Student Placement Review

Good for the most part. Quite a unique experience working at a plant so dangerous on paper, but in reality is very much safe. So far it has been good in getting the experience of some hands on work as well as office work, would continue to work here if offered.

Although there are quite a few people who work here, I feel as though I've met pretty much everyone whom I would possibly work with and i've built relationships with some. I do feel as though I have friends in my student colleagues as well as some of the staff in the main office.

I feel as though my supervisor cares about how i'm doing and is actually interested when we have a conversation, although I don't see them much and spend more time with my student colleages. Whenever I do need some guidence however, or just a question answered, my supervisor is just a phone call away and will happily oblige.

I am busy when I want to be. There is work always available but I have to seek it out myself and i'm left to spend as much time on a project as I'd like to. I do enjoy this freedom and have been putting effort into everything I've done, but i feel as though this could backfire against the company should someone without motivation come along.

Although I do not have any constant responsibility, when certain jobs were taking place I was trusted to get involved and help as much as any full member of staff would, helping me to verify my place here and feel as though I'm useful. When key events have taken place in the running on of the plant my involvement has been relied upon.

Taking a year away from University has been amazing and allowed me to have a bit of breather space from my studies and allow to me to see how my education would be useful in an actual job. So far the most degree related work I have completed has involved a bit of maths but mostly design work, something I've done a few modules on at university.

I share an office with two over placement students, who I get along with greatly and would call friends. There is always a high level of chat in our office amongst getting work done, with any problem being brought up and instantly addressed by one of the other students when asked. We have all helped eachother with work at somepoint, making the atmosphere chill and friendly.

The inital joining of the company was a little rough. This mostly being down to getting three different job titles before it was settled so I could let the Uni know. When I recieved my contract and documents in the post, the inital letter was addressed to me, but everything thereafter with a name on was addressed to someone else, whom I now work with. Getting these documents before I started however at least allowed me to get an understanding of what was expected before I started working, once I actually started working it was fine from there on out.

I have had a few training days in my time here, majority being related to being a new member of staff, consisting of two inductions, one of which was a week long and quite interesting. Other than that I've had training courses related to my degree, I.e confined spaces.

I'm not too sure what my prospects are currently due to there being a few placements on at once this year, however in previous years all three placements that I know of currently work at Egger still, two of them part time whilst finishing their degrees. There is a chance based off history but time will tell.

Been on nights out with members of staff with more planned. The first night out happened quite early on in my placement and allowed me to get to know a lot of staff in a much easier going environment. Was a very good night out and I would happily go again. Myself and the students also have our own night out planned.

I live around 30 miles away from the plant, meaning the cost of living and socialising where I live would be a different score to the area I worked in as I don't know it at all. I can say however the local garage is as expensive as any othre garage and the local tesco is as midpriced as any other tesco.

I have not, nor plan to go on a night out in Hexham. From people I've asked it seems that Hexham mostly has an older demographic without much of the party scene i'm used to back at Univeristy. Hence the one star, I can't comment too much myself due to lack of my own experience.

There have been a few opportunities so far. So far there has been a night out, an induction week with a few days spent away from the plant. There are more nights out planned and I've not long been invited to the Company Christmas meal in a few weeks time.