IT Risk & Security Undergraduate Placement

Volkswagen Financial Services (UK); Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Subsidised onsite canteen

Onsite restaurant

Wellbeing Centre

Employee Resource Groups

Volunteering opportunities

LinkedIn Learning access

Job summary

Volkswagen Financial Services (UK) is offering an IT Risk and Security Undergraduate placement in Milton Keynes. You will join the IT Governance team and support workstreams across InfoSec and GRC, gaining hands-on experience monitoring risks, vulnerabilities and security activity.

Applicants must be studying IT or a related degree with a placement year; knowledge of ISO27001/COBIT/ISO22301 is beneficial. The role is hybrid, with three office days per week and relocation considerations for MK15

Qualifications

• Currently studying IT or related degree with a placement year
• Knowledge of IT risk, information security and governance preferred
• High attention to detail with a methodical approach
• Able to manage multiple priorities and work both independently and in a team
• Good written and verbal communication skills and integrity

Responsibilities

• Support ongoing monitoring and analysis of IT vulnerabilities and risks
• Develop and support IT Security and Risk monitoring and reporting activities
• Coordinate IT Security and Risk assessments to identify deficiencies
• Collaborate with IT managers to develop analytics
• Plan and coordinate regulatory-driven processes and remediation activities
• Maintain actions in the IT Risk Treatment Plan including vulnerabilities and risks
• Align IT Security and Risk documentation with HQ standards and local needs
• Plan, develop and conduct training for risk management policies

Skills

IT risk & security

analytical mindset

communication skills

stakeholder management

Education

Undergraduate IT/Business degree with placement year

Tools

ISO27001

COBIT

ISO22301

Job description

Location: Milton Keynes
Closing Date: 30th September 2026
Salary: £23,915.49
Contract: 12-13months FTC Start dates are usually in June/July
Hybrid working: We want you to get the best out of your placement, so we operate a hybrid policy where undergraduates work in the office 3 days per week. There may be times where you will need to be in more frequently depending on the needs of the business.
To apply for our undergraduate placement scheme, you must be studying for an undergraduate degree that requires a placement year. Master’s students are not eligible for this placement.
Please consider before applying if you live more than 60 minutes away from post code MK15 8HG, that you would need to relocate to either Milton Keynes or be a commutable distance (within 60 minutes).
Do you have a curious, analytical mindset and a genuine interest in IT risk, information security and governance? We are looking for two IT Risk and Security Undergraduates to join our IT Governance team and support workstreams across InfoSec and GRC. This is a brilliant opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a fast-moving IT environment, helping monitor risks, vulnerabilities and security activity while developing your communication, stakeholder management and problem‑solving skills.

What will you be doing?

• Support the ongoing monitoring and analysis of IT vulnerabilities and risks, helping ensure risks remain within tolerances and on‑plan.
• Develop, manage and support IT Security and Risk monitoring and reporting activities to provide transparency and support effective managerial decision making.
• Support the coordination of IT Security and Risk assessments to identify deficiencies across the organisation.
• Work with multiple IT managers to develop and embed analytics.
• Help plan and coordinate regulatory‑driven processes and associated remediation activities, ensuring mitigating actions are delivered successfully.
• Maintain and monitor actions tracked within the IT Risk Treatment Plan, including vulnerabilities, issues and risks.
• Support and align IT Security and Risk documentation with published HQ global standards, local needs and leading practice.
• Plan, develop and conduct training for employees in risk management policy and processes.
• Work closely with the IT Supplier Management Team to monitor and collate risks relating to outsourced VWFS UK partners and third parties.

What are we looking for?

• Currently studying an IT, Business or related degree that includes a one-year industrial placement.
• A genuine interest in risk management, technologies and systems.
• Knowledge of ISO27001, COBIT and ISO22301 would be beneficial.
• Exceptionally high attention to detail, with a methodical and structured approach.
• Able to remain calm, organised and pragmatic when managing multiple priorities.
• A team player who can also collaborate and work independently.
• Curious and questioning, with a proactive approach to seeking clarity and developing your own learning.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting and communicating effectively.
• Unimpeachable integrity demonstrated in your approach to work.

Why apply for an undergraduate placement with VWFS?

Here at VWFS you'll be able to kick start your professional experience in the workplace. We take on 49 undergraduates each year which we find really helps our undergraduates as you all go through the programme, building your knowledge and networks together.

You’ll also benefit from:

• A focus on personal development with access to LinkedIn Learning via our ‘Degreed’ platform and a bespoke development programme throughout your placement year delivering personal management, technical and soft skills including building successful relationships, presentation skills, IT skills and data literacy.
• A supportive environment and network of colleagues to help you get your best out of the year - in a recent survey, 100% of our undergraduates said they felt valued and supported.
• The opportunity to work on real life business projects and deliver impact around topics like sustainability.
• Subsidised onsite canteen and coffee shop
• Subsidised onsite restaurant with a range of hot and cold breakfast and lunches.
• Employee Resource Groups supporting an inclusive workplace
• Social gatherings and team events & volunteering opportunities.
• Physical and mental health support with our Onsite Wellbeing Centre

Discretionary benefits include:

Bonus: Discretionary bonus based on both personal and Group company performance (pro‑rated)
Car schemes*: The opportunity to join our popular car scheme plus car insurance cover.
Pension: Employer pension contribution of 9% (based on employee contribution of 3%). VWFS will pay 6% if employee chooses a 2% employee contribution. From day 1 we provide income protection, life assurance (4x salary), will writing, retail discount vouchers, access to Care Concierge (a service to support carers of adults). Private medical insurance is available following successful completion of probation.

What our recruitment process looks like:

• You’ll be invited to complete a Situational Judgement Test. This is a short multiple-choice question set to help us understand how you may approach situations.
• If you pass this stage, you will be invited to complete an online video interview where you will have the opportunity to tell us more about yourself.
• If successful, your last step in the journey is to attend an in-person Assessment Centre at our Milton Keynes office. You’ll also meet some of our managers and our current undergraduates to find out more about a placement year with us.

Please note:

Our undergraduate placement roles do not meet the UKVI’s criteria for the skilled worker sponsorship route, therefore we are unable to accept candidates requiring sponsorship for this role.

• More information about car schemes

Our current car schemes are under review following changes in legislation from HMRC and so whilst we don’t have full details of our car scheme to share with you now, we will let you know what this looks like as soon as we are able.
Please do not apply for more than one placement role with us. This will ensure that you are considered for the placement that you are most interested in, and your skills are aligned to.