Commercial (Food) Intern Review

I had a great time on my internship. I was given a lot of responsibility, for an intern, which was highly rewarding. I also got to see numerous and diverse areas of the business; this is one of the most important aspects of an internship to me. I worked hard but I also had a lot of fun and got to see some extremely interesting things.

I worked with a great team who made me feel very welcome. I appreciated that they didn't give undue compliments so that when they did congratulate me for my work it felt genuine. My work will also make a tangible contribution to the business, therefore, I can be assured that my work was valued.

I had a great Line Manager who was very good at helping me both with my project specifically and with my broader personal development. She went above and beyond what was required of her, to ensure that I got a meaningful experience. There was also support at more senior levels.

I was very busy during the internship. While this is in part down to how much work your manager sets you, I would say it is mainly down to how proactive you are. Fellow interns sometimes didn't have enough work, but, as an intern in a big business you are in a brilliant position to fill your time. I met with other colleagues in different divisions and got involved with projects that weren't directly related to my project. Being an intern is the best excuse to explore an organisation.

I was given a lot of responsibility for an intern. I was basically in charge of a sub-buying area and the work I did will result in visible changes in stores. While these may only be relatively small changes it is very exciting and rewarding to know that your work will actually materialise.

While the internship isn't directly related to my degree I have developed great life and work skills from my placement. This ranges from learning how to use excel to understanding the principles of corporate business. I also gained an insight into other businesses through my internship which was incredibly valuable. It has given me more direction to what I want to do after University.

While I entered the business at a difficult time (mass redundancy was announced) everyone maintained high spirits. Everyone was very friendly, warm hearted and able to share jokes. The office itself is a very nice environment. Hot-desking meant that you got a good opportunity to meet lots of different people in your team.

My internship was well organised, but, also flexible to my needs. While the organisation of the internship was largely down to the organisation of your Line Manager there was also an overall structure from the Apprenticeship and Graduate Team. This meant that you were clear of the structure from the beginning.

People in the company invested a lot of time in me. I appreciated this massively. My Manager invested a lot of time in my personal development, seeking out opportunities that went beyond the realms of my project. Senior members of the business were also more than willing to meet with me and share their experiences. I was even able to have a meeting with a member of the Executive Team. The workshops run by the Apprenticeship & Graduate Team were also good for personal development.

Through the internship I have been able to secure a job for after University. This is especially exciting as I have had the opportunity to explore different areas of the business and therefore should be able to tailor my post-grad opportunities to what I enjoyed on my placement. It is also nice to know that I have made meaningful connections through fellow interns or other people I have met on the scheme that can provide a base for me when I return to the business.

There was a relatively large cohort of interns which lead to a good social scene. We would eat together at lunch, go out for drinks after work and sometimes do things at the weekend. I lived with other interns which was nice and also gave me the opportunity to learn about other areas of the business in a more informal environment. There were also team drinks and meals which were nice and a good opportunity to get to know your colleagues socially.

This is very dependent on where exactly you live. Welwyn itself is quite expensive - it has a John Lewis and Waitrose. However, I lived in Hatfield in student accommodation which was relatively cheap. It was also home to cheap supermarkets and a nice Wetherspoons. Transport to work was quite cheap by train or by the free shuttle bus between the office and the F&F office, but transport to the station itself was more difficult and often meant getting a taxi. I would definitely check how close to a train station you are as Hertfordshire public transport is hit and miss.

Welwyn/Hatfield nightlife isn't great. There are a couple of good pubs with beer gardens and Hatfield Whetherspoons is very nice! However, there's not much else. While Kings Cross is only 25 minutes away on a train the last trains stop too early to get home after a night out. Having a friend that lives in London and is happy to have you stay is definitely an asset.

There are some sports teams, but, things happened on a more individual basis. There is definitely opportunity to set something up if you wanted to though.