Planning Analyst Undergraduate Placement

Vwfs; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Onsite canteen

Onsite restaurant

LinkedIn Learning access

Wellbeing centre

Employee resource groups

Social events

Volunteering opportunities

Career development programme

Sponsorship not available

Car schemes

Job summary

VWFS in Milton Keynes is offering an undergraduate Planning Analyst placement within the Operations Planning team. Hybrid policy: office 3 days per week, with flexibility depending on business needs.

You will support workforce planning, scheduling and performance analysis to help Customer Operations meet service levels, backlog predictions and business targets. Applicants should be studying an undergraduate degree with a placement year and have strong Excel and data skills.

Qualifications

• Currently studying an undergraduate degree that requires a placement year.
• Good understanding of Microsoft Office, with a particular focus on Excel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to build relationships internally and with outsource providers.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and analytical skills.
• Able to make recommendations and decisions using factual information, not opinion.
• Resilient self-starter who can work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines.
• Interest in operational planning, performance data and meaningful value-adding outputs.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the Planning mailbox, responding to advisor and manager queries around shifts and holidays.
• Update workforce management systems accurately and support scheduling activity ahead of publishing windows.
• Track planned events, training and investment time, flagging exceptions back to planners and operations.
• Update daily performance summaries in time for performance calls.
• Track outsource provider actual productive hours against agreed targets.
• Create and own a mailbox workload report, including request types and volumes by department, team and individual.
• Identify efficiencies from data analysis and present recommendations to stakeholders.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Resilience

Data-driven decisions

Education

Undergraduate degree with placement year

Tools

Excel

Job description

About The Role

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.

We're looking for an undergraduate to join our Operations Planning team as an Planning Analyst Undergraduate. You will have the chance to support workforce planning, scheduling and performance analysis to help Customer Operations meet service levels, backlog predictions and business targets. If you're eager to kick-start your career, possess a good understanding of workforce planning, scheduling, operational performance and data analysis, and have a genuine passion for the field, we want to hear from you!

What will you be doing?

• Own and manage the Planning mailbox, responding to advisor and manager queries around shifts and holidays.
• Update workforce management systems accurately and support scheduling activity ahead of publishing windows.
• Track planned events, training and investment time, flagging exceptions back to planners and operations.
• Update daily performance summaries in time for performance calls.
• Track outsource provider actual productive hours against agreed targets.
• Create and own a mailbox workload report, including request types and volumes by department, team and individual.
• Identify efficiencies from data analysis and present recommendations to stakeholders.

What are we looking for?

• Currently studying an undergraduate degree that requires a placement year.
• Good understanding of Microsoft Office, with a particular focus on Excel.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to build relationships internally and with outsource providers.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and analytical skills.
• Able to make recommendations and decisions using factual information, not opinion.
• Resilient self-starter who can work under pressure and adhere to strict deadlines.
• Interest in operational planning, performance data and meaningful value-adding outputs.

About Us

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.

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.

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