Service Excellence Analyst Review

I enjoyed most of the work I did on my internship, primarily because of the variety of tasks I had on offer. I was able to work across different teams and contribute to a variety of projects in a very short space of time. As a result no two days were the same which made the overall experience varied and stimulating. In addition I enjoyed tasks that were both independent and group orientated, both customer focused and analytically focused, all of which enabled me to dabble into multiple fields in the business and gave me the chance to get to know a large number of people on site.

My colleagues in the business made me feel extremely well valued within the company. After having shown me the processes used, and how to complete more technical tasks I was able to work independently and act on my own iniatitive, whilst being able to ask them for support. After a few weeks, colleagues would be approaching me for information and help with certain tasks which made the work I do feel valuable and of use to them an to the business. I was provided with real tasks that would have impact on my team, which meant I felt my work and myself as a part of the team was valued.

From start to end I was offered an immense amount of support during my placement. My colleagues and line managers were eager to help and would ensure I was comfortable with the work I was undertaking. Moreover, the Graduate Team conducted weekly check-ins to check up on our progress, thoughts and how we feel about progressing further in the business. We were offered an immense amount of insight on the opportunities available to us and any grievances were promptly addressed. Thus, I felt very well supported and guided throughout the internship.

How busy I was varied on a day to day basis. Certain weeks where new projects were rolled out were very busy, with a lot of correspondence and face to face contact with people across the sight to deal with any issues and clarify informational and actions that needed to be implemented. Other days where projects had just been completed would be quieter and there would be more time to work independently on our own projects and to work on our final presentations, that would take place at the end of the 2 month internship.

The amount of responsibility I was given depended largely on how much I was keen to take on. Having shadowed for a few days and gained a small role in a focus group project I began to ask for more challenging tasks. My manager was keen to quench my thirst for a larger project and I was consequently given more and more responsibility as I became more settled and familiar with the business. Line managers and the graduate team and very responsive to your own needs and the more I put in the more I found I got out. Towards the end of my internship I was responsible for a number of important projects that would have real lasting effects within my team and on site, this ofcourse was not without guidance, I was still able to gain support and guidance throughout.

I have gained a number of new skills throughout this placement. Firstly, I worked a lot with data and excel spread sheets (an entirely unfamiliar and initially daunting territory). I learnt various new formulae as well how to use data in a business environment to back and support your work. This no doubt is beneficial in any career as well as in academic essay writing.

The atmosphere in the office was very positive, everyone was friendly and extremely motivated to do the work they do. This no doubt rubbed off and meant that it was an enjoyable and exciting place to work. The office also had some engagement events which were very fun and made the atmosphere even more pleasant. There were often stalls in the canteen from companies that were subsidised to come offer their services to Centrica Employees. We also enjoyed casual payday attire and the odd employee that would bring in some home baked treats.

The overall co-ordination was well organised, in terms of the information we were given on location, accommodation and the like. moreover the various networking and training events that took place were also well organised and communicated well. In terms of the day to day organisation, this relied on your own input and your interaction with your line manager. I found that at first there was not much structure or organisation to the day, a natural by-product of being a new employee in a large company. After settling in, I communicated to my manager that I wanted more structure to the day and tasks that were a bit more long term. This meant that the rest of my time was very well structured and organised, hence it is important that you play a role in communicating what you want to get out of the experience and play a role in how your days are organised.

Centrica invested heavily in all its summer interns. We had various development and training days that were set up and accommodation, transport and food where all provided by the company. The development day gave us a chance to network and meet other interns and hear about what they had been doing. We also had an excel training day and a presentation training day all of which provided a host of valuable and transferable skills. We were also offered the chance to do a one day's experience on a different site, a great chance for me to see how the company operates in multiple sectors.

Future employment with the company is very appealing. There is a host of opportunities and various sectors that are available. Having seen how much it invests in its employees and the positive environment it promotes it would be great to have the chance to work for Centrica. The variety of posts on offer mean it is more a question of finding the right role suited to me, which I am sure the Graduate Scheme will enable me to do.

I was placed with 2 fellow interns in Manchester and we consistently enjoyed social activities throughout our time. The graduates in the area were also very welcoming and invited us to the Graduate Events they put on. Manchester being a big city there was plenty to do and see. We also enjoyed various social events that occurred following various development and training days, meaning more time to meet and talk to the other 55 interns that were also on the internship.

The cost of living and socialising in Manchester was the same as anywhere else in the UK and did not differ from the South East where I am based. Food for day trips to London to complete training and development days was reimbursed (another perk of the job), but in general we were in student-style accommodation and therefore had access to a kitchen to make home cooked meals in.

I am not a nightlife person myself, however, I am aware that there was plenty of nightlife available which my fellow interns enjoyed whilst being in Manchester. Being in a main city, meant that there were options for everyone. I enjoyed the more quieter events and activities but the city caters to everyone and there was no shortage of things to do.

Any activities outside of work would be social activities that we ourselves organised. There's plenty to do in and around the area, and various sites to see. We were also tasked with doing some volunteering and were split into teams in order to compete for who could raise the most money. This offered another chance to get involved in something outside of work. I also visited the Peak District whilst being here, a very enjoyable experience and a great chance to explore the Northern parts of the country.