Tag Archives: Cornwall

Graduate Case Study:  Harbour Housing 

Access to Internships (A2I), Advertising, Marketing and PR, Charity and Development Work, Internship Schemes, Real Estate and Property, , , , ,

Name of Student:  Emily Hill 

Job Title:  Communications and Research Intern

Company Name: Harbour Housing

Type of Internship:  Access to Internships (A2I), Graduate Business Partnerships (GBPs)

Description of Company: Harbour Housing provides accommodation and support for homeless and vulnerable people across Cornwall. We house a variety of people and our aim is to provide tailored support in order to help them to eventually live independently. People stay with us for up to and sometimes over two years in order that they have the chance to really turn their lives around at a pace appropriate to them, often moving through our different properties which offer increasing independence until they are ready to move on.

  1. What were your key duties and responsibilities during your internship?

I established and managed our social media, represented the organisation at partnership meetings, wrote and sent out press releases, acted as an ambassador at events, gave presentations and tours to stakeholders managed the company website and branding, applied for funding and managed projects.

  1. What outputs and outcomes did you deliver for your employer?

I increased our social media following and engagement by over 2,000%, regularly had articles published in local press and trade journals, produced reports for commissioners and brought in funding for the organisation.

  1. What was your biggest achievement on your internship?

The organisation I worked for was a homeless charity, and we found it difficult to move our clients into permanent accommodation due to the reluctance of landlords and lack of funds to cover deposit costs. I applied for grant funding for a project that would solve these issues, and was successful in securing £45,000 for the charity. As a result 20 individuals will now be able to move into their own homes.

  1. What did not go so well on your internship? How did you overcome any challenges?

It was difficult to adapt to not being given instructions and having to use a lot of initiative in managing time and deciding on strategy. This came with time and practice.

  1. Skills Learnt 
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Persuasion
  • Customer Service
  • Ability to work under pressure
  1. Attributes Developed 
  • Researching
  • Networking
  • Initiative
  • Confidence
  • Motivation
  1. Your message to other students considering a similar job role, organisation or sector?

“Before undertaking my internship I could not really visualise myself in any professional role and wasn’t sure what I wanted out of a career. I have now developed the skills and experience to give me confidence in my own abilities, and the knowledge of the sector to help me in my future development. I also secured a permanent contract with the same organisation which I am very much looking forward to.”

 

 

Student Case Study:  Educational Intern   

Education, Teaching and Research, Internship Schemes, Sport and Health Sciences, Student Campus Partnership (SCP), , , , , ,

Name of Student: Olivia Elliott

Degree Subject: BSC Sport and Exercise Medical Sciences 

Job Title: Education Intern

Company Name: The Rock Pool Project

Type of Internship: Student Campus Partnerships (SCPs)

Description of Company: We are a social enterprise that encourages people of all ages to discover the incredible marine life found around our beautiful coast. Our expert marine biologists offer bespoke private rockpool safaris, educational group field trips and public beach events.

What were your key duties and responsibilities during your internship?

  • Build website
  • Grow social media
  • Education resource development

What outputs and outcomes did you deliver for your employers?

I completed the website as well as, the resources needed for all years. I also learnt how to use Hootsuite and build relationships with schools.

What was your biggest achievement on your internship?

The website development and school voucher giveaway which increased media reach by 2,000.

What did not go so well on your internship? How did you overcome any challenges?

 Help from interns faded as lockdown eased and summer started.

Skills Learnt 

  • Organisation
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Problem solving
  • Strategic planning

Attributes Developed 

  • Professionalism
  • Personal awareness
  • Confidence
  • Perseverance
  • Motivation

Your message to other students considering a similar job role, organisation or sector? 

“It was an amazing opportunity and something I would not have the chance to do in my sector.”

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service – Employer Case Study

Business and Management, Degree subject, Economics, Employer Feedback, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP), Internship Schemes, Real Estate and Property, , , ,

 

Name of Organisation: Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service

Description of Organisation: Devon, Somerset & Torbay Trading Standards Service has a wide-ranging role in ensuring fair trading by supporting businesses and protecting consumers. The Service is committed to maintaining legal compliance to help ensure that businesses do not take an unfair advantage over competitors or consumers.

