Placement Trainee Review

Really enjoyed my placement year. It is a great company which provides good support throughout the whole 12 months. The sector which I was in provided me with a lot of exposure to amazing projects and everyone is very approachable. It definitely matched my very high expectations. I felt valued but always felt like I could reach out to someone for help.

There is a great environment in the office and in each project. Everyone is always friendly and approachable. There were a lot of networking events throughout the year, from the company as a whole, the sector and the projects we were in. There were also a lot of sessions with the other placements and graduates which allows you to get to know everyone and makes you feel really welcomed in the company.

Although I felt like I was given enough responsibility, I was never "thrown in the deep end". I worked closely with my supervisors which meant that I could easily reach out for help. I also felt like questions were welcomed and everyone was always happy to provide support, both the project team and the wider team.

Overall, I felt like me workload balance was just right. At the start of the placement, when I was still getting to grips with everything, it wasn't so busy. However, towards the end, at busy times, there were definitely some long days. So all in all, it was just right and balanced. I was often asked if I was okay with my workload and whether I need help but never found it to be an issue.

I definitely felt like I was given enough responsibility. This obviously increased throughout my year at Mace but I always felt trusted. I got to manage and own certain things and produce some documents for senior people. On the other hand, I never felt overwhelm and often asked for my supervisor to review any important pieces of work that I produced.

The majority of skills that I developed throughout my placement year were soft skills. There were some sessions arranged specifically for the placement trainees which were aimed at developing skills that could be useful at university (presentation skills, etc.). There were also other training sessions for more technical aspects and throughout the year I gained a deeper understanding for the construction industry.

The atmosphere was great. As mentioned previously, the company provided a lot of social gatherings which allowed everyone to get to know each other. This meant that the office environment was always friendly and welcoming. The office was never too serious, allowing you to talk to your colleagues, but it was professional at the same time.

The placement team was excellent. It provided a lot of support on the run up to the start of the placement. The communication was great and we were assigned a buddy who we could get in touch with any questions. At the start of the placement, it took a couple of weeks to be fully assigned a project but since then I always knew my place in the sector. Great communication, good support and good opportunities.

The company always encouraged me to go on site visits, training sessions, take a look at different projects, etc. There were some training sessions organized by the placement team but also by the sector itself which targeted technical areas which we felt we needed more training on. I also got the chance to travel as I got involved in a project abroad. Overall, the company went above and beyond.

Got the chance to return for a summer placement/ graduate scheme. Amazing company to work at.

As previously mentioned, there were a lot of social opportunities for both, placement students only and the company as a whole. We also had to work together to organize a charity event which ended up being a lot of fun. We also organized some nights out/ drinks ourselves as we grew quite close.

London is quite expensive but the salary is adjusted to the cost of living.

Great pubs and bars around the area. Centrally located so everything is readily available and it is easy to get anywhere.

The company provided a lot of opportunities. We were heavily encouraged to take part in one of the many volunteering opportunities that were advertised. As mentioned before, a lot of social events regularly took place. We were also encourage to go on site visits and visit other projects, etc. Furthermore, I got to organize a charity event with the other placement students which ended up being a lot of fun.