Fleece & R4R Modern Oral Placement Student Review

Supporting the delivery of tech-blocks and projects. Assisting on non-project specific tasks too, helping to create the team community feeling. Helping to produce and manufacture samples when required.

Project management skills - communicating with key stakeholders, organising meetings, setting up manufacture process Presentation skills - how to adapt your presentation, appropriately, depending on the audience. An understanding of product specific complex chemistry, formulations and manufacturing processes How to effectively support workstreams / project, and effectively and responsibly providing / receiving feedback. Further developing my ability to communicate in a scientific manner - through scientific plans and reports

A very good amount - have been given the opportunity to lead a major workstream, allowing me to make my own decisions, align these decisions with project managers, and receive and provide constructive and adaptable feedback, to continue to drive the workstream. Have been able to experience project management, along with efficiently and effectively working around any obstacles / blockers encountered. Additionally, responsible for laboratory equipment and maintenance.

Lots of relevant trainings to fully upskill to the product category, processes and ways of working. Continuous support from line manager, mentor and buddy - providing a channel for questions and queries to be asked and answered, as well as support on non-project specific matters. Great support from the placement team - developing soft skills, developing CV, and the visibility to see wider parts of the business, to allow us to experience the full breadth of what BAT has to offer.

Truly inclusive culture - fantastic inclusivity initiatives to ensure all employees of all circumstances and backgrounds feel seen and heard. Fantastic applicable company values, which are truly upheld in day to day work, and help shape day to day decision making. Great social opportunities - out of work meals and events Additionally - there isn't a feeling of hierarchy. Everyone, no matter the grade / seniority, is approachable and helpful.

Thoroughly enjoyed my placement - I feel like I have massively developed, both from a "softer" skills side and also from a more technical, chemistry relevant perspective. I have felt truly empowered, to help lead workstreams / project, and have felt like I have been trusted to handle making big decisions. I have enjoyed being able to present to all sorts of different people, and being able to show the work that I have done, and continuously receive feedback as to how I can improve.

Yes

Know that no day will be the same - you are constantly given the opportunity to develop both your technical skills and your non-technical, communication skills. You are in a company that has so many different types of work opportunities - whether that be the different product categories, or the different functions (marketing, science and research, finance, brand, legal etc.) Take all opportunities to explore the business