Student Chemist - Strategic Research Review

I thoroughly enjoyed the placement as a whole. The site is set in a beautiful location and there is loads to see in the nearby areas. The people on site are just fantastic and can have a great laugh with near enough everybody. The canteen and other benefits which the company give you are top class.

My colleagues are excellent, the entire department is just a really relaxed atmosphere where everybody treats each other as friends. We are very open and have had a lot of fun and laughs throughout the year, and that's what really makes the placement a great overall experience. Helps you when you're feeling a bit down too.

My supervisor was excellent and was always there when I needed help.There were some times during the year when a little extra supervision would have been helpful, but the style of supervision was really just to let you do your own thing and get help when you needed it, and that worked really well. There is never anybody nagging you to get work done, so it is a really relaxed atmosphere, meaning you always have sufficient time to get things done.

There were some extremely busy times, and there were some times which were a little quiet. However, whenever I was quiet I was given the flexibility to help others out with their work, so it balanced out as perfectly busy throughout the year. They always allowed time for tea breaks etc though, and were never under stress.

I was given the responsiibility to manage my own time and to run my own tests etc without supervision. As well that that, the company gives you some project management responsibilities and allows you to invest in your own ideas towards those projects. The main responsibility though is just simply being able to do things in your own time, and the supervisors trust you to work through what needs to be done in a timely fashion.

The placement gave me transferable skills such as presenting as well as confidence in the lab. The placement offers you the chance to think for yourself rather than just following instructions from a booklet or a supervisor, and the company allows you to implement your own ideas and come up with your own solutions to problems, again making you feel more confident in your own decision making.

The atmosphere in the office is absolutely brilliant. My office specifically is probably the best in the department, where nobody ever really takes anything seriously, so can just have a great laugh throughout the year. It's a big enough office to have a range of personalities, but not too much to feel like a call centre. The fun in the office really does just make the placement.

Really well set up, the company offered me a long handover between students so that I had plenty of time to learn the job. They make sure that you've got plenty of time to get used to anything. After then, the supervisors make time to ensure that you can talk about university work, and give you guidance on your reporting etc.

The company invests a great deal of time to ensure that you are developing as a student. The supervisors ensure that you get regular meetings so you can discuss progress, can point you in the right direction for things you should be doing to prepare for the future. The company can also offer you the chance to see things in other departments so you are building on all parts of your university knowledge.

The future employment prospects are mixed. There ar several students from the past who have returned to the company following on from their placement, however in my specific department, it is likely there won't be vacancies unless somebody leaves. However, they still seem keen to take on students who have completed their placement there.

There is a good social scene which is helped along by the sports and social club, which offer subsidised trips and activities for employees. It gives you the chance to do things you would never otherwise do. The student cohort regularly go out, there are also occasionally department events which you are invited to attend.

The cost of living is reasonable, more expensive than where I have lived in the past. However socialising can be done reasonably cheap.

The nightlife is quite good, there are a lot of good clubs and bars on the local Friar Gate. There are also a few wetherspoons which is always a favourite. In terms of other activities, there is a cinema/mini golf/bowling complex in the local shopping centre to put in the evening. There are plenty of places to eat out for all different budgets.

As mentioned earlier, there is a sports and social club which makes it cheaper and easier to get involved in activities with your workmates outwith work. There are usually opportunities to attend one of these around once a month.