Start date: 2012
Location: Melton Foods
“I was attracted to the Samworth Brothers 12 month IP scheme because it was the only business that I researched where you are provided with the opportunity to learn two different roles across two different businesses. I knew this would provide me with a greater depth of experience than other businesses that just offered the one role.
I started my IP journey in 2010 within the Technical team at one of our Leicester sites as the Raw Materials Quality Auditor where I was based heavily on the shop floor reviewing the quality and compliance of supplier deliveries. My second placement was at Melton Foods as a Production Process Assistant, where I worked closely alongside the Operations team to both investigate and critically analyse material variances within the bakery.
Over the course of my year, I was able to gather an insight into two contrasting roles in two very different businesses. This allowed me to meet and build relationships with lots of people in the business.
I was studying for a BSc Hons Food & Nutrition degree at Sheffield Hallam University and the IP scheme enabled me to take the theory I had learnt in my first and second years and understand how it is applied practically on a day-to-day basis.
The scheme also allowed me to develop my personal skills. For example, in the early stages I grew a lot in confidence and improved both my communication and auditing skills. Then, at Melton, the breadth of departmental projects I was involved with allowed me to develop strong problem-solving and presentation skills.
After I graduated, I joined Samworth Brothers as a Process Development Technologist at Bradgate Bakery. I then moved across to Melton Foods, also as a Process Development Technologist where I was promoted to a Senior and I am now the Process Development Manager. In a nutshell, my role is to lead and manage the team who are responsible for successfully launching new and reformulated products to the market. We must ensure the safety, quality and legality of the products at all stages of the process which involves working very closely with all departments, our suppliers and our customers.
I would definitely recommend applying to the IP scheme at Samworth Brothers. You do need to bear in mind that you may be asked to work across different shift patterns which can be hard to adjust to, but it does give you a true feel of what the food industry is about and you will learn a great deal more than students on other industrial placements.”