Erin Smith, 20, joined the supply chain leadership degree apprenticeship at AstraZeneca because it offered a more certain career path than university
How long have you worked for AstraZeneca and what do you enjoy about your role?
I joined the commercial supply chain business in September 2019 to undertake rotations in various sourcing and supply groups, including materials management and the international distribution team. I enjoy the diverse nature of my apprenticeship, developing a wide knowledge of the various supply chains within the company.
Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship at AstraZeneca?
AstraZeneca has a huge global presence and varied scope for growth and development, giving me the opportunity to fulfil my career aspirations. The apprenticeship route offers a more certain career path than university, and with the support that is offered to apprentices, the confidence that this route is ideal for me.
How would you describe the culture at AstraZeneca?
The culture is collaborative and colleagues are encouraged to work together within and between departments. This develops social networks for colleagues and increased productivity when carrying out tasks.
What would you say has been the most interesting/rewarding project you have been involved in and why?
I was involved in a project that would improve the overall effectiveness of my team’s processes. It was very time consuming and required a lot of concentration, but when completed there was an obvious improvement within my team and I was praised for my hard work. This was extremely rewarding as I felt like I had made a good contribution to my team and was valued.
To find out more about apprenticeships at AstraZeneca, visit careers.astrazeneca.com/early-talent
