“I chose to do a Masters at the University of Greenwich because I wanted to do a taught program where I have mentors to help me and improve my knowledge in food safety and quality management systems. I got everything that I needed from this program, everything!”
Rumbidzai, a recent University of Greenwich graduate from the September 2021 cohort, with a master’s in Applied Food Safety and Quality Management with Industrial Practice, is an excellent example of the benefits of being determined. During her time at the University, she was supported by Step and worked closely with the team. In her search for a placement, she communicated clearly with companies about her requirements. This was a struggle for her because of the declines from companies and the deadline to secure a placement creeping in.
Determined to secure a placement as a Food Technologist in a company that encourages career progression and working with a manager willing to guide and help her, Rumbi tried other avenues such as LinkedIn and uploading her CV on job boards like CV Library and Totaljobs. Her efforts paid off, as she was approached by an agency that matched her with a role being advertised. The role had a two-step application process: 1st interview with HR and manager of the department and the 2nd interview with the managing director.
Determination being the fuel for her placement search journey, Rumbidzai successfully secured a role as a Food Technologist at En Route International, a global specialist in passenger solutions, supply chain services, and sourcing for airlines and airline caterers, based in Windsor.
“Step supported me very well. My CV was reviewed by Step; they told me what was missing and how to improve my CV”
Rumbidzai explained that Step guided her during her time at the university by
- going through her LinkedIn profile,
- providing steps to securing a placement,
- creating and posting live job vacancies,
- supporting with job applications
- delivering workshops—for example, the commercial awareness workshop, which informed students how to conduct industry research
- keeping her and other students with updating industry trends
“I would encourage every student to attend each and every workshop that is provided by Step, because it does help.”
Rumbidzai mentioned that her first year at the University of Greenwich was extremely relevant and useful for her placement. Her role at En Route involved providing food on a global level, handling key inspections and government officials as most of their products go through the borders, so modules such as Food Safety and World Trade and Food Inspection for Government Officials helped her fit into the environment quickly.
“Choosing the University of Greenwich and the course Applied Food Safety and Quality Management was one of the best decisions in my life”
She gave a shout out to Richard Fuchs- the course leader, stating that he was excellent, module leader- Linda Nicolaides and Stacey Duvenage, and all other module leaders. She explained that they created an unbelievable experience during the taught programme, the amount of knowledge they possessed, and guidance provided was incredible.
As a Food Technologist, Rumbidzai works closely with other teams within the company. Her role involves the following across a range of products:
- assisting with launching new products,
- creating product specifications for the product being onboarded- confirming compliance to the labelling legislation
- conducting supplier onboarding- verifying they have the relevant certification and products meet the Food Safety and Quality Standards,
- ensuring manufacturers and suppliers comply to the UK and EU regulation,
- undertaking supplier audits
- managing non-conformities
- handling customer complaints- investigating the root cause, implementing corrective actions, and establishing a preventive plan
Evidently, from the list of her responsibilities, Rumbi was able to develop her project management, time management, teamwork, and organisational skills. Her placement at En Route exceeded her expectations and following a successful placement year, her contract was extended.
Rumbidzai is confident that having completed her industrial practice year at the University of Greenwich and her role at En Route International, she is in a better position to grow her career in the food industry.