Training Co-ordinator Review

I really enjoyed my time with LBG. My line manager was very supportive in terms of my personal development and was always eager to find new work and projects I could get involved in, so that I had solid evidence of work I have done when I finished my 10 weeks at Lloyds. The team I was working with was very supportive, although everyone was based in different locations I felt that I had a lot of support where many people including managers would take time out of their day to speak to me about their role. The only thing it didn't enjoy as much what that as my team was based all over the country, I didn't have much face to face contact with my team including my line manager and sometimes it made me feel quite isolated, as my office had no other graduates or interns. Lloyds banking also place you in accommodation if you don't have accommodation in where you have been located. I was lucky enough to be placed in London, in terms of the social aspect it was amazing living with all the other interns. We did nights out and also there are endless places to explore in London.

I felt very valued by my colleagues; they really made me feel like part of the team. Even though my team was based all over the country, they were always willing to take time out and speak to me, answer any of my questions and just to teach me about different things.

My line manager was amazing; she was really into my personal development right from the start. Looking for different projects I could get involved in to build new skills, mainly stakeholder management, communication and organisation and planning. She didn't give me any of the typical administration tasks but different task which I actually got to learn a lot from. I was actually involved in a high priority project which was great. She also gave me the opportunity to shadow other colleagues in my team so that I can learn how the operation functions.

I felt some days I had a lot of work to do and some days I would have less. In GCS it is an ever changing environment, so you could have tasks sprung on you last minute.

One the main projects I was involved in I had to create a metrics spreadsheet, where all my figures were reported to the heads of function. I also had to send email out to important stakeholders, design a workbook. So I felt I was given a lot of responsibility in my placement.

The internship gave me a really good insight into group customer service operation at Lloyds Banking and it was completely different to what I imagined it to be. I felt like I have developed many skills such as communication, project management and organisation. I feel these skills will assist me in my studies as well as for future jobs and also just working in the banking industry is insightful. You also get to be involved in the responsible business challenge to raise money for children in need. I volunteered to be team leader, so I really got to learn how to manage a team, schedule meetings and calls and just be supportive throughout several weeks.

My office was mainly contractors from a consulting firm so I felt it was quite segregating. As my team was mainly based in across the country, it made me feel quite isolated and also there wasn't any other intern or graduate in my office who I could speak to unlike other London offices. So in terms of office experience I didn't have a great time. But people around me were always willing to help me with general support.

Because my line manager was very into my personal development, I felt it was organised. The first 2 weeks, I was just learning to see how the team works, by the third week I started to get more involved and now I feel I have a good understanding of how we operate even though it's only been a few weeks in.

My line manager was really into my personal development so I felt like she really did invest in me, to help me gain all the important skills in the 10 weeks. As she knew I wanted the graduate scheme, she really helped me develop the skills needed to get on the scheme. If you do well at the end of the 10 weeks, there is a possibility of a graduate scheme after you graduate from University, but ultimately HR makes the final decision.

If you do well on your internship, you can get a referral to the graduate scheme after you finish University. However it depends on your balance scorecard yourself and your manager has to fill out and also your interview which you have around the 8th week, then emerging talent (HR) come back to you with what they have decided. But as my manager knew I wanted the scheme, she found lots of different projects I could get involved in so that I would have a lot of evidence to put into my balance scorecard.

I was placed in London and also in the intern accomdation which was basically halls. There is an amazing social scene in London, lots of nights out, drinks after work and just exploring in London in general. I think living with other interns really made my internship as you spend a lot of time together.

Expensive - it's London. But if you work in London you get the London allowance, so it kind of makes up for it. The accommodation we were placed in was actually only a 20 minute walk to work so I didn't have to spend a lot on transport. But nights out can be very expensive. But there is so much to do in London and your only there for 10 weeks - so my advice is to explore as much as you can.

There's bar, pubs and clubs on every street of London. But drinks are expensive though.

As I was living at the Lloyds accommodation, we did a lot of nights out which was very fun. Some scholar on the scheme actual organised drink socials after work, so it was great meeting all the interns in London. As you all have to do the charity challenge, you could come up with your own events to organise such as football matches, socials etc.