Food Technologist Review

A fantastic insight in to the food industry with an incredibly supportive company. Throughout the placement I found there were many opportunities to shape my learning which I always felt supported and encouraged by my team and colleagues. Every day at work was different and presented itself with new and exciting challenges.

During the placement I was tasked with my own project to work on. The project was based on a real industry challenge which I felt was greatly valued by my team and wider categories within M&S. As I progressed through my time on placement I felt more and more valued by my colleagues as they would approach me to support some of the projects they were working on.

I couldn't have been given any more support and guidance from my manager and team! Despite being in control of my own learning I was never left on my own without any guidance. My team and managers were always willing to sit down with me so I could go through my project work and to help me if I were to have any concerns. The placement has a great structure and support network.

I was responsible for managing my own diary day to day. This meant that I had full flexibility of my time and could dedicate enough time to my project. However, there were a lot of meetings/supplier visits with my team which helped to fill my time. This was particularly helpful because it allowed me to see how my colleagues managed their time.

I was given plenty of responsibility during my placement, this includes arranging supplier visits both within my team/category and other technologists in other categories. The majority of my placement were dedicated to my project giving me a tremendous amount of responsibility, this was because I had to carry out some work with an external research company.

I feel far more equipped going back to university after completing my placement year at M&S. The placement had a lot of opportunities to put knowledge into practice e.g. HACCP, microbiology, NPD, law and legislation as well as processing and biochemistry. There were also a number of training courses I attended and will be able to use these transferable skills in the future.

The general atmosphere of the office was warming and supportive. If I ever needed help, support or guidance from anyone in the office then they would go beyond expectations to ensure that I was comfortable and confident with the outcome. It's a busy and fast paced environment which meant there was always a buzz in the office, especially coming up to Christmas.

The overall work placement had a incredibly clear and robust structure throughout the year. Before I began the placement I was supported with relocating with a dedicated facebook group for all placement students to meet/arrange plans. Then when I started I received a placement handbook outlining what I should do for the first 6 weeks of placement including important members of staff to arrange meetings with.

I received a number of training and personal development events/days throughout my time at M&S. There are annual events which take place for all Technologists within M&S and are solely focused on the development of technical skills as well as focusing company values. If I wanted to attend conferences or training events outside of the office then I was always supported by my manager.

I enjoyed my time at M&S so much so I am aiming to pursue a career with them once I graduate. The M&S Technologist graduate scheme appeals to me because it is just as well structured as my placement but it allows you to have more responsibility and great prospects to progress in the company.

On the first day of the placement all placement students attended the same induction session which allowed us to all meet for the first time. This was a great opportunity to exchange details so we could arrange our own social plans both within and outside of work. In addition to the placement students there were also graduates who on a number of occasions organised social events for everyone to meet up.

Relocating to London wasn't the financially cheapest place to move. Fortunately I found a place that wasn't too expensive and M&S paid a reasonable salary allowing me make the move. The area around work was near Paddington station so it was a little bit more expensive than other areas due to the large numbers of people commuting through the station daily. However, myself and number of the other placement students lived a few tube stops away making it more affordable to live and socialise.

Around work there wasn't much of a nighlife except a few bars which started to open around the end of my placement. The area is now currently under a large redevelopment programme so I can see that there will be more and more bars and restaurants opening in the near future. On the other hand, London as a whole was an amazing place for nightlife with there being something for everyone.