Power Accademy placement student- TNS Review

The work was really difficult but also really rewarding. It pushed me beyond where I had studied at university and presented me with an engaging placement. The work I was doing was real work that needed doing but I was given the freedom and flexibility to do it as I thought was best.

Everyone you speak to is very friendly and very open to help you. My manager spent alot of time discussing how to solve my problems, but also helped by referring me to experts in the field.

Any problems I encountered were quickly resolved. We had 1:1 meetings regularly once a week to discuss progress and I was able to influence my goals and targets through discussion.

You were given a project to finish which you were responsible for. In my case I worked closely with another placement student but had my own project, others are group projects. It was up to you to manage your time responsibly but because of this some days were more busy than others. Flexi-time meant if you came in early you could leave early or vice versa

It was my project and I could choose how to manage it. I was responsible to my line manager but I was able to make my own choices on how to do the project and what to prioritise. It was real work that would be done by another engineer and it will be used later when reviewing by the year ahead team.

This was my first work placement and as such all sorts of working skills were developed. Some of the material will be covered in my degree course next year and the program I spent most of my time using was completely new to me but will be a great boost to me if I choose to work here at a later date

The office had flexi work space- you sat where you wanted with who you wanted. The atmosphere was busy but happy and relaxed, you were able to have conversations with your collegues and it never felt wrong to ask questions about your work. People were engaged in what you were doing and interested to know the results The office itself is bright and colourful. They call it a smart work place and the overall result is a very nice place.

The company was well prepared for me when I arrived, with welcome days and site inductions set up. On my first day in the office I was given my laptop and everything I needed to set it up. The only problem was with getting acess to the software I needed as it contained confidential information.

I was sent on multiple staff training courses in everything from regulation to power factory. The firm was willing to send me to any site visit I wanted to go on and we were able to arange our own. Whilst alot was also self learning people were willing to take time out to help you with any problems you had and invest time in you.

I will not have to go through the interview process and it is highly likley I will be offered a job after my last placement but as this is an ongoing scholarship scheme and not my final year of university a job offer will be given of the grad scheme in the final year if you perform well enough. Assessment is done through a presenation on your work and the grad scheme is very appealing to accept if offered.

There were 12 of us on the same placement scheme so we met up regularly to watch movies and occasionally to go out. I chose to stay with family outside of the area but was still included in events.

For me the cost of living was very cheap as i managed to stay with family and only had to pay for the fuel to get there. Overall the leamington area is more reasonable than London and city areas but was not cheap either.

Leamington has two relativly standard clubs but plenty of pubs. It was not as good as at university but it was a good night out.

Both through work and out of work there were plenty of acitivies in the area to get involved in. Through newnet new staff and interns were able to meet up and get involved that way but in the birmingham area there are plenty of different things anyone is able to do.