Building & Project Consultancy Summer Scheme Review

I really enjoyed the internship as I was involved with lots of site visits with different members of the Building & Project Consultancy team. These site visits have given me a real feel for the job and have broadened my technical knowledge and understanding of my degree subject. Going out with different members of the team meant I was able to get to know the team in my office where this might have been difficult otherwise.

My colleagues made me feel welcome to the team and ensured I was familiar with the office and facilities. Throughout the internship they were always on hand to help or provide advice if I had any questions. I appreciated being able to help out with some tasks and reports and felt that my contribution was appreciated.

My mentor and team members were always on hand if I had any queries. Was given lots of pointers to useful guidance notes, resources and publications as well as an insight into the RICS APC process which will prove invaluable. As part of the internship there were meetings and events organised with information on different departments within the company.

Given the nature of the work there were some areas which I could not be involved with. Time spent in the office was quiet at times. I was given a summer project to work on helped to balance this out and the number of site visits meant that overall there was still enough to do.

As I was on a four week placement the level of responsibility was reasonable.

During this internship I have increased my awareness of the information and resources available for studying for my degree and future APC. I have also developed my communication and observation skills and knowledge of recording methods that could be used for building surveys. This will be very beneficial to me in my degree studies and my career after university.

The office was open plan with teams in different divisions working across the same floor which made it easy to meet people from other divisions and learn more about the business outside of Building & Project Consultancy. Office events such as the dress down Fridays, lunch and learns and social events meant it was an enjoyable place to work.

I was issued with a guidebook and timeline of key events throughout the internship and made aware of my line manager and key contacts from day one. On my first day I was also given an induction into the office. Throughout the internship there was regular communication with the graduate team.

The organisation is one of the largest of its kind with operations abroad and a very strong brand. What particularly stood out to me is how well adjusted the organisation seems to be for the future and the strength of its performance. It was an enjoyable place to work with a strong graduate intake.

In our first week there was a walking tour organised around Birmingham of key Savills projects where I was able to meet with fellow placement students and graduates. There was also a drinks event and networking lunch in the office where I could meet and network with other colleagues in the office outside of my team.

The cost of living was reasonable when compared to any other city in the UK. The local buses are frequent and well connected with the office. A £40 student month pass is available for the buses which kept travelling costs to a minimum. There is lots of student accommodation available in the city at a reasonable cost.