Summer Student Review

I completed a summer internship as an Actuarial Intern within the Actuarial Public team at Hymans Robertson. Throughout the internship, I worked alongside qualified actuaries and analysts, gaining exposure to a variety of pension consulting work and internal business processes.
The main focus of my internship was a project to automate the production of actuarial reports. This involved analysing an existing reporting process, understanding user requirements, designing a new solution, and developing a tool to improve efficiency and reduce manual work. To deliver this project, I learned Python and worked extensively with Excel, Word and VBA.
On a day-to-day basis, my role involved a combination of independent project work, meetings with stakeholders, testing and troubleshooting, and learning about the wider pensions industry. I regularly met with colleagues to discuss requirements, gather feedback on my work, and present progress updates. I also attended training sessions, development events and networking opportunities that helped me gain a broader understanding of the business and the actuarial profession.

Yes. From an early stage in the internship I was given ownership of a significant project that addressed a real business need. Rather than completing a predefined task, I was responsible for investigating solutions, evaluating different approaches, developing the tool, and presenting recommendations to stakeholders.
This involved managing my own workload, organising meetings with colleagues across different teams, gathering requirements from end users, and testing the tool across a range of real report templates to ensure it would be suitable for wider use. I was trusted to make decisions throughout the development process and was encouraged to take responsibility for solving problems independently before seeking guidance where necessary.
In addition to my project work, I also took part in fundraising activities organised by the intern cohort, helping to coordinate events, communicate with colleagues and approach local businesses for raffle prize donations. These experiences allowed me to develop both my technical skills and my confidence in communicating with a wide range of stakeholders.
Overall, I felt that I was treated as a valued member of the team and given meaningful responsibilities that allowed me to make a genuine contribution to the business while developing professionally.

Yes, I developed a wide range of technical and professional skills throughout my internship.
One of the most significant skills I learned was Python programming. Prior to the internship I had no experience using Python, but over the course of the placement I learned how to write, test and deploy code to automate business processes. This included working with Excel and Word files programmatically, handling errors, creating maintainable solutions and converting scripts into executable applications for end users.
I also strengthened my existing Excel and VBA skills by integrating them with Python to create a reporting automation tool. This improved my understanding of how different technologies can work together to solve business problems and streamline manual processes.
In addition to technical development, I improved my analytical and problem-solving skills. My project required me to analyse an existing process, identify inefficiencies, evaluate different potential solutions and make decisions about the most appropriate approach. Developing and testing the tool also required a systematic approach to troubleshooting and quality assurance.
The internship helped me significantly develop my communication and stakeholder management skills. I regularly met with colleagues to gather requirements, present progress updates, discuss challenges and seek feedback. This gave me experience communicating technical information to people with varying levels of technical knowledge and understanding users' needs when designing solutions.
I also developed my project management and organisational skills by taking ownership of a substantial project from initial research through to development, testing and deployment. This required me to manage competing priorities, work independently and ensure progress was communicated effectively to stakeholders throughout the internship.
Outside of my main project, participating in fundraising activities and intern development events helped me build my teamwork, networking and professional confidence, particularly when working with people from different teams and communicating with individuals both inside and outside the organisation.
Overall, the internship provided an excellent opportunity to develop both technical and professional skills while applying them in a real business environment.

I received a very high level of support throughout my internship. From the outset, colleagues were approachable and more than happy to answer questions, provide guidance and share their expertise whenever I needed assistance. This allowed me to build confidence quickly and develop my understanding of both the pensions industry and the work carried out within the team.
I had regular catch-ups with my manager and colleagues, where I could discuss my progress, ask for feedback and receive advice on any challenges I encountered. While support was always available, I was also encouraged to work independently and take ownership of my project, which helped me develop my problem-solving and decision-making skills.
The balance between guidance and independence was particularly beneficial. I was trusted to explore different solutions and manage my own workload, but there was always someone available to provide advice or steer me in the right direction when needed. This allowed me to gain valuable experience working autonomously while still feeling supported.
In addition to project-specific support, I benefited from structured training sessions, development events and networking opportunities organised for interns. These helped me gain a broader understanding of the business, develop professional skills and build relationships with colleagues across different teams.
Overall, I felt well supported throughout the internship and was given the resources, guidance and encouragement needed to successfully complete my project and make the most of the experience.

The company culture was extremely welcoming, supportive and collaborative. From my first day, I was made to feel like a valued member of the team rather than just an intern, and colleagues were always willing to offer their time, knowledge and support whenever needed.
One aspect of the culture that stood out was how approachable and friendly everyone was. Regardless of seniority, colleagues were happy to answer questions, explain concepts and provide guidance. This created an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions and learning from more experienced professionals.
The atmosphere was professional while also being friendly and inclusive. There was a strong emphasis on teamwork and knowledge sharing, with people regularly collaborating across different teams and departments. Throughout my internship I had opportunities to meet and work with a wide range of colleagues, which helped me gain a broader understanding of the business and made the experience particularly enjoyable.
I also appreciated the company's focus on employee development. Interns were provided with structured training, development sessions and networking opportunities, alongside meaningful project work. This demonstrated a genuine investment in helping people develop both professionally and personally.
In addition, there was a strong sense of community within the office. Social events, charity fundraising activities and informal interactions helped create a positive working environment and allowed me to build relationships with colleagues outside of my immediate team.
Overall, I really got the sense that Hymans takes extra care to recruit exceptionally friendly and kind people, and so there is a really positive and relaxed atmosphere as everyone is genuinely friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed my internship and found it to be an extremely valuable and rewarding experience. The placement provided a good balance of challenging technical work, professional development opportunities and exposure to the wider business, which kept the experience engaging throughout.
One of the most enjoyable aspects was having the opportunity to work on a meaningful project that addressed a real business need. I particularly enjoyed seeing my project develop from an initial concept into a functioning solution and being able to take ownership of the different stages of the process, from research and design through to testing and deployment. Learning new technical skills, particularly Python, and then applying them to solve practical problems was especially rewarding.
I also enjoyed the collaborative nature of the role. Working with colleagues from different teams allowed me to gain insight into a variety of areas within the business and learn from experienced professionals. Everyone was approachable and supportive, which created a positive working environment and made it easy to ask questions and seek guidance when needed.
In addition to the project work, I appreciated the wider internship programme, including training sessions, networking opportunities and charity fundraising activities. These experiences helped me develop professionally while also allowing me to build relationships with colleagues and fellow interns.
One of the highlights of the internship was the opportunity to work closely with the other interns. Through the induction programme, development sessions, social events and charity fundraising activities, we developed strong friendships and were able to support each other throughout the placement. Having a group of people experiencing the same challenges and learning opportunities made the internship even more enjoyable and helped create a real sense of community. Even though we worked in different teams and locations, we stayed in regular contact and shared experiences, advice and ideas throughout the summer.
Overall, the internship exceeded my expectations. It provided me with meaningful responsibilities, significant opportunities for learning and development, and a welcoming environment in which to grow both personally and professionally. It also gave me a much clearer understanding of the actuarial profession and strengthened my interest in pursuing a career in the industry.

Yes