UK wannabe Quant analyst looking for advice

Hi guys!

I'm a second-year maths student at a target in the UK. I've been searching google for some guides/general articles, but most of them relate to the USA. Do you know any UK-based forum?

I think that many firms do not hire any interns. What are alternative summer internships you recommend to look into? Software developing?

Can anybody say a bit how does the recruiting look like? Is it similar to BB recruitment? CV and CL -> tests -> phone interview -> AC? How big are the analyst classes at companies like this? The job seems to be extremely competitive with not many firms and probably a few positions a year.