Supply Chain Management Intern Review

My internship was split into two 6-month placements. I really enjoyed my first placement, which I spent in one of the manufacturing facilities, I would give this 10/10! My second placement was in a central office, I would give this about a 4/10.

I was lucky to be put into two teams that were really appreciative of the work I was doing and valued the work I was doing.

I didn't have a great deal of contact with the Early Career team who coordinated my internship, but they were always there if I needed any support. The two line-managers I had were both really supportive. Due to the amount of interns, graduates and apprentices who are rotated around the company, I think most managers are well experienced in supporting interns.

In my first 6-month placement, I barely had a moment to stop - which was fantastic! In my second placement however I had some days and weeks where I didn't have a lot going on.

In my first attachment, I was given a massive amount of responsibility. I ended up filling in for the job which I was supposed to be supporting, which I'm sure is far more than the company expected to give to an intern. In my second placement, my role was effectively supporting the team, so I had a bit of responsibility in that sense, but not loads.

Because I've had the chance to complete two very different 6-month attachments, I've learnt so much more than I think most internships would offer. The polar opposite environments I was placed in provided a great deal of perspective about the company as a whole, as well as teaching me a range of various skills and competencies. Even though I didn't enjoy my second attachment quite so much, I can't deny that I've learnt a lot of really beneficial things.

My first attachment was in a machining facility, so there was a lot of high energy, a lot of proactivity and a range of daily challenges which made it really interesting. There was always a collective drive to achieve the weekly delivery goals, which made it easy to feel part of the team. My second placement was in an office, which was a little more mundane. The people were lovely but it wasn't exactly an engaging environment.

Very well set up. I found out where my first attachment was in April before I started in June. My line manager was well aware of my arrival and I had relevant training set up for within the first several weeks of my placement. I was told in plenty of time the details of my second placement which began in January. The company have hundreds of apprentices which there is a really well-organised scheme for. The graduate scheme also seems very well funded and set-up. The internship scheme seems like the least looked after; although there are much less interns than graduates and apprentices so I can understand that.

I had SAP training which was necessary for my first attachment (SAP is a planning and control system which the company uses). I didn't have any other training but there wasn't anything else which I needed for the jobs I was given. I can understand why the company don't invest a massive amount into other development activities during the internship, as I was only there for a year and there's no guarantee of me staying I suppose.

There's a range of graduate schemes which I can apply to. They seem a lot better funded than the internship programmes, and I think they offer more opportunities for development. Each one has a starter job in mind to try and progress you into after the scheme is complete, which seems good.

There's an apprentice and graduate association which the interns are more than welcome to join, although I didn't receive a lot of contact about that.

I lived at home. Derby's great. I'm sure it's cheaper than lots of other cities.

Not exactly London but Derby's got a few decent places and some good pubs.

There were. Rolls-Royce have a leisure centre where they have badminton and stuff. There's also a rugby and football team I think. I didn't get involved in this much though.