Customer Operations Summer Placement - PMO Process Manager/Analyst Review

My summer internship with Centrica was a very enjoyable experience! Not only was everyday filled with something new and challenging but I was presented with several additional engaging experiences. For instance, I was able to take part in organising charity events, a teamwork development day as well as a presenting with impact workshop that was fun. I can honestly say that I looked forward to going into work every day.

I certainly felt valued by all of my colleagues’ throughout the course of my internship. From the very beginning I was welcomed into the team and was made to feel as though I was a valuable addition. My line manager regular thanked and praised me for the work I completed. Not only were we close while at work, but we also had opportunities to get to know each other on a personal level outside of the working environment, through team dinners.

I was provided with a significant amount of support and guidance from my manager. My manager ensured that a weekly catch-up meeting was set, to check that I was doing okay, not struggling with the work I had been set and that I was above all making progress. In addition to this my manager organised a variety of shadowing experiences and business trips, which also aided my development whilst on the placement. So not only was I able to learn a lot from my manager but I also learnt a great deal from others.

Working in the customer operations stream meant that almost every day was filled with different activities. My workload was always set in advance by my line manager; this ensured that I was never bored or sitting around with nothing to do. My manager also checked up on me regularly to ensure that I was not being overloaded with work, this ensured that I found the perfect balance.

I was given a significant amount of responsibility and trust during my placement, which certainly made me feel like a valuable addition. I was able to work on high level projects and assignments, which would have an impact on the business as a whole. Above all, I was able to leave a legacy behind in my work that I completed. This internship has completely changed my initial perspectives of interns, as staff who carry out simple office/secretarial pieces of work and ‘make cups of teas/coffees' for their colleagues; as this was not the case for me at all (fortunately enough).

My summer placement at Centrica has certainly equipped me with skills for life! I believe that every experience and a majority of the tasks that I had to work on, has provided me with transferable skills. The shadowing and training I received from my manager will certainly assist me in working in a managerial role in the near future. Above all, the excel training workshop, teamwork development day and presenting with impact workshop will assist me with useful skills for my degree and future work life.

The atmosphere in the office was always generally alive and bubbly. All of the colleagues got on well and it was like coming into a family. Everyone would check on each other and help one another; so if you ever got stuck you would know that you were never alone. On birthdays or other special events people would come together and organise something to help celebrate the occasion. Additionally, people would always bring in snacks and other goodies to share with one another; which is always a positive.

The internship was very well organised! From the very beginning right till the very end, from the accommodation organisation to what would be expected of us on a daily basis. The graduate team worked well to ensure that we knew who our first points of contacts were and that we were all assigned to buddies. Above all, communication was frequent and clear through various means such as: Facebook, email and phone calls; so we would never miss out on valuable information.

Centrica certainly invest in all of their interns in a variety of ways. The following workshops and activities were put on to assist our personal training and development: - Excel training day - Presenting with an impact work shop - Business trips - Shadowing experiences - Teamwork development day - Leadership development day - Opportunity to organise charity events

The future employment prospects with Centrica are very appealing. I was fortunate enough to be offered a place on their graduate programme, and this will be great due to all of the development opportunities available across the business.

Yes, we all became very close and were able to support and be there for one another throughout the internship. We often went out together to grab something to eat, or just hang out together after work and explored the local area on weekends together.

A majority of the things were affordable and many places will offer discounts to students. In relation to the cost of living, Centrica paid for our accommodation so that was free, and we all done our shopping at local supermarkets which is always affordable. But generally speaking there was a wide range of things to do, so in terms of socialising it catered to all needs.

There was always something that people could get involved in both Staines and Windsor, as the area was full of nice restaurant, pubs and bars/clubs as well as town full of fun things to do!

Yes, there were often sporting activities going on outside of work as well as events that involved fundraising for the companies partner charities which include Shelter and Age UK.