Service Manager Review

I completed a placement year as a Service Management Industrial Placement Student within Computacenter's Managed Services division. I supported the delivery of IT services for major customers, helping to manage service performance, customer relationships, reporting, financial processes and continuous improvement initiatives. Day-to-day activities included attending customer meetings, producing service reports, analysing operational and financial data, coordinating actions with technical teams and supporting service reviews.

Yes, much more than I initially expected. I was trusted with responsibilities that had a direct impact on customer accounts, including producing Monthly Service Reviews, managing action trackers, supporting commercial activities and presenting to both internal stakeholders and customers. I was treated as a valued member of the team rather than just a placement student, which gave me the opportunity to develop professionally and build confidence throughout the year.

During my placement I significantly developed my communication, analytical and stakeholder management skills through working directly with customers, technical teams and senior colleagues. I gained experience using tools such as Excel, Power BI and ServiceNow, improved my understanding of IT Service Management, and achieved my ITIL 4 Foundation certification. The placement also helped me build confidence in presenting, problem-solving and managing responsibilities independently in a professional environment.

I received a great level of support throughout my placement. My manager and team were always available to answer questions, provide guidance and offer constructive feedback, while also giving me the space to work independently and take ownership of my responsibilities. There was a strong culture of learning and development, with regular check-ins, training opportunities and support from colleagues across the business whenever needed. Computacenter also have a great buddy system where you are paired with someone who has recently finished the grad scheme as well as someone who is in your sector but different customer accounts. This gives you a wide network of people to ask questions and help with your development.

Computacenter had a very positive and supportive culture. Everyone was approachable, willing to help and genuinely invested in the development of placement students and graduates. Despite being a large organisation, the atmosphere felt collaborative and inclusive, with opportunities to build relationships across different teams and departments. I felt trusted, valued and treated as a full member of the team from day one, which made the placement both enjoyable and rewarding. I also had the opportunity to go to many cool events with our partners so it was great that they would a placement student attend high profile events

I thoroughly enjoyed my placement at Computacenter and would highly recommend it to other students. The role was challenging, varied and gave me the opportunity to make a genuine contribution while developing professionally. I gained valuable experience, built lasting relationships and was trusted with meaningful responsibilities throughout the year. It was a fantastic learning experience that has helped shape my future career aspirations.

Yes