Control and Automation Intern Review

Everyone I came across during my internship wanted to see me do well and help me to succeed. I was trusted to complete jobs for people within my discipline and from other disciplines. When I completed work outside of my key objectives I was always told how appreciated it was and at one point received formal recognition for my help through the BP energize system.

My managers and supervisors were always available to give guidance were necessary. They helped me organise meeting with people from other departments to help with my development both in my position and on going back to university. However, they did not hold my hand while I completed tasks and let me work independently.

Most days I was a good level of busy. At points my days were really slow and I found myself bored as I requested new tasks or waited for guidance on moving my work forward. This mainly came down to the stage of the project I was on though and if this was not the case I would have been busier.

The work I was given to complete held real value to the project. The degree of this stepped up as I moved through my internship and became more competent. My responsibilities included co-ordinating an exercise with lead engineers and reviewing documents produced by experience engineers working for the contractor company

The stream of my internship was not the same as my degree. Many aspects crossover and many of the project management and communication skills I have learned will help greatly when I return to university. In terms of technical knowledge it will not have a vast effect on my studies but will on a future career

There was issues with my laptop being delivered to the wrong office when I first started my internship which initially preventing me from doing any work. When I did receive it however everything was set up for me and ready to go. Took a long time to gain access to the contractors systems however this was not the fault of BP themselves.

As well as learning about the technical aspects of the job training sessions on presentations and learning styles were also put on. Lunch and Learns where organised on a regular basis where senior BP people would spend there time talking to interns throughout the company about the different functional areas they worked in.

Being based in a contractors office in Leatherhead meant I rarely seen the other interns based in Sunbury. I did attend some events with them such as the charity ball and zorb football. Those based in Sunbury did regularly meet for lunch and after work drinks, and there was a good social scene there.

Living in outer London was relatively expensive however you are given location allowance to help with this. Having to travel in to London to socialise also added costs to living here and I spent more on rent and general living costs here than I do when I am in edinburgh

Leatherhead has no nightlife

There were many different committees to get involved in outside of your day to day work during the internship. I was involved in a resource group for woman (BPWIN) and you could also be involved in organising technofest or social activitees and lunch and learn sessions. Opportunities for social activities existed but were often not convenient living in leatherhead