take an apprenticeship with Nestlé?
I think anyone considering an apprenticeship should absolutely go for it! Now more than ever employers are recognising that a combination of experience and education adds so much value to their work force. It can be a big step to take and there are definitely some challenges. But if it feels a bit scary, it's good. It means that you're really learning something. I have learnt the most when I've been pushed out of my comfort zone, even if this has been a nerve racking at times!
Nestlé is a place that nurtures its employees and cares about their development both inside and outside of the office.
