Startegic Sourcing and Procurement Intern Review

Thoroughly enjoyed my placement year at Warner Brothers and would highly recommend it. When I reflect on how much I was able to achieve and the things I was able to attend/accomplish, it’s amazing. The day to day of working in the WB office was enjoyable and it was a joy to work with everyone in the team/office.

I was always treated with the upmost respect by both colleagues and suppliers. People from across the company would ask for advice surrounding tasks associated with the department and would thank me for being able to assist. The work I completed was always appreciated and in meetings my contributions were respected.

Both my managers operated open door policies and I have always felt supported and able to approach them. I don’t feel worried or guilty about approaching them or for saying “I’ve never done this, can you show me” They are more than happy to offer their advice and guidance, and explain the process in order to achieve the best outcomes.

Work levels are mostly consistant, but there will be times when you are very busy and other times when work is quiet. As long as you manage your time accordingly, there shouldn’t be too many evenings where you leave past 6pm. You will always have time for lunch, where you can leave the office.

Once you are settled in, you are given ownership of your own projects, working directly with suppliers and internal stakeholders, where you will have to make decisions. A majority of your work will always be to assist the team with their projects, but what is expected from you can still be complex here.

It is almost incomprehensible how much I have learnt this year and how much more confident I feel about going back to university and whatever follows graduation. Every lesson learnt and skill developed will be remembered and has greatly improved my chances of success whatever the situation I find myself in.

At WB there is a great atmosphere around the office. While everyone understands that we are in the office to work and be professional, there is always moments of fun and lots of chances to get involved. Everyone is very inclusive and easy to start a conversation with. WB is currently going through a refurbishment, whereby there will be more open space and closer collaboration.

HR and Department team have a well established programme for the internship and know how to assist you through out your year. Having ran the scheme for many years, they have been able to finely tune the internship scheme so that both yourself and the teams you are supporting are able to get the most from it.

At WB interns are offered 4 training seminars throughout the year, where external professional come in to assist you with key skill categories and how to improve on them. Your manager will also have regular development sessions with you, where you can speak openly about targets and where you need to improve. My department let you know of any external events coming up, that would be beneficial.

WB has many ex interns come back to work, having graduated. 3 of the 4 previous interns in my position have come back to work in other departments, however this is higher than the average across the intern scheme. This company won’t suit everyone, but I believe it a great company to work for.

With over 50 interns each year, WB has a great social scene with a majority looking to get involved after work hours. There has always been several nights a week, where I have found myself with other interns, and we have also met up on weekends. With Colleagues although it occurs less often there are still times spent together after work.

Working in central London, we tend to go into Soho for socialising, which can be very expensive if you allow it to be. Living in the East tends to be cheaper then West London, but after rent don't expect to be flushed with money. Catching the tube each day can add up, and eating out after work can also be expensive.

Night life in London is obviously amazing, a wide range of clubs and bars are available very near work within the Soho, Convent Garden/Leicester square area. Camden and Shoreditch are all within 15 minutes from work, while Brixton isn’t much further. Whatever sort of night life you are after isn’t far away.

WB offers a range of activities outside of work, but it is up to you how involved you would like to be. Outside of work, sports clubs are very expensive. Anything that requires a lot of space, you will need to venture further afield, unless you are willing to pay a premium.