Product Safety Intern Review

I very much enjoyed my placement with BAE Systems. This was my 2nd internship with the company and they look after their interns very well.

I felt very valued by my colleagues. I received a lot of feedback whether that be praise or constructive criticism in order for me to improve in areas where I was struggling. I was given relevant work that was required by the department therefore giving me the ability to provide my contribution to the project.

I was given a lot of support when rewquired. Whether that be in terms of my workload and getting guidance from my placement manager as to what I should be doing and in terms of personal support from the Early Careers team who gave plenty of support regarding future prospects and any personal matters that may arise.

I was very busy throughout my placement. I was given a substantial amount of work that allowed me to make a real difference to the workload of my department. This work was also varied and allowed me to gain insight into the different aspects of work carried out by my department. This workload was of a manageable quantity.

I was given a fair amount of responsibility as I was given more or less full control of my objectives provided I produced them by the related deadlines.

A lot of what I learned during my internship has allowed me to relate my university work to real life situations. Something which I struggled to do before I started at BAE Systems. The skills I have gained whilst on placement will also stand me in good stead for my future career.

The atmosphere in my office was a very focussed and hardworking environment however there were also plenty of opportunities to get to know those working alongside me. I very much enjoyed the office I worked in as it gave me the motivation I needed to complete my objective but also to have fun and enjoy my work.

I thought that the internship scheme, from my perspective was very well organised. My placement managers had objectives lined up for me from the beginning and even had stretch objectives to give me should I complete the initial objective set. I was given a wide variety of work, gaining a lot of different skills and in my seconds year these skills were built upon.

I feel like I was able to seize every opportunity I was given by the company and this was apparent in the different training courses & business trips I was able to take part in. In my first internship, there was a BAE Interns conference which allowed all of the interns from all over the UK to get together and share their experiences.

I have received and accepted a job with the company as a result of my 2 placements. I am very much looking forward to starting my career and BAE Systems. After speaking to current graduates, I believe that they have a very well rounded and attractive graduate scheme and I am looking forward to being a part of it.

Whilst on placement, there are a lot of social activities whether that be with fellow interns, department colleagues and current graduates. It is very easy to take part in sports activities in the area and there is always something to do. Most interns are away from home and so are very keen to go out with one another.

Barrow in Furness is a relatively cheap area to live and socialise. A lot of the local bars and restaurants are very reasonable and there is plenty of supermarkets to choose from. Rent can be as cheap or expensive as you make it. There is a lot of contractor accommodation available which is pretty reasonable.

The nightlife was okay. There are plenty of bars and restaurants but most are karaoke bars if that’s your kind of thing. Surrounding areas such as Ulverston tend to be better for a night out as there are plenty of nice places to eat and drink and there is often good entertainment too.

There are always group emails sent out from current graduates or employees within the company encouraging you to get involved in activities outwith work. These are mainly sporting activities but occasionally there are some things arranged purely to socialise and get to know one another. It is very easy to meet people.