Risk Strategic Analyst Review

I enjoyed my placement year primarily due to Lloyds Banking Groups culture. I learnt a lot and put my degree into real life context which makes it seem worth while.

As an industrial placement student (IP) you feel highly valued. You are seen as the next generation of the group and the amount of training and support you receive just echo's my opinion.

Support and guidance are a main factor of your IP year. I gained monthly feedback sessions which only allowed me to grow professionally and get to where I wanted to be by the end of the year.

You are definitely busy on a daily basis. You are filling a full time position with valuable work to be done. Even on the quieter days, there is plenty to be getting involved with whether that be organising charity events or getting involved in the wider IP community.

I was in a strategic role and as a result given a lot of opportunities to take on responsibility. Every day there was a different piece of work that I owned and ran with which was my responsibility whether it succeed or fail.

The skills I have developed will only benefit me moving forward. I am a more confident person and communicate in a much more succinct clear way. I have gained a professional qualification which can only benefit me moving forward and looking for a permanent role. What I have learnt at university has been valuable but not as valuable as the experience I have gained whilst at Lloyds Banking Group.

The atmosphere isn't what you would expect. It is more relaxed and more team orientated. There is definitely a friendly atmosphere where everyone is willing to help one another.

As the role you are going into has been around for years, just filled by different people, the placement is well organised and effective to get the best out of you as possible.

Whilst here I managed to complete a professional qualification, attend several skills sessions, attend mentoring meetings and role model interviews. The firm invested a great amount in myself and other IPs development.

There is a pathway straight onto the graduate scheme from the IP year. In addition, there is help offered for those who want a role elsewhere or still want to work at Lloyds Banking Group but not on the graduate scheme as it isn't for everyone.

In most cases there are around 15 IPs in each site, 100 nationwide. As you are working together a lot of the time, the social scene is good. Lunch's together and nights out always went down a treat.

I worked in Halifax, it was cheap as well as it being easy to find free parking.

Halifax has a reputation for dodgy nights out and cheap drinks. There are 2/3 clubs with numerous bars. Halifax also has the added benefit of having a handy train station with quick links to Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield for better nights out!

Definitely. You're encouraged to become part of the group, not just someone who works in it.