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I found my 10 week summer placement with E.ON UK hugely enjoyable and very insightful. I was based at their offices in Nottingham for the duration of the placement, which I spent with the Operational Learning team as a Digital Analyst. Despite studying Business and Human Resource Management at uni, L&D was an area I hadn’t yet had much exposure to but am particularly interested in.

I couldn’t have been part of a better team, they were hugely welcoming and very accommodating, and I instantly felt at ease. I felt very valued by my team – not only were they extremely supportive of my work and willing to help where necessary, but they really welcomed my contribution to their team and appreciated the value that the project I was tasked with would be adding.

My manager was hugely supportive and having set out the project brief was particularly vested in the success of the project; we had weekly one-to-ones to discuss the direction of my project, my performance and present my findings thus far. I was also partnered with one of the Learning Consultants in the team who was there to oversee how I progressed with the project, helping with any queries and providing general support throughout. My manager was also really supportive and keen for me to apply to the graduate scheme with E.ON.

Day to day I was busy working on my ongoing project in line with my next milestone – therefore each day would be arranged accordingly to achieve my outputs. I was left to schedule my days as I wanted/ needed, for example this could include meetings with various key stakeholders, arranging a piece to do at team away days, developing and running focus groups, designing and facilitating activities etc. Subsequently my weeks were varied and wide-ranging.

The main aim of my 10 week undergraduate placement was to carry out a project analysing the digital presence of L&D with the responsibility to design and develop a new digital strategy for L&D within E.ON UK. This project was of real value to the not only to the Operational Learning team but will have a significant and lasting impact on the customers of L&D in the wider business.

This placement equipped me with a whole range of transferable skills, and strengthened key areas in line with my personal development plan (in particular my analytical, communication and presentation skills). I proactively sought potential development opportunities whereby I could build up a strong portfolio of examples and situations to demonstrate the key competencies employers look for.

The atmosphere in the office I was based at was very relaxed and operated a hot desk system. The dress was smart/ smart-casual – very much depending on what you had scheduled that day/ who you were due to meet. The environment was really friendly, there were activities that involved all functions within the HR department, for example whilst I was there was an Olympic themed desk decorating competition with prizes etc.

My 10 weeks with E.ON was very well structured, essentially focused around my key project milestones in order to achieve the placement brief. Despite this it was very much up to me how to utilise my time in order to accomplish these goals and I was supported with doing this; for example arranging meetings with key stakeholders, managing focus groups, facilitating engagement activities etc.

E.ON provide all employees with access to the whole learning catalogue with the full training offer – should individuals want to engage with what is available line managers are willing to discuss these opportunities particularly in line with personal development plans. Should I have been with E.ON longer than my 10 week placement I would have liked to have made the most of this.

Towards the end of the undergraduate placement you are given the opportunity to submit an application for any of the graduate schemes (should you meet the criteria e.g. studying relevant discipline) alongside a recommendation from your line manager. Following this you are invited to a fast track assessment centre and should you be successful you are given a letter of intent securing your place on the scheme. In terms of future employment prospects, should you engage with the organisation and fit well in well with the company culture, this is a fantastic opportunity to guarantee yourself an ideal graduate role for when you leave university.