Vehicle Forecasting Analyst Review

I enjoyed the year to a great extent, so much so that I extended my contract for another 3 months. I got to meet an array of people from across the business which was fantastic for networking. I also had opportunities to visit other sites and take on unexpected responsibilities.

I definitely felt valued amongst all of my colleagues. As my team broke up towards the middle of the placement, I was required to teach other members of the team on certain tasks. I also felt like any other member of the team could come to me with their questions when they were struggling.

My manager was always available to help when I asked for it which was great. He also helped with various projects throughout the year. He gave me confidence in having the ability to talk to different people from across the business and would always find the answer to any question.

The role was fairly varied, which could mean on one week it was very busy whereas on another week it was quieter. I did however find that there was always something to do and it was good that the work load was varied as it enabled me to pick up different projects when I had more time.

From around the 2 month mark onwards, the responsibility was very high. I was surprised how much the work I was doing was influencing the profit/revenue of the business. Not only was I given responsibility in the day to day task, I was also given a large amount of responsibility in projects. In hindsight, I wish that I recognised the significance of my work from the offset.

In terms of skills for life, I feel I gained far more than I ever expected. I now recognise how important it is to get work experience before leaving university. I now feel far more confident in communication as well as hard skills such as Excel. I attended around 8/9 workshops throughout the year and I really feel that the majority of these I learnt far more than I ever did at University.

The colleagues that I worked alongside were all very friendly and approachable which was great as it meant you were able to engage in conversation when you had the time but also crack on with work when deadlines are approaching. There were few examples of arguments within the department but when there were problems it was easy to approach them.

I felt that the placement was very well set up. Even from the first familiarisation, to the last day at work, I felt the structure was fantastic. The only issue I had was the lack of information on the graduate scheme at VWFS, although this was not a direct issue of the Undergrad scheme.

I was very surprised to learn that the company was willing to invest heavily in the development of the undergrads across the business. We probably had around 8 workshops throughout the year. My favourite of these was the powerful presentations workshop which I felt was the best workshop I have ever attended. I was also very impressed with the Advanced Excel training workshop.

There was a Graduate scheme on offer at VWFS although this was fairly new. We didn't hear to much about when the applications would open but I'm hoping that it will be within the first few months of returning to university. My manager also mentioned that if ever I want to come back and the place is open, he would offer me a place.

From the beginning, it was evident that the 26 undergrads would all get on very well. we were able to attend different events throughout the year. We also spent lunch playing pool and socialising. I would say that overall, VWFS was very good socially, especially with fellow undergraduates and colleagues.

As I commuted from Bedford, the cost of living for me was significantly lower than the rest of the undergrads, but I don't think Milton Keynes was particularly expensive compared to other South Eastern cities/towns. In terms of socialising, the night life wasn't as good as a student city as there weren't many clubs. there were however plenty of pubs/bars for after work socialising.

There were various opportunities to get involved with throughout the year. I took part in the 1/2 marathon tough mudder early in the year as well as football tournaments and other activities. There were plenty of other activities going on and I only entered a few that interested me. It's also easy to start up your own idea and see if anyone wants to join in.