Name of Employer: Jay Capel

Job Title: Trading Standards Lead Officer

Internship Scheme used:  GBP

Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Feedback:

We recruited a Trading Standards Social Media Intern through the graduate business partnership with the University of Exeter. Our intern had a project to deliver which he did in a timely and professional manner. Devon County Council IT and salary payment system left a lot to be desired, but Oliver coped well and used his own IT skills to good effect.

Our intern also gave several presentations where he dealt with the audiences well and answered questions in a very mature and matter of fact manner.

Recruitment of the intern was an easy-to-follow procedure assisted by a knowledgeable team where nothing was too much trouble. It was a pleasure working with the intern who demonstrated a good work ethic and showed a maturity beyond his years. We really enjoyed having him on board and recommend the internship schemes provided by the University of Exeter to all types of businesses.

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum – Employer Case Study

Access to Internships (A2I), Charity and Development Work, Classics and Ancient History, Employer Feedback, History, Hospitality and Event Management, Internship Schemes, Modern Languages, Theology, Uncategorized, , , ,

Name of Organisation:  The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum

Description of Organisation: The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum is home to one of the largest collections of material relating to the moving image in Britain. We are both an accredited public museum and an academic research facility and we hold a collection of over 85,000 items. Over 1,000 of our items are on display in our Galleries and are available to be viewed by the public.

Name of Employer:  Phil Wickham

Job Title: Curator

Internship Scheme used:  A2I

Employer subsidies (A2I) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Feedback:

We recruited a Curatorial Intern who researched and produced data to support a planned funding bid and also assisted with other key duties in the museum. The main research task was to assist with funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund (NLHF). This work was completed to a very high standard. She also looked into an array of academic researchers who had used the museum’s collections and got in touch with them about their publications or projects. The intern was confident, organised and hardworking, this showed specifically through her preparation of a talk on pre-cinema in the museum’s gallery. She then went on to present this to visitors which was received with much enthusiasm. The internship went very well. She continued to volunteer for us after her internship and did some really valuable data analysis work on the museum’s visitors that will help us to develop. 

This is an excellent scheme. We have used A2I twice and both times been able to benefit from exceptional talents. We highly recommend taking on an intern from the University of Exeter.  

Quote from Intern:

“I honestly could not fault this experience whatsoever. I was able to combine my academic studies with real-world practical experience. Phil allowed me to use my initiative and offer my own suggestions in relation to the museum’s redevelopment project, which caused me to feel like a real part of the team. It also allowed me to demonstrate my ability to think creatively and intuitively rather than simply wait for instructions. I am eternally grateful for the encouragement that I received throughout the four weeks. This internship confirmed to me that I have chosen a career path that I am well-suited to.”

Oh So Social- Employer Feedback

Access to Internships (A2I), Administration, Advertising, Marketing and PR, Business and Management, Employer Feedback, Internship Schemes, , , ,

Name of Organisation:  Oh So Social  

Description of Organisation: Oh So Social is an Agency Partner with Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest, meaning you benefit from the best and most up-to-date knowledge to support both your organic and paid-for advertising campaigns. With direct access to Facebook UK and exclusive agency benefits, we know the latest tips and best practice to get the most out of your online presence 

Name of Employer:  Katherine George  

Job Title: Director 

Internship Scheme used:  A2I 

Employer subsidies (A2I) – Employment Services – University of Exeter    

Feedback:   

We recruited an intern as an Account Executive. He was well prepared for the workplace and was able to generate content for us which was used on a range of platforms for various different clients.  

The intern helped us with planning short-term social media and marketing calendars for a range of clients and content creation for social media marketing campaigns. As well as, running reports for clients about the performance of their social media campaigns including audience interaction and follower growth through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. 

We have really enjoyed having our Intern with us, he has been able to get involved with a range of different tasks within the business both on the client-facing side, and with internal operations also. 

