Assistant Manager (Intern) for Retail Engagemenet and Responsible Business Review

I had such a great time in my placement, I felt like I learned so many new things and got to experience a wide range of activities that occurs in the bank on a day to day basis. Coming into the internship I had no idea what to expect- I honestly thought I was just going to make teas and coffees for everyone, so I was pleasantly surprised at my level of involvement within my team and I had a blast! Albeit, it was at times hard work I definitely found it enjoyable and can't find much to complain about.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues and they made me feel like a part of the team, they never made you feel like you were "just an intern". I was given quite a bit of responsibility and in that sense made me feel extremely valuable because I actually had an effect on the outcome of certain tasks since my colleagues relied on me to do my job and get the task done. I was always encouraged to voice my opinions and ideas in any situation (of course where appropriate) and they actually took it on board and helped to develop my ideas.

My whole team and particularly line managers were extremely supportive of me, they always encouraged me to ask questions (no matter how silly they may have sounded) and always listened to my ideas and thoughts. Regulary 121 sessions were extremely key for me because I got to find out what I was doing well and what I could be improving on- it was from this where I really learned how to play on my strengths and use them within my working environment and with the different tasks I was handed. I wasn't just given support from my managers but also colleagues around me (and some weren't even from my own team)- most of the people I encountered were willing to offer up any sort of knowledge and support that they could. The company also teamed me up with a buddy/mentor who was independent of the team I was working in, and was on a graduate scheme and was on call if I wanted any advice, especially things I may have been to shy/uncomfortable asking my colleagues which was great!

It really depended on the day and what was going on, or if there was anything in particular that my line manager needed doing (i.e. deadlines, presentations, emails etc). There were days where I was extremely busy and days where there wasn't a whole lot to be getting on with, but in general it's up to you (the intern) on how you spend your days. You may not have a packed schedule i.e. not many meetings in a day, but you can always set up your own meetings and do your own research into the company or areas that you're interested in.

I was surprised at the level of responsibility I was given- I honestly thought that the extent of my role would just be to observe others around me and make teas and coffees but it was nothing like that. I was extremely involved in team activities and the roles and tasks that I undertook actually mattered- i.e. actually had an effect on meetings and communications within the team. Like I mentioned before, I felt valued and that I actually mattered.

From my time here I've been exposed to the large scope of the bank and met so many different people who gave me insights into the different roles within the company. There were skills that you had to learn and some that you built on- for me I was able to build on my communication and interpersonal skills, since you're constantly meeting people or doing phone conferences. The main thing that I had to learn was being able speak up and voice my opinions and ideas- I'd always been a passive and quite a shy person and thought that my role would simply be just to take a back seat and observe- so when I learned that it's your ideas and proactiveness that impresses people within this company, I had to change my ways! So in that respect, this skill is so important that it'll be something that will stay with me for life.

Within the company itself the people that you're surrounded with are generally nice people. There's such a friendly atmosphere in my office (although I appreciate that every office is different and it may not be like that everywhere)- there's always someone willing to help you or give you any sort of advice. There's an atmosphere of professionalism too!

I would say that it was quite organised, but there was never a set everyday structure to what I was going to do everyday, however this is mainly due to the team that I worked in- so that's just the way that my team operated in general which I had no complaints about. Meetings and tasks were scheduled but it was mainly down to what you made of your day- and how you chose to spend it, so organisation really depended on you- managers etc were there to support you.

I felt like the company invested greatly in me- I was always encouraged to be involved in something; I even got to sit in a focus group with a company Group Director! I was always encouraged to learn new things and meet new people, to express whatever interest I had within the company; and in doing that my manager would try to set up an activity so that I got to get an insight into that area of interest for me. I was even being encouraged to sit at a meeting in Leeds!

Extremely appealing! I'm actually quite sad to be leaving my placement and am hoping to get on the graduate scheme next year! In all honesty, I've never been involved with a company that's so inclusive and ethical- they do their best to make sure colleagues feel valued and not just their customers. The bank is even partnered with Children in Need, where one of my tasks was to try and raise as much money as I could in an intern charity team, so it's a great testament to the kind of company that Lloyds are.

I live in London and my placement was within London and so I never really took much interest with the social scene (so I can't really give much input here). However, there were quite a few events held just for the interns where you got to meet people in the same position as you which is great. Also, with the different charity teams there were alot of events held too (organised by interns).

Living from home the cost of living was fine, however London is an expensive area when it comes to socialising (especially central London where I'm based- but there are happy hours!).

I can't say much with this just because I live in London and so I'm accustomed do the different areas, but in general there's a lot of different places that you could choose from, whether you wanted to go to a bar or club- the tube makes it easy to get to places too. Gresham St is extremely close to Shoreditch which is amazing for night life!

I would say that there was- especially because all interns were involved in a charity challenge where you had to raise money for Children in Need and so there was a lot of activity to do with fundraising, whether it be a pub crawl or a cocktail masterclass for interns.