Summer Student Review

I found working at Barnett Waddingham to be a really enjoyable and insightful experience. The Actuarial team were all very friendly, approachable and helpful, and aside from the Trustee, Investment and Corporate Consulting projects all of my time was spent on real client work so I got a feel for the work I would be doing if I started at the firm as a graduate.

The atmosphere in the office is very relaxed, and I was made to feel like part of the team immediately upon starting. All members of the team were very happy to help me out when I got stuck and didn't give me any rubbish jobs just because I was the summer student, so don't come here if you're hoping for 8 weeks making tea and photocopying!

Any support I required I felt that I could ask for it from my mentor/supervisor without any issues and they would be very happy to help. I had a review mid-placement along with a final one so I was aware of my progress and anything that I could improve on, and if they were satisfied with the standard of my work and my general performance in the role. If I needed any support or guidance I know I could have asked anyone in the team not only my mentor/supervisor, and they would've helped me out

On the whole I never felt too busy or bored. The amount of work does tend to ebb and flow a little and I know they are quieter over summer than the rest of the year, which is great as there is time to get to grips with the things you're doing for the first time, but it could make it difficult to find you the same variety of work you would experience at other times of year. In my case though, the work was incredibly varied and my workload was well-balanced, you are expected to prioritise and ask for more work/turn it down to manage your time effectively which is great as you'll never be too bored/busy if you are proactive.

I was given the responsibility of drafting many documents for clients to be checked by my superiors. You are responsible for the work being done to a high level and for finding all the correct figures and wording. The level of responsibility is exactly the same as it would be for a graduate starting in the role.

The three projects I was required to undertake as part of my placement required a large amount of planning and time management and all involved delivering a short presentation, so my presentation skills have definitely improved. The knowledge I have gained about myself and how I work best will help my degree studies massively, and will give me the motivation to get up earlier and do work of a morning. Mostly the skills developed will help a lot if you decide to pursue and Actuarial career in the future, but there are also plenty of transferrable skills I have developed over my time at BW.

The atmosphere in the office is incredibly positive and relaxed, and makes going to work a much more enjoyable experience. Personally, office environment is very important to me and affects my mood and therefore productivity quite largely, and I therefore I found BW a great place to be and a really great working environment. One of the top reasons people come to work for BW from other companies is their atmosphere and company values.

The internship was very well organised and the whole 8 weeks ran very smoothly for me in the Leeds Office. The induction days are very well thought out and we had the opportunity to meet the other summer students who would be working in the other offices, and there is a good balance of client and project work.

I was required to do a technical presentation in a team meeting which developed my presentation skills. I also attended a talk by the head of Trustee Consulting and would have been invited to any seminars if they has taken place in my office over the 8 weeks. The firm invest time making the summer programme as successful as possible, and you are given all the support and learning you need to succeed and decide if an Actuarial career is for you.

I am very excited to have been offered a job following my summer placement and don't even have to think twice about accepting the offer!

There are often drinks on a Friday with people in the whole office not just in the Actuarial team which is really nice. During my time at BW I went to an escape room with the Actuarial team which was a lot of fun, and have been invited to the theatre after my placement. They also make an effort to keep in touch with you throughout the year between your offer and starting back, inviting you to any events that are taking place.

The cost of living in Leeds is relatively cheap compared to the rest of the country, and living there is very affordable. Drinks are very cheap too which makes for a cheap night out.

The centre of Leeds has an amazing nightlife, with many pubs/bars/clubs to choose from. Whatever the type of night out you enjoy, you will be able to find places that suit you in Leeds with no problem.Most places are independent, with many quirky and interesting places if you like that sort of thing. Would definitely recommend a night out in Leeds.

We had a night out at an escape room which we all found very enjoyable and helped me to get to know everyone as it was in my first couple of weeks there. There was also a rounders match organised which plenty of people got involved in. I was also responsible for organising a lunch for my last day and had the opportunity to organise out of work activities myself.