Senior Technologist Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my year at BAT where I was treated as a proper employee and given very important research to do with the next generation products. I wouldn't hesitate recommending working for BAT to anyone.

I was valued as I was given important work for the company. Everyone treated me as an equal employee and this allowed me to gain a valuable insight into working life

I had two managers who were very supportive. One met with me every week to discuss what I had been doing and the next steps to my project. The other taught me how to code in R and I was a beginner

I would be busy from 9-5 everyday with one hour for lunch. While it was a lot of work, it was enjoyable and I found that the time passed very quickly

I was given lots of responsibility including leading my own project. My manager would just meet with me once a week to discuss the pasts weeks work and plan the next week's work. I would be left to make big decisions and I was trusted to do this.

BAT offered lots of training. I completely learnt how to code in R from scratch. I went to training to do with presentation skills, interview skills and a CV workshop. Furthermore I attended and completed a project management course run by Citigroup. Also, I attended an effective communication course and a course called BAT the way forward

The atmosphere was very good. I had an open plan office and it was easy to go and ask people questions or ask their advice. Everyone in the office was very sociable and would eat lunch together and often meet up outside of work.

The placement programme at BAT has run for many years and has been set up very well. They care about the work you do but also your general well being. They give you a comprehensive induction into the company during the first month so you learn about the whole business. Also, they run workshops and courses so you learn new skills outside of your project work

They invested a lot of time and money into me. Obviously my project cost money to run but also I had to be fully trained to code in R effectively. Also, the courses and workshops they ran cost the company money but they were all worth it!

Towards the end of a year we will do an assessment centre and there are graduate programmes available at BAT. There have been previous students who now work in BAT and have been promoted multiple times.

All the students were very sociable. There was 11 of us and we would often go out especially at weekends. My colleagues would also go out too and we played football every Wednesday and often go to the pub to watch the football.

Very cheap. I pay £82 a week for my house which I share with 4 others. This is far cheaper than in Bath.

Very good. Plenty of clubs and bars in Southampton to go to and then Portsmouth and Bournemouth are only a short train journey away. Even London isn't too far!

BAT has a big sports and social society. The give plenty of subsidised events such as football games, racing and ice skating. Furthermore there is a football club, cricket club and even a fun on site!