Supply Management- Sales and Distribution Review

I REALLY ENJOYED MY PLACEMENT AT GSK. First few months were a little slow but once I was fully trained and let loose on the work I was very happy. I have learnt so much in the past year, both soft skills and harder skills. Would recommended the placement and company to anyone interested.

I felt extremely valued by my colleagues. Everyone at GSK is friendly and helpful. They made me feel welcome both in work and outside of work in a more social environment. I don't want to leave anyone behind, would love to come back and work with everyone I have in the past year.

At first I didn't receive much training or guidance, I was quite bored most of the time and often asking for things to do. I got a new manager about 5 months into my placement and that made a big difference, she drove action and training so I was a lot more competent and had much more to do. She also began monthly 1:1s with me which really helped.

This varied, some days I was super busy and working non stop then other days it was a bit slower. That is to be expected though because I was doing a placement that revolved around daily tasks rather than a project based role. Overall I was happy with the amount of work I had and how busy I was.

I think after about 6 months I was given the responsibility level of a normal team member. I was happy with this, I think you can prove yourself more when given more responsibility. I still think I could have been given it a bit sooner but with issues around my managers it meant I couldn't.

I think the skills I have developed will help me more in a working environment than with my degree studies, however the organisational skills I have developed will help with university work balancing. Most importantly I think my confidence has developed, which will be a big help in looking for graduate jobs in the next year.

Very friendly and helpful. Fairly casual. Everyone would have a laugh when appropriate but also knuckled down most of the time. People often socialised outside of work which really improved the atmosphere in the office.

I think the placement application was very well organised. However I think there could have been some improvement with the way my training and access to systems was organised when I started working there. I know I am not the only placement student that felt this way either, so it could definitely be improved.

I would say my manager was happy for me to explore other areas of the company for my own development, however in terms of other site visits or trips to meet people at other sites, it was funded at the managers discretion so many student were not allowed to do this kind of development, whereas apprentices could do it.

I have applied for permeant positions already within GSK, which look promising prospects. I definitely don't want to leave and would like to finish my university studies alongside starting a job at the company. The benefits of being a permeant employee are far better than as a placement student.

Very cheap compared with the south. Barnard Castle itself is not super cheap compared with the rest of the north east but when sharing accommodation I know it was cheap. I'm from near Barnard Castle so I actually lived at home and commuted in every day. The cost of socialising was very cheap.

Barnard Castle nightlife isn't brilliant but the people you work with are super fun so it is what you make it. There was chances to go to Durham and Darlington and book a mini bus back, or go to Newcastle and stay overnight which were places with way better nightlife.