We recommend to other businesses to use the University of Exeter Internship Scheme to host an intern. We received a very positive experience which we thoroughly enjoyed.  

School of Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall- Employer Case Study

Access to Internships (A2I), Advertising, Marketing and PR, Employer Feedback, Student Business Partnership (SBP), , ,

 

Name of Organisation: School of Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall

Description of Organisation: School for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall was established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) eleven years ago. Supporting people to develop their personal and professional skills simultaneously; we design and deliver programmes and courses that equip people to start, scale and strengthen organisations that make a positive difference; mobilising the experience of people from all backgrounds and support them to use entrepreneurial approaches to create lasting social and environmental change. Through this work our ambition is to create a fair and equal society where the potential of all people is fully realised.

Name of Employer: Sally Heard

Job Title: SSE Director

Internship Scheme used:   A2I, SBP

Employer subsidies (A2I) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Student Business Partnership (SBP) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Feedback:

What role did your intern undertake?

Each year we hold a prestigious Graduation ceremony.  We applied for a Marketing Intern over the summer. The primary aim of the role was to work alongside the SSE team to design a Graduation booklet showcasing each of our students graduating from our Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneurs Trade Up programme.

The primary focus of the role was to work with the students to create a page each within the booklet to showcase their social enterprises. The outcome required of the internship was to create a digital version of the booklet incorporating social media links and profile pictures. We also required a version that could be used in printed format as required. Alongside this key task, our intern was welcomed (and rose brilliantly) to the challenge of being involved other activities including team meetings and occasionally joining programme delivery days.

Was your intern ready for the workplace?

Our intern was exceptional, she joined us pre to starting her internship so we could introduce her to our students that she would be working with.  She then successfully built a good working relationship with each of the students who took part in the Lloyds’ programme.

She was extremely personable from the beginning, and was able to communicate effectively her role, what she needed to achieve and what the timescales were. She was really excited about the project and this came across in every aspect of her work. The intern’s communication skills and personal attributes were so valuable to us.

Communication was such an important aspect of the project, and one of the most difficult things about it. The intern created a good bond with the students and was successful as a result of this. She also had to build trust in a very short space of time with a well-established cohort of social enterprises and she was able to do this quickly and effectively. She had a lovely, sunny personality, which was backed up with great skill, making her really easy to work with.

Did the intern achieve their objectives?

The project was completed brilliantly. It was a time constrained piece of work and the intern was working in extraordinary times. She was unable to meet with any of the students in person. She worked with portrait pictures for each student case study and one of her tasks was to consider how these portraits could be displayed in a more innovative and creative way. She came up with the idea of using a selection of different pictures to create a new image which combined all the elements. This was achieved through the use of the CANVA design software, which was used to collate and produce the booklet.

Our interns gain an experience of working in a social enterprise and what this means, as well as what makes them who they are. And in return, they bring a high level of skill into the organisation.

Was the internship beneficial to your company?

Without access to this funded internship, we would probably have had to outsource this piece of work. Although we have the skills present within the team, we did not have the capacity to dedicate to this piece of work. As a result, this project has been of real value to the organisation.

The delivery of the student internship with the University of Exeter was an extremely positive experience. We felt that we were fully supported through the whole process by Jo (in the Career Zone) and her team. It was a very beneficial placement and the internship provided real pleasure to everyone involved, as well has having been of benefit as a skills exchange.

Quote from the Intern:

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at SSE Cornwall and believe that it has made me a more well-rounded and adaptable employee. I have truly learnt the meaning of “making the best of a bad situation”, as I have seen first-hand how small business owners have had to adjust and triumph in the face of adversity (Covid19). Moreover, SSE themselves – and the fantastic team – had to move all their teaching and resources online and have remained just as successful and engaging as ever, even introducing a new Women’s Enterprise programme despite the pandemic.”

