Global Purchasing & Supply Chain Review

Spending 12 months at Vauxhall allowed me to gain an insight into a realistic working life with a large company whilst having the support that the programme here has. There are skills that cannot be learnt at university and that are only brought out when faced in the working world. There have been ups and downs, which are expected in any job role. Being honest, it has been a tough 12 months but what is important now for me is to ensure that I take the positives from my time here and see where I can adapt them into my final year at University and beyond into my future career.

To many, I felt valued by colleagues throughout the organisation, right up to General Motors HQ in America. They were very professional and did not treat me as 1-year colleague at all. However, there were others that I had to closely work with, who oversaw my job role that I felt immediately put limits onto my potential here and did not allow me the opportunity to show value to Vauxhall and the full extent of my capabilities. I found this very frustrating throughout the year. It took nearly 8 months for me to be given any real responsibility here, which only came from my concerns reaching senior management who involved themselves in my development.

My immediate supervisor was very unsupportive. From day after my predecessor had left, I was found sitting at my desk unsure of what my job role was at this company. Once given tasks, they were repetitive and teduious admin tasks, which required no support to complete. I formed closer relationships with colleagues who I went to for advice and support alongside senior management who tried to provide all the support they could.

Not very busy at all. There were rare occasional days that I was busy but for the most part I had very little to do. Most tasks came during the middle of the month and therefore at the start of one or the tail end of another I was found wanting for work to do. Thoughout the year I was placed into job roles supporting other undergrads or functions so that I was busier but these tasks were admin related too and nothing like what I was informed I would be doing in the Vauxhall job-description.

For the first 8 months I was given no responisibility at all. I was told how exactly to carry each individual task out and was not allowed any chance to show my capabilities. For the last 3/4 months, I had to force through my only project despite major protests from immediate management. I saw an area that I felt the company could improve on and had to assume all the responsibility once taking on the project. So I went from having no responsibility to having to make large corporate decisions and presentations without an support. The lack of support made me feel like some in the company wanted me to fail at every hurdle I faced. I felt this should have been a gradual increase in responsibility and co-operation between myself and colleagues which started on day one, rather than dropping it all on me after 8 months.

I have learned about prioritisation with tasks and organisation. Both will help with my studies and beyond. I have also developed my resilience to maintaining professional even in the most trying of circumstances. In addition, I have also learned of the importance of supplier relationships and maintaining them.

The office was a light and pleasant yet proffesional environment. Most members of staff were friendly and the other undergraduates were excellent. Very approachable. There were a lot of members within the department that had 20+ years experience and so getting advice from them was excellent.

The placement was set-up very well, the induction days allowed us to get a quick peak into the office, understand the layout while the two-week handover was important to be able to learn the role whilst being supported by your predecessor. User access was provided within the first two weeks and the computers and systems were all up and running within the first month. Very efficient

There were some essential tasks at the start of the year i.e Excel training. The big issue being that most of the courses were carried out in Germany (in English) but over the phone for those in the U.K. I felt and would have appreciated some courses carried out in England in the Vauxhall HQ face-2-face.

Very few undergraduates are selected to return to Vauxhall, and there is no graduate programme. There do not seem to be many employees between the ages of 21-30 at this company.

I commuted from Northamptonshire, 50 miles away, and therefore I did not get involved in many of the social aspects here as I had friends from home who I spent my non-working time with. From speaking to others, most found Luton dissapointing in regards to this and often sought out nearby towns/cities or London to have social time in.

As previously stated, I commuted and therefore am not aware of the cost of living but the cost of socialising in this area seemed on par with that elsewhere in the country for activities.

Rubbish. There was a Yates' that people didnt mind going to but the nightlife in Luton is appalling. Most went to nearby Harpenden, Watford or London for nightlife.

There was football offered by the company on a Tuesday that some got involved in. But there didnt seem to be many opportunities for activities outside of work.