Reporting Analyst Review

The internship was a wonderful insight into the finance world which was especially helpful for me as I am from a non-finance background. The internship programme is well structured, there are sector-specific inductions in the first week which give you a good idea of what you can expect and how to get the most out of your time working with the bank. Personally, the role that I was in is not something that I would want to have a career in the future but there were multiple opportunities to shadow other sectors and speak to senior figures in other parts of the bank.

The team that I was placed in are a joy to work with. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful, especially during the first few weeks when I was still settling in and getting to grips with the new environment. I got a chance to spend some time with most of my team members and got an insight into their specific roles. The tasks that were given to me are meaningful and genuinely contribute to what the team does.

My managers were usually available for any queries or concerns that I may have had. Whilst I would have liked more dedicated catch-up sessions, I appreciate that their jobs can be quite busy and sometimes they need to prioritise other pressing issues. During the first couple of weeks, they did a good job of explaining the different jargon and terms that I was unfamiliar with which was very helpful in understanding my role and the bank as a whole.

The work load tends to be quite high but manageable during the start of the week (Mon-Wed) as there are a lot of weekly tasks that have to be completed early in the week. Towards the end of the week, there isn't usually a lot of work tasks to complete but this gives me an opportunity to complete other tasks set as part of the 'Internship Development Journey' as well as the Helping Britain Prosper charity challenge.

The responsibility given was sufficient. I was given the responsibility of completing reports and tasks that were used in the packs sent out by the Performance MI team that I was part of. This involved meeting deadlines so that these could be sent out on time. I felt that I was just another member of the team without having too many expectations to get things right the first time.

The skills that I have developed will be incredibly useful going forward. The nature of the job meant that I relied on and was being relied upon by the rest of my team which developed my teamwork skills. I also got the opportunity to lead activities in sector-wide meetings which was a brilliant experience that developed my presenting skills. There was also numerous opportunities to network with other interns as well as senior individuals at the bank.

The atmosphere was generally very jovial and pleasant to be part of. I was able to have chats with my fellow team members about many non-work-related topics which is always nice. We also have had team meals where we go to a nearby restaurant for lunch which is a brilliant chance to get to know a bit more about your team in a relaxed environment.

Very good. The inductions took place in the first couple of weeks and they gave us a good idea of what to expect and it was a great opportunity to speak to some graduates who have already been through the whole process. In the first week. I was set-up with my laptop and got access to all the relevant systems fairly quickly which was good as it allowed me to get started with my job relatively quickly.

As interns, we took part in LBG's Development Journey which involved numerous themes throughout our time at the bank. We had to complete a number of learning tasks which would improve the skills that we needed to succeed in a corporate environment as well as to improve us as future prospects. There was also a number of 'Lunch 'n' Learn' events that took place which gave us an opportunity to learn about different products and sectors in the bank that we may not have otherwise experienced on the internship.

As someone who is studying an Engineering degree, finance is not a typical route for a graduate in that academic area. However working with Lloyds has motivated me to accelerate my ambitions to work in the banking sector in a more front office role. Being in a back office role during my internship was useful as it made me realise that I would probably prefer to be more client facing in my career. Lloyds seem to have a very attractive graduate scheme which I will definitely consider applying to when the time comes.

The social aspect of the internship was very good. All the interns were placed in the same block on a university campus which allowed for socialising and organised gatherings on weekends. There were also some good social events organised by the bank in aid of Mental Health UK such as a pub rally which was a good opportunity to socialise with interns and colleagues.

Lloyds paid for our accommodation for the 10 weeks. Living costs in Bristol were fairly high but manageable. I never really felt that I was struggling with money due to the regular weekly payments although I struggled to save much money from my earnings which I had originally planned to do.

Bristol has a varied and lively nightlife. Although it wasn't as good as my home city, it offered something for everyone with a wide range of bars and nightclubs on offer. During the summer, there were no students which perhaps negatively affected how busy some of the clubs were but this was to be expected.

Due to the HBP charity challenge, there was a lot of activities that were done outside of work. For example, there were pub quizzes organised, open mic events as well as organised runs for charity. This was a good opportunity to get away from the office and enjoy time with the other interns by taking part in numerous different activities in the aid of charity.