Summer Scheme Student Review

I thoroughly enjoyed my Summer Scheme Internship as I experienced various aspects of planning such as: housing; retail; commercial; waste etc. I was set a variety of interesting tasks and learnt more about planning as I completed these tasks. I was able to met other team members from different offices and I experienced how they operate and function. At the end of my insight I was fully aware of how a planning consultancy team operates and what a day in the life of a planner looks like. I personally enjoyed every aspect of the insight and am pleased to be offered such a valuable experience.

I felt valued throughout my time at Savills as each team member was extremely welcoming and helpful. Everyone understood my level of knowledge prior to my internship and worked with me to help me develop my skills and experience. They were informative, patient, friendly and considerate to my interests. In particular, I expressed my interest for retail planning and as a result was offered the opportunity to work with a specialised retail team at the London office. I therefore felt valued throughout my internship.

As mentioned above, I received guidance and help throughout my internship. The support that was offered to me was extremely helpful and informative and I always felt happy to ask questions. The first week in particular was helpful to introduce me to planning as a whole. My mentor produced questions for me to answer to ensure I was aware of the basics. We when through these afterwards to discuss aspects I was unsure about and ask questions.

The skills I have gained from this internship will not only assist in my degree but also my future employment opportunities. The practice behind the work I have undertaken will inform theory within my masters degree and help me understand the content for different modules. The experience will enhance my profile for future applications for jobs. Furthermore, it has also given me an understanding into how a planning consultancy operates and what type of work is expected within each team. Thus, it has made me realise what type of planning I am interested in which has aspired me to work within these sectors.

The internship was structured in terms of goals. I had to set myself 3-5 goals and ensure I completed these throughout my internship. The internship was also structured in terms of the work that I was set to complete. On the first week I discussed my interests and was subsequently set specific tasks/projects related to these interests. I had to work my way through these projects throughout the internship.

The general atmosphere in my internship was extremely friendly, welcoming and proactive. The team I worked with were very positive which inspired me to complete the that I was set.

I wasn't offered a structured training and development programme, but I was offered help and guidance throughout. The grad scheme offers a structured training programme. I was informed throughout my internship about this programme and any useful tips for applying. Nevertheless, the company invested in me and offered projects that appealed to my interest.

The internship reflected what it would be like to have a full time job. The work and hours would be the same as a full time job. The only difference is the responsibility and level of work you are set with. As a full time grad you would be expected to take on more challenging tasks. However, overall I experienced different aspects of planning which full-timers would also take on.

The internship offered me an understanding into the company culture in many ways. Firstly through the social aspects. Within the first week there was a social in the office to meet different people within different teams. Within the third week there was a lunch for personal celebrations. Savills is a social company, so experiencing these type of social/networking events revealed the company culture. Furthermore, the hard working nature of the company was also made apparent through the team members. And lastly, the client care was also made evident when discussing different projects.

Each day was extremely valuable in helping me decide on the future of my career path. This is because I was offered to experience different aspects of planning and a variety of different tasks. This made me realise what type of planning I want to involve myself in later in life. Furthermore, the tips and advice that was given to me regarding the application process has also helped for the future of my career path.

I was paid for the month I worked based on a salary of £14,000+. I was also reimbursed for my expenses. For example, I visited the London office to work within their retail team and I was covered for the train ticket. This allowed me to experience different aspects of the company.

There was a vast amount of opportunities for networking and meeting other employees of the company. For example, I was offered different projects for different team members. Each team member worked on different tasks which enabled me to experience different aspects of planning. I was also able to meet different team members within different offices.

There was two social networking events. Within the first week there was a social drinks/get together in the office to meet different people within different teams/floors. Within the third week there was a lunch for personal celebrations. This allowed me to talk to different people and network with people that I would not have had the chance to speak to.

Unfortunately I was not able to find out about activities that employees can get involved in outside of work. This was probably due to the fact I was only positioned for a month. I think the grad scheme offers a wider range of activities that employees can get involved in outside of work and advice is sought out for you.

I would 100% recommend this internship to a friend. It has given me valuable work experience and an understanding of how a private planning consultancy team operates and functions. It can help you realise what you are interested in and this can shape your future career path. Not only does this boost your chances of future employment, but it offers opportunities through networking.