The world’s leading consumer health and hygiene company has taken on apprentices from Ron Dearing UTC for the third consecutive year.
Global giant Reckitt, which has one of its biggest operations in Hull, is a Founding Partner of the Ofsted “Outstanding” employer-led school and has employed three more apprentices this year, taking the total to eight since 2019.
Research and Development Apprentice Leoni Wilkinson and Engineering Apprentices Dominik Gal and Ibrahim Aziz are based at the business’ Dansom Lane site but often work from home as most of the company’s non-manufacturing workforce continues to follow Covid-19 precautions.
Reckitt produces many of the world’s leading consumer health and hygiene brands including Dettol, Gaviscon and Nurofen.
Leoni, 18, will complete her five-year Chemical Science degree apprenticeship through the University of Kent remotely while continuing to learn and work in person at Reckitt.
She said: “I’m on site three days per week and working as part of the Mucinex formation team, which means we develop the cold and flu products in liquid, tablet and capsule form.
“I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in science and I’m excited to have hands-on experience while learning at the same time. There’s so much opportunity at Reckitt and they really care about their staff.
“Ron Dearing UTC supported me to prepare for my apprenticeship with mock interviews and presentations, which helped me get through the interview process.”
Leoni’s line manager Alex Keable, Formation Associate at Reckitt, said: “When we look for apprentices, we want independent critical thinkers, which is what we get from Ron Dearing UTC. They treat their students as adults.
“It’s tough coming into a large workplace as an 18-year-old, as many employees have degrees, masters degrees and PhDs, so it’s great that they have that mindset. It’s amazing to see how far they can go. Leoni has made a fantastic start to her apprenticeship at Reckitt.”