RateMyPlacement
Very much. Work at DSTL can be challenging and varied. One of the main advantages is that you can be signed onto several projects at once. This means that work carried out can differ day to day keeping it engaging. One day you could be carrying out theoretical work and the next you could be doing very hands on work. I really enjoyed this aspect.
The work is very interesting and colleagues are very friendly and helpful
It was insightful and enjoyable experience to be able to get a look at the wide variety of work that was being done and to get a chance to experience a few of the areas that interested me most when i first applied. I was also offered opportunities that were not initially advertised and yet improved the experience and made me appreciate even more the impact the company has.
Enjoyed the experience
The role at DSTL was very enjoyable. The interns were treated really well by all members of staff and given interesting work that had important use in the company. The interns are also given really good opportunities for further training and visits to other sites, military bases and defense conferences.
I found this placement very stimulating due to the varied nature of work that I was given and the responsibility entrusted in me to complete challenging and fast-faced tasks. Overall it was my most enjoyable placement to date and I would recommend it to others in similar fields or interests.
My role and work was sufficiently challenging, exciting and extremely unique. The work I was doing and what it contributed too gave me a great sense of purpose. The enjoyment of my work came from knowing I was doing something that would provide a very unique capability to the organisation.
Enjoyed the placement but would have been better with a higher workload
The work environment is very engaging and the variety of work on offer kept the work interesting. Seeing where the work was going to have an impact was enjoyable.
9/10 - The work provided had purpose and meaning which fed directly into the output of the team I was working within. This made the internship far more exciting than other employers whereby students merely 'experienced' the company rather than contribute to a work output. In addition, the work provided was varied and was quite well aligned with what I wanted to learn/gain and the organisations needs.
I really enjoyed my 3 months with DSTL this summer. It gave me the opportunity to understand what it's like to work in a defence and government environment, which has given me a new perspective on my future career options. I was able to work on a umber of projects both within and out of my comfort zone which I feel has increased my confidence moving forward with my studies.
I really enjoyed my time at dstl. The team was very supportive and continually made efforts to ensure I was doing work I was interested in where possible.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 14 weeks I spent at DSTL. The wide range of work that occurs there alongside the flexibility to find work that interests you means it is almost impossible to not enjoy coming to work. The environment at DSTL is also really friendly and flexible, everyone is approachable from the other summer interns to the more senior individuals. Knowing you can talk to anyone for help and advice is very comforting.
A good summer placement with time spent in lots of different areas of the company. There are plenty of opportunities available and open to placement students. You will get more from your placement if you seek out and ask to do extra things on the side and you will probably be allowed to do them.
I enjoyed my time at DSTL so much that I am planning to come back next summer! For me the job had the perfect balance of being both super interesting and challenging. Being a research facility, the work also tended to vary week on week meaning I was constantly learning new things.
Really enjoyed the placement, it was great to use the Chemistry I have been learning at university for technical problems which will have an impact. The team were really welcoming. The work was given to me in stages which worked well as I did not get overwhelmed by it at any point.
I really enjoyed this work placement. The work I did was varied and incredibly interesting. I got to work with multiple teams on different projects and undertake work that was interesting and new allowing me to build up my skills and experiences. The work I did was then used by my colleagues for things they were working on, making it feel worthwhile.
I really enjoyed working at Dstl. Porton Down is a great environment with a real "uni" feel to it - you're surrounded by talented people and you get to work right at the leading edge of technology. The work was really rewarding, and I was given a lot of freedom to select a project targetted to my skillset and interests, but with room for development. Knowing that my efforts will directly lead to the UK being safer as a result was a great motivator too!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at DSTL. At the start of the placement, it took me a while to get settled in, as there were a few problems with my security clearance and IT. Once they were resolved, I was given numerous roles and responsibilities that were challenging but achievable.
For the most part I did really enjoy the placement as the work I was doing was really interesting and the people around me were for the most part easy to get along with. It was also great to hear about what other people were doing. However I did find it hard when the people who were overseeing my work were away for a while. I also felt I needed slightly more check-ups on my progress as I did go down the wrong direction a few times with my work.
