Industrial Placement Student Review

Whilst working with NATS I have been constantly urged to increase my soft skills and ensure that both myself and NATS were fully benefited from my placement. I have been given great responsibility in some highly important projects which motivated me to perform and produce a high standard of work.

NATS fully welcomes and urges both the Industrial Placement students and their graduate students. NATS sees the schemes as the future engineers and all staff are more than willing to provide the help where necessary and push you to your full capability.

Each of my managers during each of my 6 month placements have provided full support, they have identified my strengths and weaknesses and allowed me to pursue these areas. During one of my placements one of my managers was a former graduate with NATS which was extremely helpful due to his awareness of the scheme and the expectations that I had. I was pushed to perform and as a result of this support I was given reward and recognition an official NATS award process.

My first six month placement was at the business end of the process when I joined, this meant constant hands on engineering and getting stuck in to important tasks. My second placement was less hands on but provided an insight into another important side of the business which has given me a different perspective into NATS and widened my thought process for future tasks.

During my time at NATS I have been given great responsibility! The work I have taken part in has been extremely important and has always been of great impact to both project and asset. Having this sort of responsibility has been helpful to me and has always given me that motivation to push myself to produce the extraordinary.

All the skills I have learned during my time at NATS have been beneficial to my final university year. I have been pushed to attend training courses which will in turn help my thought process and improve my soft skills. These skills are essential not only to my degree but in future times and I have benefited hugely from the training I have received. NATS has also been helpful in providing me with a final year project for university, having this project gives me an extra goal to perform and produce for NATS as well as for myself , increasing my expectation levels and hopefully producing a high mark.

During my placements I have always been made welcome and included in all conversations. Working with the Voice comms department provided a light hearted mood which was always helpful for me to approach anyone in the department for any help during my time.

During the middle of my placement there was a change in the scheme manager. This change meant a period of uncertainty, however since the change the scheme organisation has vastly improved and will be very good in the future.

NATS encourage Ip's to attend all training courses they provide and ensure that any training required by a placement student is provided. Placement students are provided with work specific trips which are great experiences and increase knowledge and understanding of the company.

For a placement student looking at their future career NATS is a company I would be hugely keen on being a part of. NATS is a company which provides a job for life and has great opportunity to grow and develop in the company.

Multiple nights out were organised by the placement groups as well as NATS who provided a bowling night and allowed the placement students to organise an Away Day. Having these nights out allowed me to meet new people and also provided opportunities for the future when networking with the correct people.

Moving from Scotland to England has definitely not been a reduction in cost however this is something I am more than willing to pay as the placement was well paid and worth the extra cost.

I was able to socialise with some of the graduates of the company who were at a similar age, as well as this the company football team had multiple nights out which I attended! The nightlife is great as their are two big cities nearby in both Southampton and Portsmouth.

The NATS sports and social club is always advertising for events in the area and allows people to sell tickets for events they can no longer attend. Being part of the football club meant I attended various events outside the company and also took part in walking the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge as part of a team of walkers.