Harry Potter Global Franchise Development Review

I had a great time on this placement year. I learnt so much about the industry, the sector and business in general. I completed work which felt of value and met some amazing people. I could not imagine completing university without the skills that I have learnt on this year.

It's nice to be part of a vibrant team that relies on you. Your opinion is not just limited to just one channel, you are asked for input from many members throughout the team. You feel valued as a part of a team rather than a person there to make up the numbers.

The level of support you receive is perfect. The ball is in your court to ask for support when needed, buy this did not stop my line managers from regularly checking in on my workload to aid in any way that they could. Regular catch ups with my managers on a bi-weekly basis also made it very easy to ask questions, and seek guidance on any complex projects.

The workload of the team in general did mean that the role itself did bear a high workload. At times it could be slightly overwhelming, but these periods were few and far between. However, I enjoyed the busy workdays, I wanted to be busy. I never had a dull moment and constantly had things to do, which helped me to keep productive, prioritise and complete work in an effective manner.

The team represents an amazing franchise, so naturally the jobs that come across your desk are important. At times, you do have take on your fair share of admin work, but that comes with any role. Whether you are liaising with an important partner, or completing a project for a senior member of the company, a lot of the time you do feel that you are doing things that matter.

I went for this placement because I have an interest in people and how they behave. Working in franchise management, you are privy to information that helped you to understand why people enjoy the franchise. If you have a particular interest in marketing, there is no better niche to pursue as franchises continue to grow and dominate the entertainment scene.

The office at Theobald's Road is amazing, offering an open plan working space. This makes it very easy to communicate with members of your team, rather than offering an intimidating environment. The team are a very friendly bunch and know when to have a laugh, but also when to knuckle down and work.

The placement was well organised. My key responsibilities had been clearly outlined, and I was never confused as to what my job entailed. At times throughout the year, my role would change slightly, but these changes would be communicated to me in good time beforehand to help me prepare for any changes in work.

You attend a good amount of mandatory training sessions scheduled throughout the year. This provides a good opportunity to develop your self awareness and develop your weaknesses. The company also offered many optional training courses, allowing you the option to further develop even more skills within the world of work.

The placement year has deepened my desire to pursue a job in this industry even more. I would certainly look to return to Warner Bros. if given the chance.

There are a vast amount of interns and apprentices at Warner Bros. This makes the social scene very lively, with regular socials scheduled throughout the year. The interns would regularly meet up both inside and outside of work, making it very easy to make new friends. This helped my social life massively, as I knew few people living in London.

Naturally London is quite expensive, so nights out and general day time activities are more expensive than they would usually be outside the city. Living in a central area also added to my expenses, making a simple trip to the cinema or a drink with a friend an expensive evening.

The nightlife is pretty amazing, the best I have experienced. The offices are located in a central area, with Covent Garden being a short walk away! This really helped with organising regular socials, as everything was so close by.

You are regularly contacted about activities outside of work. I loved attending premieres and watching screenings of films early with friends. There is also a great opportunity to get involved in charity work, with the company allowing you two days paid volunteered leave to get involved in any charity work that you might be interested in!