Blend Test Services Placement Student Review

The people were amazing and I got the chance to work as a full time employee, using equipment and techniques not available to me at Uni and working on real projects. My data will me used for research for years to come and that is very rewarding. I worked hard. There is no disputing that. I was a laboratory technician for a year, not really a student. This was both good and bad. Day to day it was amazing I had the level of respect of a full time employee but during coursework deadlines and exams it was difficult as if I didn't do my technician work it didn't get done which could lead to very costly problems. I worked hard but it has really paid off for me now.

Very valued, I became the main operator on several tests which meant that I was the "expert" to turn to which made me feel an important part of the department.

My supervisor was absolutely amazing, she was always there and a friendly face when things went wrong. She was definitely the main reason that I achieved so much during my placement. CARSP was honestly amazing and I wish her all the luck in the future and can never thank her enough.

Extremely busy. The words "I have nothing to do" never applied to me. This meant that I could not study my distance learning modules while at work. For other departments in my company this was different, but in BTS you are a lab technician first and a student second. That is not always a bad thing but it meant that I had to use my annual leave as time of for revision and my exam period was a very stressful time.

So much. I was solely responsible for many of the instruments in the lab and if something went wrong it was up to me to fix it. There was always a support system but you were treated as a full time technician and were given the same level of responsibility. I even got the chance to train up my replacement almost independently. I worked hard and it paid off.

OMG so much. I am so confident in a lab now. After spending 8 hours a day in a lab it doesn't become a scary or strange place. I became confident working with all different kinds of people. I got to meet the CEO, I learnt chemical analytical techniques that most chemists don't get a chance to use until they graduate or go on to PhD. I have already complete a chemical research project, viva, and report so for my masters this year it is like dejavu. Unlike last year I now know how to go about it. It was an amazing year. I really did work hard and it paid off. You get out of a placement what you put into it. Lubrizol is supportive to students and gives them huge opportunities but it is up to you to use them.

Depended on whether or not I was there. My job was lab based, which meant that most of the day the office was empty but the lab was amazing. It is not as serious as you might think at first but equally if you are busy and need to work you will be left to get on with it. There was always someone there to help you or have a laugh with. It was a welcoming place.

Pretty well. For my department I was a lab technician. Most of my role was the same as what any of the full time technicians did. So it was more of a job than a placement. My university was terrible though.

A lot of time and money. Since I was considered a full time employee I went on training courses as well as the training for the lab work I was doing. The safety training was also massive and we were always kept up to date.

For me personally they are good. Sadly Lubrizol does not have a specific graduate scheme but as long as you impress they remember you. Lubrizol considers a placement as a "year long interview" many of the staff have done placements.

Yes/no. Depends on you. There are 30-40 students at Lubrizol. Some years are more tight nit than others. Our year was friendly but I spent far more time with the full timers than I did with them so the friends I made were not what I was expecting. I will definitely be keeping in touch with several people.

Derby cheapish but the expensive part was commuting. Lubrizol is in the middle of nowhere so I had to pay a lot for petrol.

Popworld was the best club--I wish I was joking.

Lots, there is a whole Social and Sports club. I went on a few. They try to make Lubrizol a bit of a community.