Give a description of a day in the life of a Technical Apprentice. 

A typical day as a Technical Apprentice starts with checking emails and responding to any technical queries from colleagues regarding customer requirements and internal standards. Throughout the day, I review and update policies, standards, procedures, and forms to ensure they remain accurate and compliant. 

Depending on the day, I may be carrying out customer portal reviews, checking for new policies, standards, or technical documents. Any updates are assessed against our internal requirements through gap analysis, and relevant changes are communicated across the business. 

Towards the end of the week, my focus shifts to reporting activities. I compile information into Key Performance Indicators to create the weekly conditions slides and reports for Senior Leadership Teams.  

Alongside my regular responsibilities, I assist the Technical Training Lead with activities such as assessment centres and creating training materials. 

The role is varied and provides exposure to food safety, quality, compliance, auditing, document control, reporting, and training, ensuring that no two days are ever the same. 

How did you end up in this job? 

I didn't take the traditional route into my career. I didn't achieve the GCSE grades needed to progress to A Levels at my Grammar School. Instead, I decided to pursue my interest in food and moved away from home at 16 to attend CAFRE Loughry, where I studied a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Food Technology and Nutrition.

During the course, I completed a 12-week work placement in the egg industry, which gave me valuable insight into the food manufacturing sector and made me realise that I wanted to spend more time working and gaining practical experience. As I neared the end of my diploma, I applied for a few apprenticeships across the food and drink industry but was unsuccessful in securing a position.

Towards the end of the summer, Pilgrim's Europe advertised their Higher-Level Technical Apprentice Role, and after completing an interview over Teams while travelling around Canada, I was offered the apprenticeship at Pilgrims Europe. I accepted the role shortly afterwards and began my apprenticeship the week after returning home, starting the career path that I am on today. 

What advice would you give to someone thinking of pursuing this career? 

My advice would be to gain as much practical experience as possible and not be discouraged by setbacks. Be willing to learn, ask questions, and take opportunities when they come. Not every career path is straightforward, and rejection is part of the process, but persistence pays off. If you have an interest in food safety and quality, a technical career can be both rewarding and offer excellent opportunities for development and progression. 

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? 

In five years’, time, I hope to have graduated from my current Level 5 Higher Level Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Manufacture (Foundation Degree), progressed onto the Level 6 Higher Level Apprenticeship in Food and Drink Manufacture (Top-Up) and have one year of post-graduate experience behind me. I would like to have moved into a role closer to home, ideally within a technical team focusing on food safety and quality, although I am also interested in recruitment and people development. 

Completing my apprenticeship will provide me with a strong foundation for the future, equipping me with both the technical knowledge and practical experience needed to progress within the industry. I believe it will open up a range of opportunities and help me continue developing my career. 

On a personal level, I hope to be planning for the future, including moving out of home and purchasing my first house, while continuing to develop both professionally and personally. 

If you could give your 16-year-old self some career advice, what would it be? 

If I could give my 16-year-old self some advice, although I was 16 only a short time ago, it would be to relax a bit and stop acting like I had my whole life planned out. At 16, I was convinced I knew exactly what the next few years would look like, but the reality turned out to be completely different, and for the better. I'd tell myself to stop worrying so much about what everyone else is doing, be more confident, and enjoy the moment instead of constantly thinking about the next step.

Looking back, some of the best things that have happened to me came from plans changing unexpectedly. Most importantly, I'd remind myself that there's no rush to have everything figured out, and that the prime of my life is still yet to come!