Project Assistant (Operation Improvement) Review

There were a variety of work and projects (related to train operations or revenue) during the placement and colleagues have been friendly and supportive. I work during office hour and work are never too challenging that you will feel very stressed. There were also other placement students employed so it was supportive overall.

The work I completed has received a high recommendation and good feedback. They treat me as part of the team and I attended in few of the team building and gathering such as Christmas Dinner etc. I have also been assigned work which really contributed to the company and I, therefore, felt happy about it.

My line manager was very friendly and supportive throughout the placement. From letting me understand the train and company operation at the beginning, advising people I would be able to contact to complete work. They were also supportive of my personal development, ensuring the placement was enjoyable and keeping track of my development during the placement.

Overall, it was not as busy as I expected. This is especially the case at the last two months of the places where there was not a lot of work to complete. This is partially due to change in the management team leading to restructuring. Other times, there were some admin work to do along with projects.

My main responsibility is to assist in operational improvement projects by contacting stakeholders and ensure projects are in good progress. Along with this, I also roster management staff at stations during industrial action. I also completed a few projects with the revenue team identifying places where revenue can be grown.

I have improved a lot in confidence of speaking up, showing initiative and also general transferable and work skills. My IT skills has also improved and I was also able to apply some writing and mapping skills from my university course to the placement. I did not receive any training which is something I would like to have done.

My office is generally quiet as there were only 3 or 4 people where I worked. There was a busier office in the same town and the atmosphere was very good overall. All colleagues treated me with respect and were friendly and was helpful in offering advice. I also kept connection with other placement student through a Facebook group.

I did not receive a job description before I started work so I only really knew my role about 1 or 2 weeks after I started work. I was recruited by the company centrally and was then assigned to teams where they needed a placement student. This year, they are now employing locally which would have improved the process and matching the demand for work better. Also the support from the company (for personal development) could be better with more regular meetings with other placement student.

I did not needed to any extra or special training (i.e.software for the placement) so not much was needed to invest into me. My line manager and I had regular meeting to keep track of my progress and certainly my colleagues taught me a lot about the rail industry and also skills for life in general.

The best way to enter the company after graduating would be through the graduate scheme which employs every 2 years (2018 was the last time). The placement scheme employs every year and last for 10 months (with the option to extend up to 12 months). The company is not likely to expand in terms management grade staff so there won't be lots of oppurtunities.

We kept track with each other via an Facebook group and met every few months outside of work. With colleagues, we went for a Christmas Dinner and there was drinking session after work if you like to attend. Leeds is a student city so if you like to go out, it would be excellent.

I worked where my university is based at (Leeds) so the cost would be the same. I do not go out to clubs to socialise so I cannot say how much it costs or whether it is expensive. Cost of living would be cheaper than Southern England,

Nightlife in Leeds is excellent. However I do not go clubbing therefore I cannot tell you whether the experience is excellent. From fellow student, it seems Leeds is one of the best place in England to club in with lots of options to choose from. Canal Mills, Tiger Tiger, O2 Academy and The Warehouse. is quite famous here for clubbing.

Not in my role but one of the marketing placement student went to Northern sponsored event every 1 or 2 months during weekend to help promote the company.