Summer Placement, Software Estate Discovery & Cataloguing

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