EY Leadership Academy Insight student Review

As it was residential, I got to know EY employees and other insight students in a different dynamic to other placements. However, we didn't get too much exposure to EY's work, which would have been helpful.

All the facilitators were incredibly friendly and helpful, and have remained in contact since the placement. It was also very clear that they wanted all of us to work at EY, but they never forced that upon us

All the facilitators were happy to sit and listen, and give advice based on their opinions but also what we highlighted our own strengths and weaknesses to be. The advice was never generic, but also never told to us as gospel, which meant it was very helpful.

I was made to lead in situations that I was not fully comfortable in, and had to work in a team under pressure, and these all taught me about my own strengths, weaknesses and preferences so that I can manage them in situations in life now. I also presented to large groups of people, had to plan and effectively communicate with my team, and voice my opinions to people, which makes doing it in my degree much less intimidating now.

We were given an itinerary before the course began, and sent an easter egg and an academic book prior to the course!

The activities were all interactive and thoroughly enjoyable, but the serious lessons were never lost behind all the fun. In the evenings, there were always opportunities to get to hang out with students and facilitators in an informal way, such as the bar etc. Everyone there was incredibly approachable and this made the atmosphere very friendly, but ever so slightly competitive as everyone there was very capable and fighting for a place on the internship programme.

The whole course is personal development, rather than academic skills focussed

I got a real feel for the culture of the firm, but am still none the wiser as to what the nature of the work is, whether I would be suited to it, or the kind of environment the work is done in - it felt a bit like a microcosm of EY's best employees which was very isolated from the work

I think the fact that EY run a scheme entirely focussed on your own personal development, which at no point sang their own praises as a company to work for, says a lot - they know they are an attractive employer to students, and this course helped to show all the reasons why.

As I said, exposure to the work was minimal but all the facilitators were more than happy to talk about their work

Pretty much every day had a networking opportunity, and the facilitators themselves are incredible points of contact to have and were very happy to pass on contact details of their colleagues

Most of us were shattered by the end, but it was really fun and beneficial getting to socialise with everyone almost constantly

I learnt more about myself in these 4 days than I did in the first year of university, and I say that with no hint of exaggeration - I was challenged but never felt uncomfortable