Category Development Executive Intern Review

The atmosphere at PRUK is a very enjoyable and relaxing one. I felt comfortable from day one and found I settled in quickly. I was given the opportunity to go to various events throughout the year and was always surrounded by good company.

I was responsible for all sorts of different tasks during my time at PRUK, and colleagues were always extremely thankful whether the work was time consuming or not. This made me feel like all the work I did was worthwhile and of use to the company.

For the majority of my placement I was managed extremely well by my supervisor and I could not fault him. Unfortunately he left the company towards the end of my year and I wasn't given any warning or support, and found myself unsure on how to deal with various things. This was quite a disappointing end to my year.

My workload varied depending on the time of the month/year because I was responsible for numerous sets of reports that were sent out on a monthly/quarterly basis. This meant I had periods where I was extremely busy but then times where I was short of things to do. This did mean I was able to spend time on uni work during my work days which took pressure off in my evenings.

I was given a great deal of responsibility at PRUK, which at times was hard work but as a whole was very rewarding. I was personally responsible for a set of reports which were regularly sent out to senior staff. I was also able to manage the category side of brand planning alone which allowed me to work how I liked and the ways I thought were best.

I learnt countless new skills throughout my time at PRUK from general teamwork and communication skills to being confident on numerous data systems that I had never used before. These will all help me in my future when applying for jobs.

The atmosphere in the office was informal and relaxing, making it a friendly and comfortable place to work. The office is located in Chiswick Business Park which has a great outdoor space and is in a lovely area. There is always things going on throughout the week in the park which provides a sense of a community.

The internship was organised very well and the process was straightforward. I came to work on my first day knowing what to expect and without any worry.

I was thoroughly trained in all the data systems that I needed to use within my first few weeks at the company, and I was able to get involved with any training if I felt it was necessary. I was also given the opportunity to take part in Bar School which resulted in me achieving my WSET Level 1 in Spirits.

I cannot see myself coming back to work for PRUK after university. This is mainly because the role that is associated with graduates does not appeal to me personally, however I know several people in the office that have come back after the internship scheme. I was also surprised with the way the company dealt with the situation when my supervisor left, which partly put me off coming back.

I was lucky enough to get on really well with the other interns during my placement year. We got involved in a volunteering day together and had an organised leaving meal. It would have been nice if there was more opportunities to get involved with things together rather than organising ourselves.

London is an expensive place to live therefore I had to come to terms with the fact I wouldn't have saved any money from my placement before I even began. There is so much to do and I never got bored, and there are plenty of things to do which don't cost money.

There are so many types of nightlife in London that you can always find something that you are in the mood for. There are countless bars/restaurants/clubs that can be either casual or formal. The best nightlife is in central London which is about 30 minutes from the office on the tube. The only downside would be the cost.

I took part in running club every week during Wednesday lunch time, and the company offer yoga and pilates classes once a week to employees. I also got the chance to go to London Cocktail Week which was great fun.