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Lack of support was not an issue at all - we had fortnightly calls with someone who didn't work in the office with us but was there to make sure we were enjoying it and feeling happy. Everybody who gave us work was happy to answer questions for us and come over to our desks to help when we got stuck, as they realised us sitting there being clueless was a waste of time. In summary - lots of support and guidance and everyone was very helpful.

I was very busy, there was maybe only 3 days in the whole 8 weeks where I didn't have much to do. Being hard-worked might not sound like a good thing, but it's definitely better than sitting there being bored. Although having said this, because we were very busy, when a period came where we didn't have too much work it was very enjoyable to be able to relax a bit.

The interns were treated pretty similarly to first year grads who are working at the office full time, so we were given quite a bit of responsibility. We did lots of pension calculations, which are sent out to clients, and I also attended a client meeting. We are definitely entrusted to do real work that will face the client after going through the standard check and review process the firm has for all work.

I don't think learning about pensions will help me much for the last year of my maths degree at Cambridge, but if I do decide to work in this industry the internship will definitely give me a large edge over anyone who has not worked in the industry before. The main skill I have taken away from the internship is Excel skills, which I think is very cool and will definitely be useful in the future regardless of what I do.

The atmosphere is generally very relaxed and friendly. Most people don't wear a tie in to work unless they are meeting a client that day, and people can generally wear what they want like jeans, t-shirts, etc... Everyone was very friendly, and we could talk to anyone - even the most senior people had time to have normal conversations with us.

The first week was mainly training for the job, and learning about pensions and how calculating them works. One of the main things I learnt was Excel skills. Spreadsheets are used in everything, and I now have a very good knowledge of different functions and shortcuts mainly in Microsoft Excel, but around all of Windows as well.

The firm says over 75% of interns are offered a job at the end of the placement, and the ones who don't get offered a job have to do something obviously wrong, so the future employment prospects are very good. Also, being in London, there is more variety of work than at the firm's other offices, and so more exposure. Therefore, you learn quicker and get promoted quicker than you would at other offices in the UK.

The cost of living is typical of London - rent is very expensive compared to other places in the UK, transport is quite costly (especially at peak times), and drinks in bars and clubs are much more expensive than they would be elsewhere in the UK too. However, I lived at home with my parents so did not have to pay rent which made it okay for me.

I worked in Holborn, in London, so the nightlife was of course very vibrant and exciting. The office is just across the road from a big Spoons, and there are many good bars and pubs very near the office. Being London, transport is very good so getting to any clubs is not a problem at all.

There were quite a few opportunities - as interns we were given one day off to go on a volunteering day, which is organized by the firm. For example, one of the volunteering activities on offer was tidying up a large public garden that had become overgrown. Furthermore, there is an office Ultimate Frisbee team and cricket teams that we were encouraged to get involved with, and there is also the "Pub ASK" who organize Friday trips to a local pub every week.