Summer Placement, Software Estate Discovery & Ca...

Summer Placement Role: Software Estate Discovery & Cataloguing Overview We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented summer placement student to support a group-wide initiative to catalogue and better understand our software estate. This project will create a clear, structured view of the applications used across the organisation, supporting improved governance, cost control, and strategic decision-making. Scope of Work The student will be responsible for building out a comprehensive inventory of software applications across the business. This includes: * Validating and enriching an existing list of ~290 known applications * Identifying additional (previously undocumented) software in use across teams * Engaging with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation to gather information * Capturing key data points for each application, such as: * Purpose and functionality * Business owner and/or key contacts * Usage across teams or regions * Support and maintenance arrangements * Contractual details (where available) * System longevity and lifecycle status Approach & Responsibilities * Conduct interviews and outreach with business and technical stakeholders * Work independently to track down information and follow up where needed * Maintain accurate and well-structured documentation * Provide regular progress updates and highlight gaps or risks * Bring curiosity and initiative to uncover unknown or shadow IT systems Key Skills & Attributes * Strong communication skills and confidence engaging with a range of stakeholders, including senior colleagues * Self-starter with the ability to work independently and manage their own workload * Analytical mindset with attention to detail * Organised and methodical approach to data collection * Comfortable working with spreadsheets or data capture tools Duration * Approx. 8–12 weeks (summer placement) Outcome By the end of the placement, the student will deliver a structured, validated software inventory, along with insights into gaps, risks, and opportunities for rationalisation or improvement