Actuary Intern Review

The Internship is great fun. Everybody is really lovely and welcoming. You are given the right amount of work and are put in charge of your own work load and how much you can take on. There are at least 2-3 activities normlly per week in the evening including activities such as Poker, 5 a side Football and Socials.

As said before, everybody is really lovely. I remember on my first day somebody saying 'We know that in order for you to get in you must be good so whether you're an intern or the manager we treat you the same here' and they really do.

Though no direct problems in relation to the Internship were required by myself, I was in close proximity over the 6 weeks to my manager and could ask him whatever question possible, no matter how small it was.

On the 1st two weeks, though they wanted to they didn't have much work coming in but there were always training activities to do or small menial tasks to do to keep you busy. In the last 4 weeks work soon picked up and was constantly busy to a good level.

In the first 2-3 weeks everything is explained clearly and thoroughly, as the weeks go on you are expected to be able to complete tasks more by yourself using work that people have done previously and your past experience. In the Birmingham office, you are never asked to go to Client meetings or do vital Client work head on but you are often involved in small parts which end up going to Client meetings which is fantastic.

I haven't started my next year of my degree yet but it has been immensely valuable.

Vibrant atmosphere. When there is work going on, it is quiet and you have the space you need to complete your work. Conversation about anything can happen though throughout the day and the office is very sociable. They even play the crosswords at lunch together and you are welcome to get involved!

Graduate recruitment did a great job in terms of setting it all up. The Internship in office has been fantastic also with introductory meetings on the 1st day and then work given to you throughout the weeks. Though they can't tell what work you will be doing due to when it comes in they know what sort of work you can do and will give it to you as soon as the opportunity arises.

Any questions that you have, please ask them. They have all the time in the world for you. (Within reason!) Otherwise the time is yours to use as you see fit. The more time you invest into the company, the more experience you will get out of it.

It all depends on how many positions they are ready to offer and how many Internees there are. So in my office for this year there are 3 internees with 2 positions going which means it is a bit nerve wracking. However that being said, the feedback I have received has been very positive and makes me believe that given that apparently I've done a decent enough job I do have future employment prospects with them. (Not heard back as of yet of graduate job offer).

Everybody in the office really gets on well with one another and so this makes a big difference to the social scene in my opionion. There was always at least one trip to the pub per week, 5 a side football every week, Netball and Poker twice over the two weeks. In the week following my departure there is Golf, Cycle rides and a Beer festival also occurring so it's certainly very social.

I'm originally from down south and so moving north for 6 weeks was quite cheap, staying at BCU Halls at £86 per week! Being in the 2nd biggest city in the Country, prices aren't going to be quite so cheap but they are going to be reasonable, particularly in comparison with London!

The Nightlife in the area is fantastic. While I personally did not visit much, the office is on a main road which contains at least 5 or 6 nightclubs, plenty of restaurants and pubs and a cinema. So there is always something to do at night if you go looking!

Yes as mentioned previously, there is always opportunity to get involved in extra curricular activities with the work place so if you want to do something then set it up! Being in a city, there are a variety of activities which could be set up, it is just a case of actually doing something about it! Just outside the office is also very sociable where they show film nights such as Grease and Mamma Mia during the summer, or show the Tennis/Cricket during Wimbledon/The Ashes.