Who is the apprentice?
My job description within KP Snacks is a Mature Apprentice within the engineering department. With this role I currently work 2 days at the Teesside site and 3 days at Hartlepool college. Within our 90 days plan I am currently working in the Process area with the Maintenance Lead for that area. As well as reacting to breakdowns, I also do planned maintenance, and learning how the process works. I am also trying to use the jobs I’m currently learning at college to bring into my everyday workday with the help of my Maintenance Lead.
What is the best part of your apprenticeship?
The best part of my apprenticeship is reacting to breakdowns within KP, I really enjoy getting stuck into any job thrown at me and working in a different area of the factory that is out of my comfort zone. It has been great to get to know how the bigger side of the factory works, and how much effort and time goes in to planning work to be done. Especially, how hard it can be to manage your time when reacting to a breakdown, but also getting planned work and tasks that are also worked into your day. When at college, I really enjoy the practical lessons. My favourite is electrical installation as I have previous experience from college when I first left school, so it has brought everything back. Overall, I’m really enjoying getting stuck in and can’t wait to learn even more.
Why did you choose an apprenticeship?
I chose this apprenticeship because I already had a great passion for fixing and maintaining machines from my previous role as an ATM (Additional Team Member) within KP Snacks. When I joined the company in February 2016, I knew about the ATM role and knew that was where I wanted my career with KP to go. When I heard that KP had offered Mature Apprenticeships in the past, I knew that was my biggest goal. After working up through various roles at KP, from a Flavour technician, Machine Technician, Process Operator and then to an ATM, I set that goal to push myself forward for the apprenticeship when it was advertised. I have always enjoyed working at KP and have always had good opportunities to try and push myself towards where I wanted to go, so I was more than happy when the apprenticeship came out and knew that was my goal.
What would you say to anyone considering an apprenticeship?
If anyone else was thinking about an apprenticeship, I would encourage them to go for it. Sometimes, you have got to take chances, and step out of your comfort zone, as these opportunities don’t come around often, and I think with the help and guidance that you get from the training department, and your manager, it can help open other doors within the business. When you have a higher education, more skills and knowledge, this can really help you to progress into a different role. Being thirty-one years old and going back to college was a very daunting experience, but with the help of my manager, training and the engineers who had been through it years ago, I have enjoyed every bit of my experience so far, even the challenging parts.