Business Leadership Internship Review

I really enjoyed my ten weeks with Centrica. Not only did they give us projects and tasks which where being implemented in the business but they gave us room to improve our skillset and get what we wanted out of the internship. I had my management skills, team working skills and presentation skills developed.

I felt very valued, my opinion was always considered. Everyone no matter their seniority or where they were in the business would make time to speak or help to you if they could. I have never had an office environment like it where everyone was so friendly and willing to help.

In terms of support of guidance I had weekly 1:1 sessions and if I needed more help I could always go to my manager or supervisors. However I was also given a lot of freedom, you weren't monitored 24/7 but it would be apparent if you weren't getting work done etc.

Some days were busier than others but it was what you made of it. Every day you would be busy doing something, however some days were very busy and you needed that quieter day for some time to reflect on what you had done in meetings or phone calls before.

I was given lots of responsibility. I was tasked with running the implementation side of iteration projects, meaning in many cases I had to set up and lead phone calls with stakeholders and project leaders. I was also tasked with leading the charity team so had to manage a team of 9.

The skills I have developed I think will aid me in the future in University, even taking with me more confidence in my abilities. I can't recommend this internship enough, as you will come out of it if anything with a clear focused mind for your third year ready for a grad scheme.

Relaxed and calm, no one was frustrated, and everyone worked at a low level of noise. It also wasn't frowned upon talking, or being on your phone, but there were booths and areas on the floor space where you could take that phone call or have a proper discussion away from the desk.

Very well organised. We had an introductory day to help us understand the wider business and it's key values and to get to know those on different streams. Then we had a development day to help us improve team working skills and a presentation preparation day to help us improve on our presenting skills. At the end of the ten weeks we had a presentation day to present to a graduate talent board and explain how our ten weeks had gone and what we had learnt from the process.

I felt invested in, my time was paid for here and my accommodation was paid for. Not only that but I was given a work phone and laptop. Any expenses done on work time such travel wouldn't put you out of pocket as you could claim back - this usually went back in your bank account quickly too!

The graduate position looks good as the company take time to develop you and your skills and push you higher up in the company as a result. You are placed in many different areas of the business to see where you thrive in 8 month placements, which after the first placement you can choose yourself and apply where you'd want to be.

During my placement there was lots of opportunities to go out with other interns, we would do something several times a week. The only annoying thing was the price of taxis at the end of a night out, but a bigger group meant that was cheaper. One intern even set up an awards evening where we all dressed up for it and went out afterwards.

Expensive - but we didn't have to pay for our accommodation so that saved a lot of money.

There are only pubs in Egham, so if we wanted to go out we'd have to travel to Windsor or London.