What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is an alternative gateway to entering your profession. Apprentices work alongside their studies, and so completing their degree will take a longer period of time, but they will have excellent relevant work experience behind them when they graduate. The route was the perfect choice for BSc Chemistry degree apprentice Harriet Field, who is employed at Pfizer alongside her studies at the University of Greenwich.
I chose this route because I can study at the University of Greenwich alongside gaining industry experience that is relevant to my studies.
She studies most of the modules from the stand-alone BSc Chemistry degree course at the university in addition to some specific apprenticeship modules aligned to government designed skills, knowledge and behaviours (KSBs). Harriet undertakes modules in physical, organic and inorganic chemistry, and attends university one day a week, while the rest of the week she dedicates to her role at Pfizer.
Develop your strategies for success
A key component to apprenticeships is being able to balance work and study. Harriet’s strategy for success is to start working on her university assignments straight away and slowly and steadily completing them to meet the deadline. This helps her stay on top of her workload and keep motivated. She also manages to find time for hobbies and interests by dedicating more time during the week to work and study so that she has more free time at the weekends.
In her apprenticeship journey so far, she has most enjoyed being able to work alongside her colleagues in Pfizer, and she has found her workplace a supportive work environment.
I feel like I get on well with everyone and they motivate me to do well with my studies. I’m very lucky to have a great group of mentors that I rely on to help me through my apprenticeship.
Get ready for your future
Harriet’s role at Pfizer involves working in the Process Safety Group in Chemical Research and Development (CRD) where she conducts experiments to test and assess thermal stability of different compounds and reaction mixtures before they are scaled up at a larger facility. This is a key safety process.
Chemists support a wide range of different industries including food and pharmaceutical industries and it was this prominence of chemistry in our daily lives that Harriet says is what drew her to the subject.
Upon graduation, Harriet will have five years’ experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry, where she has been able to use a range of specialist equipment as well as develop soft skills.
