Strategy and Competition Summer Intern Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the FCA. This has been a great learning experience and I have had the opportunity to get involved with a range of projects which have kept me focused and busy. I have made some lifelong friendships with the other interns and hope to stay in contact with many of these in the future.

I really felt as though I became part of the team throughout my time here. I was invited to attend meetings and often asked for my input. I was given the responsibility of completing a note for record (similar to minutes) for a workshop meeting. These documents are very important so I felt that my colleagues really valued me by allowing me to take on this responsibility. All colleagues in my team were really friendly and invited me to ask questions and were always happy to help.

I had frequent catch up meetings with my manager. These were scheduled before I even arrived so that we would have at least 30 minutes a week to catch up on what I had been working on. These catch ups also offered me the chance to get answers to any questions I had about the things I was working on or just things in general. I was also allocated a buddy within my team, so that were I not able to ask my manager something, I could ask my buddy. I would have regular catch ups with my buddy to discuss the projects I was working on. These would also give me an opportunity to signpost any problems I may of been having and ask for feedback on my work. This system worked really well and it meant that I was always on track throughout the internship.

I always felt as though I had something to do. The tasks I had were varied meaning that I was able to change between different tasks each day. Because I had project based work, I was always receiving feedback meaning that my work could be updated and ammended. If there was a time when I perhaps had less work to do then I was able to complete online training in subject areas relevant to my work which were a good way to get to grips with difficult concepts.

The projects I was given to work on came with a relatively reasonable level of responsibility. I worked on a cost-benefit analysis where the work that I contributed will eventually be published in line with new policy documents. I also completed research and data analysis tasks for the purpose of the cost-benefit analysis where my findings will go towards the benefits section, demonstrating the positives of new policy proposals. I was in charge of making the agendas for meetings and taking notes. I was also tasked with putting together a presentation to give to a head of department of another division within the FCA. The information I provided was of great use.

At the beginning of my internship we had a session on personal development with an external company who specialise in this. From this opportunity, I was able to denote attributes that I would like to work on throughout my time on this internship and even after the internship. Working in the city has made me get into a really good routine. I now feel that when I get back to univeristy, I will be able to get the most out of my days.I have further developed my networking skills and have been able to connect with individuals throughout the company. The opportunity to present to senior individuals has allowed me to develop me public speaking skills and my presentation style. Working with complex financial concepts should assist me in my final year of study as I have an international money and finance module.

The atmosphere in the office was very friendly. People are very approachable and are always happy to help and assist you in any way that they can. I was tasked with solving a complex query which was on the topic of insurance firms. This was not my area of expertise but it was so quick and easy to set up a meeting with a colleague in the insurance team. I found that people will always try and make time for you. People from around the office often bring in cakes and sweets for special occasions and invite you to get involved, even if they have not directly worked with you.

The internship was well organised. Initially we had 3 days of induction training which allowed us to come to terms with what we should aim to get out of the internship, how the company is run and also a chance to get to know the other interns in the cohort. When I arrived for the first day with my team which I would spend the duration of my internship with, I was given some materials to get me started. This included initial reading and online learning to allow me to get to grips with what the team does. The following week I had a meeting with my manager in order to discuss the range of tasks that I would be working on so that I knew from the outset what I would be working on and what I would be expected to achieve.

After the assessment centre, we received feedback on all aspects of the centre. I had an hour long phone call with an external company where we discussed the aspects of the assessment centre where I had performed well and areas where there was room for improvement. We drew out areas that I would be able to develop on over the duration of my internship. During the induction period, we had a session with Kaplan. This was very interactive. We had the opportunity to decide what kind of person we were whether that be a driver or someone who is very analytical. This was interesting as it allowed you to see how you come accross to other people. We also had a workshop which focused on building a personal brand. This allowed us to really pick out attributes of ourselves that we considered strong and those which we thought had room for improvement.

The prospects are very appealing indeed. The two and a half year graduate scheme offers you a chance to work in a range of areas within a 'home' division and another division. There is also an opportunity for secondment which would be good to gain industry experience. We find out 2 weeks after completing the internship whether we have been successful in obtaining a place on the graduate scheme. I have completed a development report to showcase all the work I have done throughout my time here which will be used when deciding on whether or not I will be offered a place.

The interns often took part in social events. We tended to have weekly drinks which was a good chance to catch up on what we had been doing etc. Throughout the internship we had lunches and dinners at local restaurants. The sports and social club offer a range of events that we as interns were able to get involved in. We took part in a bowling event which took place at a local bowling alley in Canada Water. We had 2 games of bowling, 2 drinks and nibbles all for £12 which is really good value. I also got involved in netball whilst here. I played after work on a Monday and lunchtime on a Friday. Games were only £2 each and this was a great way to meet people from around the building and keep fit.

I lived at home and commuted daily. This helped with saving money as living close to London is quite expensive whereas the cost of the commute was not too bad. Because Canary Wharf is in zone 2, it is possible to save money by not travelling all the way into London (zone 1). One of the other interns was able to live in local student accommodation so this worked well if you lived too far to commute. The cost of socialising was relatively expensive due to the fact that the FCA is based in Canary Wharf. Compared to where I go to univeristy it was very expensive, however, being from London I am fairly used to the prices. There were however some cheaper options such as a Whetherspoons for drinks and restaurants such as Nando's and Pizza Express for meals.

The bars and restaurants in the area were very popular and often always busy after work, especially on a Thursday and Friday. The shopping centre opens quite late. There aren't necessarily any nightclubs or things in the area as it is a business district but it's easy to get into central London if you fancy something different.

The sports and social club offer a range of opportunities. I was able to get involved in netball which was played on a Monday evening and Friday lunchtime. At only £2 a game, this was a great way to keep fit and meet colleagues from the company. There's a theatre group where employees are able to access discounted tickets. I was able to get tickets for Matilda with a face value of £67 for £30 which is a great reduction. There were a range of other opportunities such as a cinema club, other sports and many more that unfortunately I did not get the chance to get involved in whilst here! The group of interns also took it upon themselves to arrange events outside of work and these were pretty successful, whether that be meals or drinks.