Trainee Cost consultant Review

I loved working for Mace. Right from the very word go. Everyone was extremely helpful and gave me such good guidance throughout the internship. The office atmosphere is friendly and not intimidating at all, My line manager wanted to involve me in projects straight away. The office is really central in London and very easily accessible, a really good location. My line manager, [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyPlacement Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] was brilliant, she was very organised and made you feel comfortable, I believe this is shown when she said to me "You're here to learn and get the best out of your time with Mace, no question is too silly!" Which was really nice as it gave me the confidence to ask the questions which may seem stupid, but it's how I learn and grow.

I measure value in the work they set out for you. If they only offer you jobs that are non important or not helpful to you or the company, then I feel like there is no value there. However this definitely was not the case with Mace and my colleagues. On the second day, I got introduced to my line manager, who introduced me to the whole team, at the same time, [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyPlacement Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] was already sorting out site visits and client meetings for me to go to, to make me understand the industry and how it operates even further, these important events shows how my line manager valued me, as well as this, invitations to certain events also made me feel extremely valued, as only being an intern, means I could be left out of certain things, but my colleagues made sure I wasn't.

Guidance and support was given all over the business, and from a vast range of people as well, from the managing director to an assistant cost consultant. The support and guidance was endless. There would always be someone on hand to guide me and provide a solution to whatever problem I had. However, I was not spoon fed, which I think is a key element to personal growth in skills and knowledge.

I always had something to be getting on with, how they operate at Mace is that, if you're sitting around waiting for work, then you're not doing it right. I always had something on, some things a bigger priority than others, however there was always something that needed to be done. there was never a moment where I thought I could just sit around and get away with doing no work, If I had nothing on, I asked colleagues in the office and they were more than happy to supply me some.

I felt like at the start, it was very much just getting to grips with the industry and I was frequently asking questions and also needing someone close by to check I'm doing it correctly. But as the weeks rolled on, I naturally gained more confidence and in turn, the responsibility also grew. Towards the end of my placement, around the 7th week, I started my own valuations on a big project, which was exciting as it was the biggest responsibility I had to date.

I feel like the skills I developed over the summer will massively influence my studies for the coming year, as instead of learning from a lecture theatre, I am learning real life professional skills that directly relate to the industry, because they are coming from real life scenarios within the industry . I have learnt so much over the summer, skills that I can use in my university year coming up, but also skills that can be used for when I eventually enter the real life industry in the future.

The atmosphere was the perfect mix of professional and friendly. As a student, and having not experienced office life before, I was worried about not settling in and feeling intimidated, especially as Mace are a big company to work for. However this feeling was completely gone after the first week, everyone is extremely hard working and friendly, and there was no hostility at all, there is almost a family atmosphere around the office, it's great to be around.

The HR team set up the first week very well, where the first day was getting to know the company and its values. When I got to meet my time, I was immediately involved with a few projects and also a few meetings which I felt was very organised. The workload that I would experience also had structure to it, where it seemed to be a constant flow and there was no break in work either.

The training at Mace is fantastic, they have an e learning portal that you can use, filled with compulsory training but also training you can choose to enrol in. professional development at Mace is also fantastic, I was given a document that measures my development and how well I was doing, which is good because it identifies areas which are positive but also areas for improvement.

I'd love to come back Mace for my 3rd year placement, the fact that I am comfortable with the company and that I agree with their values and ambitions, is a big factor to why I enjoyed my summer internship so much. The training and development that Mace offers is also a key factor, I believe it's the best in the construction world for training and development.

There was a good social scene, yes, where on Fridays I would meet up with fellow interns and placement students, and it would be a nice social chat in a bar, out of office. As well as this, the social events with my office were also really good, where there would be team drinks and also comms meetings, with a social aspect at the end of them.

I commuted from my original home in Kent, the train journey was completely fine but the price was a bit dear! The socialising is great however, there are plenty of bars and restaurants around the Moorgate area for friends and family to meet you at. Being in London though, does have its price unfortunately.

I think working in central London doesn't need an explanation, it really speaks for itself, plenty of clubs around! Studio 338 just re opened which is good news! However, being a student and having an overdraft, unfortunately means my funds don't agree with the nights out!

Being only a summer placement, there wasn't really an opportunity for me to get involved with activities outside of work, there was a chance to go on a Mace volunteering day, apparently which is good fun with fellow colleagues. I do know of social activities that go on throughout the year within the office, however it was a shame I wasn't there to experience them.