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I work within Programmes and Community in Innovations and Partnerships. This involves informing colleagues within I&P and also in the innovation community which involves people all over the bank about the incredible work we do across all of our channels. This includes our Engage page (NatWest's social media page), and in the form of a newsletter. Additionally, I have been working on a intern business project with other interns to suggest how we can use gen AI to better improve the business area we are working in.

I have definitely upskilled in my communications skills; written and spoken. This is through my placement work in I&P as I am sharing with people who may have limited knowledge on our work so I have to make it easy for those people to understand. I have worked on my spoken communication through my intern business project as we have to make sure everyone understands what our idea is. Additionally, I have worked on my teamwork skills while doing my intern business project, making sure everyone is heard and everyone is contributing equally. I have given a big responsibility to create the newsletter for the innovation community which has been exciting as it will be quite different to how the previous newsletters have been so I have been able to take charge on that and ask colleagues what they would like to see. I have improved on my networking skills by getting to know as many people as I can within my team but also outwith my team. I even got to speak to the director of my team which I was slightly scared for but he gave great career advice that I will definitely take onboard. This week, I will learn a new skill of designing as I am helping my team create a new email signature.

I feel that I was given two large responsibilities. One was to create the newsletter for the innovation community which has over 5000 members from colleagues all over the bank. My manager wanted the newsletter to be quite different to previous newsletters so this gave me the chance to use my creativity skills. I had to set up meetings with individuals we wanted to get content from and then write it in a way that is engaging but also understandable to all readers. Another responsibility is the intern business project. The other interns and I work on this in my own time, trying to come up with a proposition that the bank could possibly implement. No managers are involved; it is all our own work. We have also had to set up meetings with colleagues to ensure our idea is plausible and what things we should also consider. It has been a great experience and I am excited to eventually present it to our managers.

My manager has been very supportive throughout my internship. I may not see her everyday but I know I can always send her a message/email if I have a question. I feel that I am able to ask her anything, big or small, which has made the process a lot easier and better. All interns are also assigned a graduate buddy and she has also been very supportive as well. We have a one to one every week just to discuss about how I am finding the internship and again, I can ask her anything. Th early talent team has also been great, sending us weekly emails on what to look forward to, reminding us of any tasks we need to do, and also having drop-in calls to ensure we are all feeling okay.

I was slightly worried going into NatWest due to the stereotypes of bank culture such as smart dress code, not a very welcoming atmosphere, and being very busy. However, it has been the complete opposite here. We have a smart casual dresscode, meaning I am able to wear what makes me feel most comfortable. Everyone has been super welcoming and everyone is very willing to chat. I have had one-to-ones with quite senior colleagues which I never thought I would have the opportunity to do before getting in here. Despite them all having busy schedules, they are willing to make time for interns and graduates to have a discussion about their work and give advice. At least for the area I work in, it doesn't feel high pressurised. Of course we have deadlines but it doesn't feel tense at all. Everyone gets on very well and our team will even have lunch together when we are oin and they have included me in their lunches which has been very lovely.

I have really enjoyed my internship so far. I feel that I landed quite lucky with the placement I got as I am seeing a bit of everything within the short time period of 8 weeks. I have been given work to do but not too much to handle which has been great. I applied for this internship as I am unsure on what I want to do after university and this has given me a great introduction on what working in a bank is like and so far, I am loving it. The graduate council have also done a great job in organising socials for us interns to get to know one another but also to speak to the graduates and get their advice for the internship. I am hoping I get offered the graduate job as I think I would really enjoy working here for another 2 years and getting to explore other areas of the bank.

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Don't let the fact that it is a bank hold you back. You don't need to have an economics/finance background to exceed here. Many people who work here didn't study Economics or Finance at university but found many amazing things that they can do. You have the opportunity (and also encouraged) to explore many different roles within the bank with the advantage of staying within the same company. Therefore, we are able to increase the number of skills we have so we can become a much well-rounded individual.