Summer Intern - Programme Management Review

It was good to have a proper project right from the start rather than just getting in small drabs of boring work every so often (as has been experienced on past placements). I was given high levels of independance and proper responsibility, leading to a successful placement which I can take a lot from.

Due to having other undergraduates in the office, we mixed with each other well, at the cost of probably not mixing with other colleagues as much as I should have. I did, however, feel like a respected member of the team.

The graduate recruitment team held meetings throughout the placement and kept us up to date with emails. We also had review meetings with our managers half way through and at the end of the placement.

Having been given a full project, there was generally work to get on with, though this often relied on hearing back from people in the borough councils who could be slow or uninterested at times, leaving patches of little work to get on with. The placement had a very slow start as well, with nothing to do for the first 2 weeks.

I had my own project to get on with and held my own meetings, with no supervision from anyone else, which is much more responsibility than I was expecting for a summer palcement.

I have taken away many skills due to the high levels of independence and responsibility given. However, there was no engineering involvement in the placement despite it being a civil engineering placement.

Good fun when there was work, boring on the slow days. I got to spend a few days on site which was very interesting and a nice addition to the placement considering it wasn't very relevant to the work given. The work also involved walking around London a lot, rather than being stuck in the office every day, which made a nice change.

It was well organised, with frequent meetings with the graduate recruitment department. My boss wasn't here for my first week of the placement, giving a slow start as there wasn't any work to do, though it isnt something that can be helped easily.

Training was given during the undergraduate placement meetings. We also created work objectives which we had to try and reach during the placement to help develop.

They don't offer a job at the end of the placement, but do let you skip the first few rounds of the graduate interviews.

There were 4 undergraduate students in our office and we met for lunch every day and spoke to each other throughout the day. We also met up with students working in other offices during the placement meetings.

Most of my pay has vanished straight away. Living in London has not been cheap. I don't go out to bars or drink, but accommodation and the occasional trip out somewhere has taken away a lot of money. Though this is London, it was expected.

Something to do for everyone in London, especially when the company provides free transport around London for all staff.

If there were any activities, I wasn't aware of them.