Industrial placement student membership service and complaints management Review

I have really enjoyed my placement with nationwide building society. I was on a rotational placement meaning I got to work within 3 different areas. As part of the placement we have multiple development days which were about both personal development and professional development. I also got to compete in the Arthur Web challenge cup, which my team made it to the semi finals. Nationwide also have a range of networks including careers, LGBTQ+ and disability. Along with sports teams and clubs such as gold and a wine club. Nationwide had a very good support system. As a young adult career I was able to get family support leave on top of my annual leave.

Nationwide has schemes to reward hard work. They have a scheme called PRIDE, employees could send other employees pride cards to thank them for their hard work. We also had a PRIDE cupboard which was full or rewards for people on the team who have worked hard that month. We also have a monthly all teams meeting where everyone in my department joins on team we get an update then shout outs at the end where everyone claps. The managers here really appreciate hard work, I have been given multiple PRIDE card as well as being rewarded with a gift card for my work one month. We also have team Building days, voluntary days as a team such as tree planting even mini baby showers where employees bring in food for everyone to share and eat together on breaks. As well as all the ways they try to engage everyone I felt valued within my team with managers letting me take lead and train other employees.

Every month you have a one to one with your manager which gives you a chance to talk about your goals what’s going well and any concerns you have. We also have end of year reviews where we have to complete goals and a review of our performance our manager also does the same for us. Managers were very supportive and you could always ask for help. Since covid 19 we have all been working from home. Every morning we have a call on teams for all of my team to discuss what each of are doing that day and call out if we need any help as well as suggestion ideas for any problems anyone is having.

When covid first happen my team was very very business as we worked within special support service's where people would come to if they had been finically impacted by covid 19. So we where a bit too busy for a couple of weeks but the society did their best to get everyone able to work from home straight away so it took away some pressure. Overall I have had a good balance of work most days as was given the independence to get on with what I wanted when I was working on projects.

In my last rotation I was given much more responsibility. My last rotation was within controls looking at risk and if controls in place where sufficient. I was able to take on the whole pack of controls for POA which had around 200 controls that needed documenting, and testing and changes recommended. I was also given the responsibility of testing, record and reporting all the monthly controls within the SCS department I also worked over a project to revamp this pack. I trained other employees on some of the control processes.

Thought my year placement I have developed a number of skills. I have taken part in many development days both personal development and professional. I was also given the chance to attend other training not part of my development program and given access to a number of online resources. The Nationwide networks have also helped me as well as being given the opportunity to compete in the Arthur Webb challenge cup which my team made it to the final. I have developed a number of skills which will help me when I return to Uni and graduate.

I worked in 2 different offices. My first rotation was at nationwide house the head office. This office is busy and full of life with a on site gym, a salon, shop, dry cleaners and a large canteen. Most days of the week local business would come in at set up stalls such as cupcakes stalls, hand made jewellery and book stalls.. With office was full of life and was also busy. All the offices have free drinks machines all over the site. There are also sports facilities. I also worked at optimus, a much smaller. At this officer people seemed to know everyone. They would put decorations up for any birthdays etc. Even having mini baby showers. We also had pay day bingo where on pay day the office would have a big game of bingo for charity.

My placement could have been better organised. I was me and my managers where unsure on where my next rotation would be till it was almost time to move placement. the area I did my placement in had never had a placement student before so think some of the issues I had where down to me being the first. The placement got more organised as it went on. Overall the issues I had weren’t major just I would have preferred to know what was happening a bit more.

As part of the placement programs we had development days throughout the year focusing on both personal development and professional development. We had the chance to take part in the author web challenge cup as well taking part in additional training days. We had monthly 1 to 1 as well as whole department meetings once a month. There was also the chance to attend development events in London as part of the discover programme. Overall there was a log of opportunities if you wanted them.

Waiting to here if I’ve got a job in the next couple of weeks. At the end of the placement your managers submit a review form which rates your performance out of 5 if you are rated over a certain number you will be offered A position on the graduate program as long as there is the funding that year. With COVID 19 they have reduced the number of students they are taking back this year.

The placement students and apprenticeship students had multiple development days. We also had a online network and where encouraged to share our experience regularly. As part of the placement year we were offered a relocation package where they paid for the students moving to Swindon to go in a hotel for a month. As part of that they had a common room for students to meet others on the program. For all employees there are a number of networks sports teams and clubs including golf, football and a wine club. There is also a car share scheme which is great.

I didn’t move to Swindon. I stayed at my home town of Cardiff and working from home half the week and went into the office the other half.

I didn’t move to Swindon. I stayed at my home town of Cardiff and working from home half the week and went into the office the other half. So have not been out in the night in Swindon.

There is a large number of sports team and clubs. Including football, golf, wine club and knit and natter. You can also start your own club. There is a gym on site as well. There are all opportunities to volunteer with local charities such as shelter. For example I spend a day planting trees with the National trust with my team members. Some teams also have team get together like escapes rooms, bowling or going for drinks.