Industrial Placment student Review

My placement was really enjoyable, I learnt so much, both in terms of technical laboratory skills and interpersonal communication skills, in what (in the grand scheme of things) is not a very long time at all. It was definitely a challenging year, and I was 100% out of my comfort zone at times, but this was really valuable as it drove me to develop new skills and push myself further than I thought I could go.

The staff at GSK (I was in the respiratory department) are so lovely, and you are really made to feel like a valued member of the team, and not like an outsider at all. My supervisor has actively said to me, on several occasions, that the project would not be where it is without my input, so you really feel as though all the hard work you put in is valued, both by your immediate team members, and by the more senior management teams.

My supervisor has been brilliant this year. She has been really understanding of the fact I need to do university coursework alongside my usual job, and has given me time (when appropriate) to do that. She has been great in terms of academic and pastoral support, and has really tried to make me feel at home, and as though I can speak up if I am not happy with how things are going.

Because of the nature of my role, I had some days that were really busy and manic, when we were in the middle of loads of experiments, but this is balanced out by days where you can be at your desk and just crack on with little jobs and not be busy/stressed at all.

It did take around 6 months of training (in terms of practical lab skills, data analysis skills and general office/admin skills) in my role before I was fully independent, but now I am fully independently devising, planning and running experiments for my project. I still regularly consult with my supervisor about next steps etc. but she is much more of a guidance/reference point now, as opposed to supervising my every move.

The skills I have gained/developed while being on placement will not only be directly applicable to my studies when I return to university next year (e.g. I have been exposed to so many new lab procedures and techniques, and learnt the practical applications of many areas of science within an industry setting), but will also set me up well for life, particularly the communication and interpersonal skills I have developed, as these are applicable in any role.

General atmosphere in the office was great. There was a really good balance between the professional working environment, allowing you to work at your desk with little distraction as everyone around you is working hard also, and a friendly atmosphere where there was very little sense of authority hierarchy and everyone got on really well as friends as well as colleagues.

The set-up was really well organised, particularly on GSK's part. They have done placement years for a long time, so the process is really well established and there are very very few issues throughout the year. SRG, the company we are technically employed by and then contracted to GSK, are not the most organised, and sometimes there is issues with communication and clarity of emails, but overall GSK themselves are really well organised.

GSK invest in industrial placement students hugely. I was allowed to go to/take part in so many different developmental opportunities throughout the year, ranging from attending seminars on-site to volunteering at the GSK stand at the Big Bang Fair at the NEC. My supervisor has encouraged this, as it has allowed me to develop other skills, alongside those that I am very much pushed to develop in my actual role.

There are many employment opportunities across GSK, in a whole spectrum of departments. There is a graduate scheme (the FLP programme) that IPs are quite actively encouraged to apply for, which is a really good way to get further into the company, but staff are also open to helping you seek out other opportunities if this is not the right thing for you.

There was a really good social scene on-site (Stevenage) as there are so many IPs stationed here. There are several organised events by IPUnite (the social group for all IPs across GSK), but there is also just many good events/places to hang out in and around Stevenage. Also, there are several office social events organised throughout the year (e.g. pub trips/meals) so there is also a good social environment between all colleagues in the department, not just IPs.

Rent was anywhere from £300-500 per month depending on whether you rented a room individually, or shared a house with other IPs, and depending on whereabouts you lived in the town. The pay you receive from GSK though is very much in line with this, and you would not struggle to make ends meet at all over the year. For other living/socialising costs, because Stevenage is relatively near London, some of the pubs/bars are a little pricey, but not by a huge margin (just not quite uni prices!), and you can go into London, but again that is not cheap!

There are a good number of pubs and bars in/around Stevenage that are really easy to get to, not shockingly expensive, and always busy on weekends. There isn't a massive student nightlife scene, because they isn't really any major universities around Stevenage, but there are still 2 or 3 clubs that are good for a night out with other students on placement. London is also only a 20min train journey away, so is really easy to get to for nights out/events.

There are so many activities available to do outside of work. Work itself runs a lot of social events, and has a gym on-site with loads of classes, at a cheaper membership rate than the gyms in town. There is also heaps of stuff to do in/around town, for example I am a member of a local choir group and rehearse with them every Tuesday.