Summer Placement Student Review

Loved it. My team were all very welcoming which helped me settle in very quickly. My colleagues worked hard to get me involved with as many different projects as possible in order to make the most of my placement. The office had a relaxed atmosphere which encouraged collaborative working and knowledge sharing. I genuinely looked forward to going into work each morning and have gained many skills that will assist me in my future studies and general life.

Upon my arrival my colleagues were all very welcoming and worked hard to get me involved with a variety of projects. I was made to feel valued within the team as I was given meaningful work that contributed to the team's overall performance and reduced the workload of my colleagues.

Fromm the offset I was give a great deal of guidance and support from my line manager and many other members of the team. In addition to my line manager I was assigned a 'buddy' who would be there to answer any questions/queries I had. Throughout the entirety of the placement my line manager maintained regular contact with me and arranged regular catch-ups to discuss my progress and check how I was getting on.

During the first few weeks of my placement the majority of my work consisted of completing the training and technical development necessary to undertake various projects within the team. After this I was able to get involved with several projects spanning a range of different tasks, and so I always had something to be getting on with.

Before starting with a certain piece of work I was required to complete the relevant training / reading before being briefed on what the work would entail. Following this I was trusted to individually undertake a variety of tasks including productive work for clients. I performed detail checks of my colleague's work as part of the quality assurance process.

I gained a huge variety of skills and knowledge during my placement, ranging from general computer programme based skills to nuclear specific technical knowledge. These skills/knowledge will assist me in my final year of University and also in any future engineering roles I may have. This placement also allowed me to develop personal communication and team working skills that will be useful in any future workplace and in general life.

The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. It encouraged collaborative working and knowledge sharing.

The placement was very well organised. On arrival, all of my induction activities had already been planned out for my first week and everything ran smoothly. I was given a 3 month plan which outlined the various tasks I needed to complete during my placement and the time scale within which they should be completed. My line manager maintained regular contact with me to discuss my progress and answer any queries I had.

I completed a great deal of training during my first few weeks which covered essential office based training/health and safety as well as technical based training. I was also given the opportunity to complete many other training courses that interested me throughout the duration of the placement. I was encouraged to complete as many of these training courses as possible in order to gain the most experience I could.

The future employment prospects are very appealing. Atkins runs a two year long graduate scheme. During my placement I was to speak to many people on this graduate scheme, all of which seemed to be very happy with its structure and the opportunities it presents. New graduates often join as one of many in a team which helps to quickly settle in with your colleagues. It seems like a great place to work both with regard to the range of working opportunities it provides and the general atmosphere of the office.

Yes, a big effort was made to encourage social events between the placement students and new graduates. During my first week I received an email detailing the first placement/graduate social. During my time on the placement several similar socials were held ranging from minigolf to an after work bike ride, all of which proved very popular.

Bristol is a great place to live in terms of both nightlife and things to do at any time of day. It has a great deal of bars and nightclubs of all shapes and sizes, suitable for anyone's taste. Bristol is also great for food, with endless restaurants of all styles and cuisines.

Yes, during my placement I was contacted about several social and sporting activities that I was able to get involved with. This included surfing trips, joining a 5 aside football league and taking up other new activities such as rock climbing. There were also many social events to attend including a summer party.