Regulatory Strategy Industrial Trainee Review

I had a very enjoyable year

For the majority of my placement I felt like I was valued by my team. However, I would have liked to have gotten to know more of the team on a personal level.

I was given continuous support throughout the year by both my manager and supervisor. My manager organised weekly one-to-one sessions to help with any work/projects but also had an open door policy which allowed me to ask for her guidance whenever it was needed. I also had a high level of support from my supervisor who focussed largely on personal development on a continuous basis.

Dependent on the time of the year and the projects available, my business varied. However I always had on-going tasks and did not find myself bored.

As my year progressed I was given an increasing amount of responsibility. In my first few months I only carried out small tasks and supported others' work. However after Christmas I had the opportunity to take a lead on bigger projects and more challenging tasks. Often the amount of responsibility was dependent on the project type and the colleague who I was working with.

I have developed an enormous amount of knowledge of the pharmaceuticals industry as well as the roles within it; giving me clear direction towards a possible future career. The range of tasks and responsibilities I have been given have allowed me to improve my prioritisation, organisation and time-keeping skills which will be essential when returning to university. This year has also enormously improved my confidence due because I have had the chance to contribute towards team discussions, deliver presentations and lead projects.

The general atmosphere in the office was fairly relaxed but my working area was also quiet and it was easy to concentrate. We had monthly coffee mornings as a department to encourage a team atmosphere. However the office is occasionally too quiet as many colleagues work from home on a Monday and/or Friday. There was a large group of interns within the building which meant that lunchtimes and breaks were always lively. The building itself was very modern and light which created a good atmosphere.

The placement was very well set up- I attended an induction day prior to my start date which made me feel prepared for the year to come. The support system was good- as well as my manager I had the support of a placement coordinator. The programme was set up so that students were effectively integrated into the company and my department structured the year so that we had the opportunity to explore other areas of the business other than my own.

Besides the compulsory work-related training, I was given a few personal development experiences. I was given the opportunity to shadow colleagues in other roles and on other sites. I also had the chance to visit the manufacturing and packaging of products at various sites across the UK. I talked to numerous colleagues in other departments to learn more about their roles and the business.

I would like to return to the company in the future- it is a flexible working environment with good prospects and a range of different people. However, after university I would like to explore other job opportunities, potentially in a smaller company so that I am able to gain more expertise in a particular area before I return to a larger company.

I lived with a group of other students which allowed a good social life. However, the company did not organise any social events which meant that there might have been limited opportunities for some who weren't as lucky with living arrangements.

The cost to rent and socialise in surrey was fairly expensive.

The local nightlife was fairly limited, although the company was located close enough to Kingston and London that it was accessible for a night out.

The company does offer the opportunity to do volunteering but apart from this there are not many activities to take part in.