Product Planning Assistant Review

I have thoroughly enjoyed my placement year at TUI. I am treated the same as all other colleagues despite being on the scheme which means I get a lot of responsibility and opportunities I would never have otherwise been exposed to. The office environment is very relaxed and the team I work in are all so friendly and helpful which makes work really enjoyable.

I feel highly valued by my colleagues. Everyone is really supportive and more than happy to help if you ever need it. I regularly get positive feedback when I have done something well and this is recognized not only at a manager or senior manager level but by the whole team. People also care about what I have to say and take my thoughts, opinions and ideas into account when making decisions if they affect me.

I have been given a huge amount of support throughout the year when I have needed it. I have always felt there were people who I could speak to if I was struggling with anything inside (or outside) of work. On the scheme you get a buddy and a mentor in addition to your manager and the placement team which means you have a lot of people who can help. It's great that these people are from both inside and outside of the immediate team as it gives you contacts in the wider business as well.

I always have something to do but I'm not always rushed off my feet. As in every job, some times of the year are busier for us so you have to quite flexible and have good time management / be able to prioritise important tasks. The role is quite fast paced but with a variety of tasks everyday, you will never get bored and no two days will ever be the same. I love that I always have something to do as I would hate sitting around doing nothing all day.

I have a lot of responsibility and as a placement, I get the same responsibility as the other Product Assistants in the team. I am responsible for North Africa (Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia) which means I create the 3 year strategy including which hotels we want in the programme, adding or removing them where necessary. I am also responsible for deciding which hotel feature in the brochures, pricing the hotels and managing complaints.

My placement year has been invaluable. I have developed a range of hard and soft skills, many of which are transferable to my degree. For example, my commercial awareness has greatly improved as well as my task management skills. We are get a lot of training when we join but the learning opportunities don't stop there. There are learning weeks and TODPs as well as departmental training sessions throughout the year which enable you to continually expand your knowledge about the business and the industry. This will be invaluable as I go into final year (and beyond) as much of what I have learnt isn't taught on my degree programme but is very relevant to it.

The building itself is open-plan creating a light and spacious environment and there is always something going on which creates a nice buzz. There are a good mix of events throughout the year, some are work based such as learning weeks and others are social such as the summer and Christmas parties. My team also organise events such as picnics in the summer or team away days which are fun and a great way to get to know your colleagues.

As the scheme has been running for a number of years, I feel it is really well thought out and organised. The team I entered have had placements for the last few years so the training I received was at the right level and was thorough to ensure I understood everything. I also feel the opportunities you get on the scheme are very tailored to placement students. You get the chance to improve skills undergraduates may be seeking such as commercial awareness and get to try things you never would at uni.

I was surprised how much the company invested in me, despite being a placement student. I went to Spain and Morocco on resort trips as well as having the opportunity to be at the Launch of Marella Explorer 2. In addition to these experiences, the scheme also gives us 4 half days in other departments to learn more about the business, a day to work in a retail store, the opportunity to undertake a mystery shop, a visit to the hangar at Luton airport, workshops and learning sessions that people in the wider business might not get. I am actively encouraged by my team to take up any learning opportunities to come my way which is amazing!

Very appealing - in fact 7 out of the 8 placements from last years intake are returning and I have also been offered a position for after I graduate. Some previous placements have moved around the business when they have returned as there are no obligations to return to the department you spent your placement in. Alternatively, TUI have several graduate schemes if that's something you are looking to do.

Yes, the social scene is really good and there is something for everyone. There are lots of things you can get involved in such as placement socials, team socials and even commercial socials. There are usually a couple of events each month which range from quiz nights after work to nights out in London.

It was actually very reasonable to live in the area we did - just around the corner from the office. My rent was about the same as at uni, except I had a double room rather than a single. Because I don't drive, socializing was a bit more expensive as I would either have to get the train or an Uber anywhere. There are really nice places just one or two stops away on the trainline though and these were popular for work events.

We live in a residential area so there isn't anything nearby. Most people go into London for nights out though as the Thameslink runs direct to St Pancras. There is a free TUI shuttle from the office to Luton Airport Parkway station too which cuts down the cost and runs regularly from 7am to 7pm.

There are lots of opportunities such as the TUI Choir at Christmas, the football team and the TUI Trotters running club as well as lunchtime sessions such as knitting, book club and walking Wednesday. There are also one off events throughout the year such as rounders and sports day which a lot of people get involved in.