Placement Year Review at Marks & Spencer

The Role

Role Description

As a BPP, M&S basically train you up as one of their Commercial Manager. A Commercial Manager has various responsibilites and tasks to complete. For example, they might be in charge of running a Food Hall, with 5 other managers and 80 staff to line manage. As you are training, you will gain a valuable insight into this role by running sub departments, such as the entire Christmas shop across G.M. This teaches you the skills you will need to be a successful manager at M&S. The most important factor is how you use your own skills and personality to be a leader and lead your team and people to contribute to the success of the business.

1. To what extent did you enjoy your work placement or internship?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

M&S is a fantastic company to work for! They are first class in the opportunities that they offer you and they give you excellent training to help you along the way.

2. To what extent did you feel valued by your colleagues?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

3. To what extent were you given support and guidance by management/your supervisor(s)?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

My store manager that I was attached to was absolutley fantastic. She greatly assisted my development by giving me a lot of responsibilty. It was like swimming in the deep end but she was the coach encouraging you and rooting for you from the sidelines.

4. How busy were you on a daily basis?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

5. How much responsibility were you given during your placement?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

M&S is fantastic as they really take you on board as part of the management team throughout your programme. You are given different attachments in Foods and GM. My first attachment was in Foods and this was a fantastic time as it was a peaking area in the lead up to Christmas. I was given various departments to look after such as Meat and Poultry which are worth a substantial amount to the Christmas takings to my store. M&S really trust you as they invest in you!

6. To what extent did/will the skills you developed, and training you received, assist you in your degree studies and beyond?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

The skills I had learnt have allready proved useful as I study in my final year. Everything from my analytical skills to my confidence levels have increased thanks to my placement at M&S!

The Organisation

7. What was the general atmosphere in your office?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

You are not really in an office as you are sales floor based. But this is where the magic happens! You soon develop a real excitment for putting your energy behind a product, getting it out on the shelf and watching it sell like hot cakes!

8. How well organised was the overall work placement or internship set up?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

The organisation of the placement was truly brilliant. M&S have a clear retail guide for you to follow and this outlines what each attachment will entail, the training courses that are available to you in the learning and development centres and also gives you the ability to follow self learning opportunities around store.

9. In terms of personal training and development, to what extent did the company or firm invest in you?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

M&S really do invest in you. Your placement year can be seen as a your training year as if you do it well, they will invite you back after you have finish you degree to begin the a fast tracked graduate programme. M&S is not just a job, it's a career!

10. What were the perks on your work placement?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

• Subsidised Canteen
• Financial Bonus
• Company Parties/Events
• Staff Sales/Staff Shop
• Above 25 days holiday
• Healthcare/Dental
• Travel loan

11. How appealing are future employment prospects within the organisation?

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated 10/10

M&S will invite you back to begin your career with them if you have a good placement year. However, this may not just be in the U.K. they also provide you with the opportunity to join their international team, so whether you want to join the team in China or walk past the Champs Elysees on your way to work, M&S are right for you!

Other Information

12. Was there a good social scene amongst any fellow placement students/colleagues?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

M&S will always place you in one of their training stores. This is great as other graduates and placement students will also be training there. So this will allow you to share your experiences with them, ask them questions and even benchmark yourself against their performance.

13. What was the cost of living and socialising in the area you worked in?

★★★★★★★★☆☆

Rated 8/10

I was placed close to home, M&S always try to accomodate you in this way, and so are the other placement or graduate students you share your store with. So this means heading out after work doesn't cost an arm and a leg in taxis!

14. What was the Nightlife like in the area you worked?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

15. Were there many opportunities to get involved in activities outside of work?

★★★★★★★★★☆

Rated 9/10

Due to M&S view on corporate social responsibility, there are fantastic opportunities to get involved in activites outside of work. For example they recently carried out the "Five Peak Challenge" which saw M&S staff climbing all five of the highest mountain peaks throughout the U.K. and Ireland. There are also lots of charity events that you can be apart of, both in store and out of store.

Review 70/73 for Marks & Spencer

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