Industrial Placement Student Review

During my placement, I worked as an Industrial Placement Student in Cloud Operations, supporting a range of Cloud Platform Services (CPS) workstreams such as reporting, cloud governance, cyber compliance, cost analysis, and automation. On a day-to-day basis, I analysed operational data, developed dashboards, supported service stability and governance tasks, and worked closely with both technical teams and business stakeholders to deliver insights and improvements. Over time, I was given increasing responsibility, moving from supporting tasks to owning key projects like cost optimisation and reporting dashboards, where I worked independently, engaged stakeholders, and contributed to decision-making at a leadership level.

During my placement, I was given a good level of responsibility that increased over time. Initially, I supported ongoing tasks and learning, but as I developed my skills, I began owning key projects and workstreams such as cost analysis, reporting dashboards, and vendor comparisons. I was trusted to work independently, manage stakeholders, and present my findings to senior team members, contributing to real business decisions. This experience helped me move beyond a support role and take on meaningful ownership, delivering work that had a clear impact on the team and wider organisation.

Yes, I have developed both new skills and strengthened my existing ones during my placement. Technically, I improved my knowledge in cloud platforms such as Azure, data reporting, and dashboard development, while also gaining experience in cost analysis and automation. At the same time, I developed strong soft skills, including communication, stakeholder management, and presenting complex information to both technical and non-technical audiences.

I received a good level of support and guidance throughout my placement, especially at the beginning where I was given clear direction, training, and regular check-ins with my manager. Over time, as I became more confident, the guidance became less hands-on, allowing me to take more ownership while still having support available whenever needed. This balance helped me develop both independently and with the right level of coaching.

The company culture during my placement was very collaborative, supportive, and focused on continuous improvement. There was a strong emphasis on teamwork and everyone was encouraged to share ideas and contribute, regardless of experience level. Regular team meetings, open communication, and cross‑team collaboration created a positive and inclusive atmosphere where people were willing to help each other and learn together.

I really enjoyed my placement to a great extent, as it gave me the opportunity to work on impactful projects while developing both my technical and professional skills. I particularly enjoyed the variety of work, the chance to collaborate with different teams, and being trusted with real responsibility, which made the experience both challenging and rewarding. Overall, it was a very valuable experience that helped me grow in confidence and better understand how a large organisation operates.

Yes