Year in Industry Student- RAM (Rail Asset Management). Review

Good balance of on-site work and work in office, I enjoyed the aspect of learning on the job. When I first joined the company everyone was very friendly and welcoming. The placement always ranged with different activities and a range of courses were available for me to attend at my own leisure if applicable to my area of work.

I felt part of the NR team as soon as I joined and was always invited to lunch and made to feel like a employee and not just a placement student. I was treated well, similarly to employees who had been at NR for years and was always made to feel valued.

I was lucky to receive a good supportive team who were always happy to stop what they were doing to help me out. The support and guidance was fantastic, if I had any problem I knew I could speak to approachable people. I was guided on courses I could attend and ways to improve my work when I had completed any tasks.

How busy you are is dependant on the day, some days I would have a lot to do, some days I wouldn't have much on so we just went on site visits. If I had noting to do I always had E-module courses I could do as part as my continuous professional development.

Although I was given a lot of responsibilities, I was always kept within a boundary as a placement student but I would be given extra responsibilities with support and guidance. I found that as I went on more courses I was trusted with more complex and challenging tasks. The amount of responsibility you receive is down to you individual professionalism.

The skills I have developed on placement are not just engineering skills. I was always gaining skills to take back to university for example report writing and excel skills. I was continuously given guidance on ways which will help me become chartered. I was always told if I needed any help during university in my final year that people would be a phone call away.

The atmosphere within the office was professional but they were always people chatting and popping by to say hello. The people in the office are talkative and they was always something going on within the office such as cake sales or other charity events, It was a professional but fun environment.

The organisation was very good as my desk had been set up with a company laptop and phone and account. Once I received my login details, I was given all the essential links and shared folders I need to be aware of. My PPE was ordered and delivered within 2 weeks of being an employee and my tasks had been set so I was set up into an environment with everything I needed.

The company invested in me to go on courses and to receive professional competencies. The company invests a lot of time to focus on employees wellbeing. NR makes sure that all employee have been trained to do their job to the highest standard and makes sure that all development and training is in date.

I have been told that I have a place on the graduate scheme with conditions (University graduation grade). I have been told the future prospects after the graduate scheme and ways to progress within the company, I believe the prospect of having a guaranteed job post graduation, means I am completing my final year with one less thing to worry about. I have also been told about the prospects of doing masters which would be sponsored by NR.

A graduate has been assigned as mentor for the placement students, meaning there was a good social connection between other colleagues who had been in our place previously, this was good as they offered guidance and told us about what to expect and how to keep In contact with the other graduates.

I lived at home so I can not comment on the price of living, as I was based in Manchester city centre, the price of socialising was relatively high, as a meal would cost around £10. The good thing about being a NR employee is the benefits and discounts available.

Manchester is a very lively area in terms of events and nightlife, they are plenty of things to do in terms of going out. They are a range of activities available to do in the after work hours and I enjoyed the friendliness of other people from the area, therefore I have given it an 8 out of 10.

NR encourages people to get involved with activities after work and particular attention to charity work. Every employee is entitled to 5 days volunteer leave to help people in either STEM base activities or local recognised charities. NR often emails employees about how to used these 5 days and where help is needed from volunteers.