Placement Year Intern Review

Overall, I really enjoyed my placement year at the Bank of England and I had the opportunity to work on a variety of different projects, where I had plenty of exposure to real economic issues and financial markets. The healthy work-life balance at the Bank allowed me to enjoy City life and overall, I had a really enjoyable year!

I felt well-valued throughout my time at the Bank of England and it was evident that employees really do appreciate placement students and the work we do. From day one, my colleagues at the Bank were very welcoming and approachable and I was always included in any team activities and meetings.

Throughout the year, I was very well supported by my line manager, as well as the wider team. I found my manager to be approachable and I had weekly meetings with the team to discuss any issues. My line manager was focused on my personal development, so I had the room to work independently, but I always knew I had his support should I need it.

I feel I had the perfect amount of work to be doing do on a day-to-day basis. I never felt overly stressed and there were never days where I had nothing to be doing. Sometimes there were periods that were quieter, and when this happened I was offered opportunities to get involved in new work and projects.

I feel that I was being given a good level of responsibility during my time at Bank and definitely more than I was initially expecting! This provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate what I was capable of and allowed me to develop as an individual. Whilst I had a good level of responsibility, I always knew that I could turn to my line manager for support.

I am certain that the skills I developed and the knowledge I gained will assist me for life! I was exposed to senior leaders within the Bank, who I was able to learn a great deal from. Over the course of the placement year, I was able to develop my communication skills (both written and oral) as well as my confidence levels. Both of these will be highly beneficial to my future.

I found everyone in the office to be friendly and approachable, making the general atmosphere to be very pleasant. I felt that I could approach anyone if I needed guidance and I was able to arrange meetings or coffees with people I hadn’t previously met as the culture at the Bank was so open.

I found the placement year to be very well organised overall. The Graduate Recruitment team communicated the details of the programme to us well in advance and we had a comprehensive induction programme during our first week. My team were well prepared for my arrival and I was able to work on interesting projects that developed my skills.

I feel that the Bank invested a great deal into my personal development and training. I was able to take part in a range of training courses, ranging from IT training to a course on presentation skills. My manager actively encouraged me to take part in training session so that I could work on my personal development.

I was delighted to be offered a place on the graduate scheme at the Bank of England, following my placement year. I believe that employee prospects at the Bank are good, with plenty of opportunity for personal development and continuous learning. There is also the opportunity to move around within the Bank and I am looking forward to beginning my career here.

As there was about 30 of us on the placement year, there was a great social scene among the interns. We made the effort to have lunch with each other most days and would often go out for drinks on a Thursday or Friday evening. Additionally, my team was social and I was always invited to their events.

The cost of living in London is high, however I was able to live comfortable on the salary I received from the Bank.

The night life in the City is great! There are plenty of bars and restaurants to go to.

Yes, there were various volunteering and sporting opportunities to get involved in.