Industrial Palcement Student Review

There have been good and bad parts to the placement this year, but overall it has been a very positive experience and day-to-day I have enjoyed coming to work.

I definitely feel like part of the team here. I am treated like any other employee, rather than a placement student.

The support given by my supervisor has been excellent. The only problem is that he is very busy, and often away on business trips, so sometimes I have had to wait for him to return before I can continue with my work. Aside from my supervisor, members of my group and section have provided support and advice both in and out of the lab.

The amount of work I've had at any point this year has been very variable. There have been times where I definitely needed more work to do, and had to ask my supervisor for more work. At other times, I have been very busy producing and preparing data for meetings, which has meant I've done longer than normal hours. Overall, I fell like it has balanced out, although a more even distribution of workload would be preferred!

As my placement has progressed I have been given more resposibility. I am currently generating important and valuable data for my project. I have also been given the responsibility of supervising younger and less experienced work placement students.

I feel that both the practical lab skills and the transferrable skills gained from working in a large team will be of great benefit to my future studies and career. I am much more confident in the lab and my communication skills have vastly improved since I began my placement.

It is a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere in this office, althoughs sometimes it can be a little quiet, and conversations can be overheard.

The placement has been very organised in terms of GSK, however we are employed by a recruitment agency, SRG, and they have been much less organised. There has been confusion with timesheets, holidays, pay etc.

Placement student have been given the opportunity to be fast-tracked on the GSK grad scheme, however I have chosen not to apply. In terms of employment following graduation (and phd), I feel like the experience I have with the company can only be beneficial.

We are very sociable, and go out together once or twice a week. Students live with other students, so there is an opportunity to form great friendships.

Accommodation has been very cheap. Living costs are more expensive though, mainly because Stevenage isn't very nice so people tend to travel/visit friends/go to London, which costs quite a bit.

The nightlife is terrible in Stevenage. London is fairly near, and so people do occasionally go out there.