Undergraduate Environmental Coordinator Review

Working at the Co-op offered me the chance to work across a range of disciplines and tailor the placement to my interests. As a placement student I had the opportunity to not only gain experience in the work place but also get out of the office to work with suppliers and different supply chains. Having such a varied work load meant I could enjoy working and also develop lots of different skills.

During my placement I had the opportunity to work on and contribute to projects taking place inside the Co-op. The work I contributed to was valued and colleagues always took the time to listen to findings and utilise them. The Co-op also ensures that you feel welcome in your team and that your opinions matter, enabling me to contribute to team discussions easily.

The Co-op has a great placement system in place to support undergraduates as the scheme has been running for so long. It provides the opportunity for support on a regular basis as well as guidance on both your day to day work and personal development. The company also has many support systems in place for you to use for any personal support and guidance needed.

During my placement, everyday was varied but always busy. Some activities ranged from producing reports and analysing data to visiting a site and giving a presentations.

During my placement I was trusted with co-ordinating projects of my own and contributing to others. You are given the responsibility to carry out your own work whilst also having support on hand for when it's needed. Having this responsibility gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself and develop you ability to manage your work.

Doing this placement developed countless skills. Some include time management, organisation, working with others, written and verbal communication as well as practical skills such as data analysis, risk assessments, presenting and report writing. I also found this placement great in increasing confidence. All of these skills will be helpful in both completing my degree and beyond as they are very transfer able.

The office is a very relax environment that has an exciting atmosphere as there is always something new happening. The open design of the office means you don't work in isolation and feel as though you are part of the wider Co-op team as well as your own immediate one.

The placement is well organised offering you the chance to set out you main goals at the start and what you aim to achieve and develop. Undergraduates have a 2 week induction at the start allowing you to familiarise yourself with both your role and the company and get to know the other undergraduates.

The Co-op invested a lot of time in giving me opportunities to develop skills important to me.

The Co-op doesn't have a graduate scheme but are open to re-hiring previous undergraduates into a junior role if one is available once they have graduated from university.

There were over 15 placement students employed at the Co-op at the same time providing a great opportunity to get to know many of the others. The Co-op arranges for you to get in contact before you start to help with finding living arrangements.

Prices for living I the city centre are high but living just a further few minutes away can reduce prices a lot and the cost of public transport is low.

Manchester has a great nightlife with a rain or restaurants, pubs, bars and night clubs.With many universities in the city there are student nights and people of a similar age.

There are some opportunities to arrange to take part in social activites with your team outside work.