Distribution Development Manager Review

Despite being initially nervous about the stream I had been placed in I've had a really great experience with LBG (Scottish Widows). The placement has been challenging but my team have always made sure that they've given me exciting and stimulating work - no photocopying or making coffee! Overall it's been a lot of fun and really beneficial to my personal development - I'm really happy but also sad to be leaving.

My colleagues all individually took the time to get to know me, tell me about their roles and opportunities within the business. I've been added to my team's whatsapp chat, we've gone out for team lunches, have regular team meetings to check in on each other and there's generally a very welcoming environment. There's never been a time when someone hasn't been willing to answer a question or been up for a chat.

My line manager really took a lot of time out of his very busy schedule to make sure I had everything I needed, we emailed a lot and even met up in person before I started. We had a full hour for our weekly 121s with extra, smaller catch ups booked in throughout the week for whenever I needed anything. I've always been fully supported (but without having everything handed to me on a plate, so perfect balance!)

Obviously it could vary but I always had a clear focus and never once came into the office thinking "what am I meant to be doing today?" Lots of tasks were given to me and I always had side of desk projects to be working on as well. I never felt overwhelmed but also always felt like I was being given significant work to do.

I was given a number of tasks all of which felt like they had legitimate importance and therefore a level of responsibility. Due to a prolonged absence from a colleague I took over chairing a weekly meeting bringing together colleagues from different departments, and ones based in different cities across the UK. I also completed a number of other high level tasks, creating documents for clients, meeting stakeholders & leading a number of tasks.

The confidence gained from this internship will undoubtedly help me in a number of different situations in my studies and beyond; presentations, interviews & assessment centres. Moreover, my skills on excel and powerpoint will certainly be a strong grounding for all future jobs and for going in to my final year of university in regards to assessed presentations.

Really friendly, welcoming atmosphere. You can tell everyone is happy to be there and everyone is talkative, always laughing and having fun whilst maintaining professionalism (most of the time!) Generally the office creates an atmosphere that makes you want to come to work and feel at ease and happy in your placement. A really great team/section of the building to be sat with.

In regards to my specific team they were very well organised and very prepared for me coming. Even when most of the interns didn't have their emails due to an emerging talent mistake, my team escalated and made sure I got it ASAP and ensured I had apt resources to work without email for those first few days. They had clear objectives and plans for my internship and my development goals were established early on. Unfortunately, the internship wasn't well organised in regards to a clear direction of what was happening with referral on to the grad scheme afterwards. Whilst ET gave themselves a deadline of 19 July (which is already considerably after the internship has started, when this should really be detailed beforehand), this wasn't actually released to interns until the 21 August when the internship was actually over. The referral process had so changed that some interns who had been told about the system for a whole few years were having this unexpectedly changed just a week before it mattered, which was quite distressing and upsetting. So, overall, my individual team and those managing me would get a solid 10 for organisation and how the internship was managed. Unfortunately this can't be applied elsewhere.

They really invested in me! I disclosed my weaknesses and concerns early on in the internship and they made sure to focus on how I could improve and work on these. Moreover, weekly check ins furthered this development training and the team brought me to a number of upskilling sessions - some being delivered to senior colleagues in the business. They clearly do really care that you do well!

Prospects were really very positive as I had been working very hard and had good engagement with my manager and wider team who were all eager to recommend me for a job. However, the hiring process changed unexpectedly and we now have to complete an assessment centre during university. However, the placement has given me enough of the skills I need to be able to perform in this assessment day (I hope!)

They all live together in student accommodation so good community. Although, it is out in Leith which is quite far from the central bit that students would want to be in so made it difficult for those not living in the accommodation to travel and see them.

I live here full time for university, so had to pay my rent this summer which is really quite expensive to manage without student loans and part time jobs from term time. Whilst the other interns had their accommodation provided for free, this wouldn't have been possible for me as my lease continued throughout the summer. Rent is quite expensive in Edinburgh and prices for social life do go up in August because of Fringe, but in June and July it's quite cheap! Depends what you want to do.

Edinburgh nightlife is great!

I got to visit the Archives which were really interesting. Volunteering opportunities. Team days out.