Project Manager Review

My placement was extremely beneficial as I was given a lot of responsibility very quickly which improved both my soft and hard skills tremendously

There was quite large intake of early careers which was very helpful as this ensured we had peer support through our year placement. I have made very close friends and we still keep in touch now

I had fortunate the have various managers during my time, all of whom made sure I was given ample support, and well as challenging me and giving me the freedom to work the way I thought was best.

It varied depending on what work we needed to do. We weren't expected to stay for full day if it was quiet, and given a lot of freedom to manage your own time. You were expected to do your job well however and if there was a lot to do then you stayed until it was completed

I was given a lot of responsibility and also encouraged to take on roles above and beyond what I thought I would be able to achieve during the short time. The early career scheme has been well thought out and ensured that the company gains added value from the graduate/placement schemes.

I believe my leadership, management and personal skills have increased immensely. NATS has made me feel far more confident in stressful/complicated situations and I am not worried about asking questions. We were also given many opportunities to attend management, technical or financial courses during our time, and had a clear development plan for the year to make sure that they courses were attended

It is a very open style office, with lots going on and people to talk to. You are made to feel very welcome. The facilities are also very good with hot desks for different teams to sit, open kitchen areas and a great canteen/costa. The building are very big as well, so if unfortunately you have a dispute or clash of personalities there is a lot of room to position yourself around the buildings

It was very quick to get set up at the beginning with our IT etc. We also met our new managers on the first day who took us for a coffee/lunch to chat about what we should expect and answer any questions. It was very beneficial as it is quite daunting to start work in a corporate office.

We had various opportunities to attend development courses and we were encouraged to go on as many as possible.

I have already had an offer from the company and will be starting again next September. There is a very good progression plan for employees, and salary increases every year. You are also encouraged to push yourself through different areas of the company if you are unhappy with the role you are currently in, which allows for more flexibility and opportunities to change roles within the organisation.

We had a few nights out but due to the location of the corporate offices, you can't just leave work and easily get into the centre of the cities. However there is really as much of a social scene as you like, depending on how much you wish to have one.

The cost of living varies depending where you stay, but it is slightly more expensive than most areas due to being on the south coast. If you live close and do not need to spend money on rent etc then it would be very easy to have extra cash for socialising, but with rent and expenses it will depend on your own situation.

There is no nightlife around the area, but it is very accessible to both Portsmouth and Southampton.

There are several social clubs that you can be involved in. However this is really up to your own preferences. The office has a basketball court and two gyms which have lots of sports activities. We are also asked to attend lots of STEM events which are fun experiences, not technically regarding work.