Business Analyst Review

My placement has been absolutely fantastic. Since day one, my colleagues and organisation have been so supportive and eager to see me develop. Towards the beginning, I thought I'd dread getting out of bed come months 6/7, but honestly, I enjoy coming into work each day. The people that work here is what makes Centrica so amazing.

The majority of my colleagues treated me as if I was a full time employee. Of course this comes to a certain extent. If I was struggling with a piece of work, my manager/mentor will always be there to support me. There are always going to be people who don't value you the way you wish to be. Sometimes I'd turn into the data monkey, and complete simple/dull tasks on a regular basis for the same individuals. Overall, I was given a massive heap of responsibility - making me feel incredibly valued!

The support here is amazing. You have weekly/monthly catch ups with your managers, supervisors, mentors and 'buddy'. Even when you have no questions or concerns, it's nice to catch up and talk about progress/development. If I ever had any concerns, my colleagues were always there to support me by giving advice on how to solve it.

There were times in which I had a really good balance of work. I'd come into the office, open my laptop, and crack on with my projects. Sometimes the workload would drop dramatically, and I'd sit around twiddling my thumbs. Though this has taught me to be a bit more pro-active, and look around for work to do... I think a more structured placement would be beneficial for both myself and the organisation!

I was really shocked with how much responsibility I would be given. Leading workshops, planning and implementing trials, presenting to senior leaders etc. The work I did was making a real difference to the way the business operates. I was influencing key decisions made by my department.

There are many skills that I will transfer to my final year of University. Managing my workload and working towards a deadline being the main ones. I've learnt how to deal with pressure from stakeholders, senior leaders, time restraints etc. Additionally, my confidence and communication will help with assignments such as group presentations.

I worked within a call centre, so the atmosphere wasn't amazing. Though it was evident that the on-site coordinators tried their best to create a culture that was fun and exciting to be in. I cannot fault their efforts at all. Though saying this, I was looking forward to the after work socials, football meet ups etc. None of this was a reality unfortunately.

Towards the beginning, I was a bit worried. They put me into a two week training session that seemed irrelevant. Then the workload was very low for the first four weeks or so. Beyond that, it seemed to pick up. Mentors and 'buddies' are a really good idea. This is the first year the Business side of British Gas were offering a Year in Industry - so for their first attempt, it was pretty impressive. Though overall (and basing it on peers experiences), it was okay.

My supervisor was a contractor with years of experience as a Project Manager. He was such a huge influence to my training and development. I was brought in as a 'Business Analyst', so a lot of what he did overlapped with my job responsibilities very nicely. The company were okay in terms of development. I've heard really amazing things in terms of their graduate scheme, but I didn't see too much during my placement year.

Very appealing. I would love to return to Centrica on their Graduate scheme. They tend to offer three eight month placements across two years, so you have such a wide exposure to the entire business. The training and development on the scheme seems to be incredible - I've only heard good things about it!

I joined with three other students. We had a really good time together. We went on away days to Windsor, Staines and Oxford. We also went on a few fun days e.g. Go-Karting. There were also a few grads that come and go. They are always good fun to be around!

Leicester is a cheap place to live. The housing prices will depend on the area you stay in (like anywhere). I lived in the posh bit, and paid £675pm with all bills included (one bedroom flat in gated community). Fuel is cheaper than London. Nightlife is also cheap as chips.

It's okay. There are 2/3 main clubs. Leicester has a good range of bars and pubs. All relatively cheap as well! There are obviously better places for nightlife, but this wasn't really something I needed to consider when looking for a placement.

You have two days of volunteering to use during your time here. I used one of these to pack lunches for old ladies at the King Power Football Stadium. The company are always encouraging people to go out and give their time to the local community!