Power Academy Review
by National Grid
This review was submitted over 4 years ago, so some of the information it contains may no longer be relevant.
Rating
-
The Role
4.3
-
The Company
4.2
-
The Culture
3.8
- 1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?
- 2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?
- 3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?
- 4. How busy were you on a daily basis?
- 5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?
- 6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?
- 7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?
- 8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?
- 9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?
- 10. What were the perks on your work placement?
- 11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?
- 12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?
- 13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?
- 14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?
- 15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?
The Role
A placement with National Grid is invaluable. Firstly if you're a Engineer especially Electrical they sit in a critical role within the UK as the key to the power industry. Highly respected internationally having this company on your CV will make a huge difference even if you decide it isn't for you. Secondly they are very keen on supporting staff members with sports teams clubs and the opportunity given to some Engineers to study towards PhD/Masters. If you're not an Engineer National Grid operate the key energy markets, they are also currently advising government bodies planning key policy. With international connections to the US and a massive investment planned this company is varied with a 'job for everyone'. Working out on site is very different form working in the brightly coloured Warwick HQ. I recommend Engineering students start with a summer in Warwick ENI (Future strategy or design) as this section is currently rebuilding the country's electricity system. You will find staff here have served the company since before privatisation and this gives it a real feel good factor morally as the work you do here really will change the future for the better. You cant say that about working in the city.
This is a great working environment. Differing locations are likely to offer differing working patterns but in the HQ location a degree of flexibility was allowed in your working hours that meant you were regarded as mature enough to set your own start and finish times provided you cover your hours. This was invaluable as it allow me to put extra hours in and gain the time out of my schedule to visit a Power station. At Warwick you'll find a few spare Phd top Engineer people hanging around the coffee machine and my University grades have since improved massively. Out on site time served staff who know the stuff take their time to talk to you about how it actually works.
The support given is great. You are mentored by recent graduates and given real live projects that make a difference. The senior management in this company really take a interest in young graduates. I had the chance to chat to directors of the company which is something you wouldn't normally get as a intern.
You will be kept busy! I went on 5 different trips out to different parts of the industry and saw a huge section of his business. I got involved on real live projects.
They ask you to perfrom the job that you will be doing and it will aid your University studies hugely as you learn loads. I personally helped start the process of spending millions on one project. Many already qualified engineers will never get that. However don't be put off its not all work and they are very supportive.
Get a placement with this company and you can't fail next year!
The Company
This is a serrious company with serrious work to do so you cant expect to be skate boarding through the office everyday. However people are very friendly in Warwick and they enploy a large group of interns every year so your not isolated. I worked in a team of other interns to deliver a project guided by a newly graduated Engineer.
Nothing is always perfect but this was a great placement. I made the most of my time by geting around the company and asking questions. Interns start at Warwick and usually go back every year moving around the the business to different locations across the UK. A lot of work go's into organsising this by the company and its worth it for you.
A lot of work is done on making your time great here. Trips out to loactions across the UK and thinking carefully about where to place you. The people out of my group of 30 interns who had the best time did so thanks to thier supervisor.
Flexi Time
Subsidised Canteen
Sports and Social Club
Subsidised/Company Gym
National Travel
Company Parties/Events
They are recruiting and a good chunk of interns go on to be full time employees
The Culture
Yes in there is a big group of you and most people choose to get a flat together rather than commute. Like being a student just better dressed and better paid.Leamington and Warwick are the same place almost, stratford on avon is a few miles away. Londons a hour on the train Brum 30 mins
Warwick isn't cheap but it could be worse and you can find a cheap flat in Leamington where there are loads of empty student digs. Don't commute as it seems a good idea but costs you more and leads to less fun.
Leamington is a student spot with a smar side
Football, drinks, cinema x box, dinner parties. You only don't get involved if you don't want to
Details
Internship (1 Month+)
April 2014
