I got interested in the training scheme from the website. I visited the British Sugar factory at Bury with an external conference and, having seen the factory, was curious as to exactly what it did. When I discovered it was sugar, I then wanted to find out exactly what went in to making sugar so I started looking at the website and from that the graduate scheme. And my interest went from there really.
 

At the Wissington site which is where I'm currently placed not only do we have a sugar factory but the first UK bioethanol plant, a Phoenix Plant which extracts a co-product we work with, topsoil operations, large greenhouses and a CHP power plant that as well as supplying our factory with steam and electricity also supports the National Grid. There's a wide variety of processes going on, a lot to get involved in and a lot to learn.
 

I think the biggest thing that surprised me his how different every day is.  Every single person without exception that I've met in the company wants to help. No matter what level, they want to do all they can to help you. They'll tell you their knowledge, they'll teach you what they know and they'll encourage you so you can be the best and you can succeed.
 

The graduate scheme says that in 18 months you will be running a shift in the factory, however they're keen to hand you that responsibility early on. I'm 10 months in and I've already had a bit of a chance to get a feel for running the factory myself and shadowing other team leaders to get early responsibility