Back Office Data Analyst Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at RWE Supply and Trading. From the first day I was given real and meaningful work which gave me a feeling of involvement and responsibility.

Everybody I spoke to, from the beginning of my placement to the end of it, were really open and warm towards me. I never felt like I was an 'annoying intern student' and I was offered help whenever I asked for it.

I was lucky enough to work in two departments, Back Office Services and the Commodity Accounting department. Both of my managers held monthly review meetings with me to discuss any issues or problems I may be having which I felt was very useful. I was always given support if I was ever struggling with a team or personal issue.

My "busy-ness" really depended on my input. I was given real and meaningful projects to work on from day one, however if I managed to finish this work then it was up to myself to be proactive and look for further work to complete. However, if I ever asked for additional work to complete there was always something extra I was offered to work on

From day one I was working on real projects. I was treated as an employee rather than a student intern and this was reflected in the work and extra curricular opportunities I was given. This really helped me to grow as a person and develop myself.

I developed a wide range of skills during my time at RWEST. Communication, teamwork and problem solving skills were key to my daily work and these skills are fully transferable into both uni life and post uni life. I initially went into my placement as an introvert however after my time there, I feel like I have really come out of my shell and developed as a person

The atmosphere was like a family rather than a place of work. Of course myself and my colleagues were expected to complete the work however the atmosphere was relaxed and open. The team tasks were always a joy to work on and this was because of the people working on them alongside the working culture in the office.

The organisation of the placement was very good. From my first day I was given a 3 month training plan that outlined what was expected of me and how I would be trained upon the necessary departments of my team. After my 3 months, training was continued however it followed a more informal approach and was reliant on being proactive and looking for further training opportunities.

Personal training was clearly evident throughout my time at RWE. There were always external training courses going on which were heavily pushed for by our managers. Travel opportunities to Essen and London were also advised.

Future employment opportunities are definitely there. It's seen within the company as 'having a foot in the door' upon completing a placement. However I was offered a full time role after graduation to come back to RWE. This was offered to me because of the work I contributed on, which was only possible due to the high level of responsibility given to me from day one.

The social scene was okay. Team nights out were occasional, usually after team boding exercises or team training exercises. Travelling to Essen was fairly regular and the German colleagues were always keen to go out for either dinner or some drinks, however I recognise this is heavily dependant on the team you are working in.

N/A. I was living at home so I didn't pay much living costs. However the Swindon area is fairly cheap. Nights out and restaurants are priced averagely, if anything below the national average.

The nightlife in Swindon is not great. There are a few good pubs and a handful of clubs. Travelling to Bristol/ Bath was relied upon due to better attractions

There were many extra curricular activities going on outside of work, often organised by RWE itself or an employee at RWE. Football matches, running club, golf club were a few that I was quickly made aware of. The relaxed nature of the company also helped to promote this because everyone was very warm and friendly.