Lexus Operations Review

Communications with regional managers and the Lexus network, ensuring sales targets are met, assisting stakeholders to reach targets. Forecasting sales and other key reporting areas. Rolling out projects to improve Lexus customer experience and to assist the Lexus Network, ensuring they can perform to meet customer expectations. Further collaboration across a range of teams to ensure Lexus' performance, with lots of opportunities to visit centres. Day to day includes reporting, project work, meetings and communications with stakeholders.

The main skill which I have developed throughout the year is real world business experience, much more in depth application to my degree than before placement. Stakeholder management is another which has been developed greatly, something I wouldn't have understood as much without my placement opportunities. My analytical and presentation skills have also increased through using excel daily, being responsible for key reportings and creating many presentations for both myself and seniors to present.

I was given many opportunities to be responsible for a range of tasks through placement. For example, being able to report, present and host meetings around a key project. The student PDCA task also encourages you to take responsibility for a key project, lead this yourself and work on presenting it both visually and verbally. It is also welcomed to speak up and ask for more responsibility if you feel like you need/want to take on more.

Toyota has a great coaching company culture, you are encouraged to ask for support whenever you need it. When undertaking the Plan Do Check Act project you are given a different student manager as a mentor, which is really helpful to give you clear advice and guidance with your project. Toyota really values giving support and it is clear when working within teams that everyone is happy to help, making it really comfortable to ask for support if required.

Toyota has a really positive culture. The head office is a really nice place to work, those senior to you are always very welcoming. The culture really involves focusing on peoples development, which is clear through the multiple opportunities I have had through the year to speak and present to General Managers and Directors. Everyone is really friendly and willing to help, there has been multiple company events throughout the year such as frequent briefings, fireworks, company christmas party.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my year with Toyota, it has exceed my expectations of a placement year, I have been included in so much more than I thought I would. I have been to many events and had so much more responsibility than I though would have been possible. I have been treat very much as a team member over a student and have had a real insight into what it is like to work in the automotive industry.

Yes

I would advise others to look into the company culture and understand the roots of the company. I would also advise to be yourself and open in the application process as Toyota really value this and are open to having a diverse workforce. I would encourage others to move to the surrounding head office area as it is a really nice place to live with easy access into central London, which makes weekends really enjoyable.