School for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall- Student Case Study

Access to Internships (A2I), Advertising, Marketing and PR, Student Business Partnership (SBP), , ,

Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs Internship

Understandably, many of us only have negative connotations of 2020. It has become the year of devastation, cancellations, and unprecedented times. However, what could have been the most depressing summer of my life turned into a time filled with new experiences as a result of my internship with the Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Tell us about yourself. 

I was an English student in my third and final year at the University of Exeter, and I was overwhelmed by the breadth and scale of potential jobs available to me. Whilst teaching, writing, and publishing are the obvious outcomes for an English graduate, I knew that there were other organisations and sectors in which my skillset could prove useful. Moreover, I hope to stay in the South West, so it was vital for me to find out what kind of jobs were available in the Devon and Cornwall area. I found the Career Zone to be incredibly useful as there were more jobs of interest to me than I could have imagined; just knowing that creative organisations existed in the South West was enough for me and it gave me hope that I would find a career.

What did your Internship consist of?

I decided that the best way to get a sense of some of this work going on in Cornwall would be through an internship. Hence, my application for a marketing internship at SSE Cornwall. The 6-week internship (later extended to 7 weeks) began in June, just after I had finished my degree. It could not have been timed more perfectly as I was ready for something new. Initially a role based around the creation of the booklet needed for an upcoming SSE student graduation ceremony, the position quickly developed, and I found myself undertaking other administrative responsibilities. I had to deal with a range of people running a variety of fantastic organisations on a day-to-day basis; I put together newsletters and spreadsheets; and I joined in on a few classes (via zoom!) so that I could get a sense of the work that goes on at SSE.

It was truly inspiring to speak to the current cohort and learn about how their ideas had grown into fully fledged enterprises with a social purpose and meaning. It made me proud and excited to live in Cornwall and introduced me to a wonderful sector – and community – that I otherwise would not have encountered.

After the chaos and uncertainty of this year, it was important that we highlighted the adaptations and changes that these people – and their businesses – had undergone; we included statements from each student in the booklet about how the pandemic had affected their enterprise and I went on to write a blog that captured some of these businesses and the hardships they had faced. It was a very proud moment to see my writing on the SSE website and made me really feel as though I had become part of the team.

Did you enjoy your internship, what did you learn?

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at SSE Cornwall and believe that it has made me a more well-rounded and adaptable employee. I have truly learnt the meaning of “making the best of a bad situation”, as I have seen first-hand how small business owners have had to adjust and triumph in the face of adversity. Moreover, SSE themselves – and the fantastic team – had to move all their teaching and resources online and have remained just as successful and engaging as ever, even introducing a new Women’s Enterprise programme despite the pandemic.

I learnt how to engage with a range of people (remotely of course!); I listened to emotive stories with empathy and discussed vulnerable topics with understanding; I thought creatively in a time of crisis; and – perhaps most importantly – I had to discipline myself and generate a home-work routine that was efficient and successful. I am confident that all the skills above will contribute to making my job search that bit easier in the future.

Would you recommend doing an internship, and why?

I cannot recommend doing an internship enough. It gave me fantastic insight that I just would not have been able to experience otherwise, and it taught me that the most sufficient means of learning is through doing, meeting people, and thinking creatively. Internships are ideal as you can work with a deadline in mind. Whether you discover that you hate the industry and want to move on to something else, or you find that you have found the job for you and thus know how long you have to make the most of the opportunity, 4-6 week internships are a fantastic investment of your time and energy. You can build a network of contacts and make connections that can lead to future employment. Moreover, you will stand out to employers as you have gone the extra mile to learn about the various employment options available to you.

Devon and Cornwall OPCC -Employer Case Study

Administration, Defence and Public Protection, Employer Feedback, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP), Internship Schemes, Law, Politics and International Relations, Psychology, Sociology and Criminology, ,

Name of Organisation: Devon and Cornwall OPCC

Description of Organisation:  The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is a non-political, impartial organisation and its head of paid service is the chief executive officer. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is a separate organisation to Devon and Cornwall Police. It fits into several categories such as strategy, policy and performance, Criminal justice, commissioning and partnerships, collaborations, and national activity as well as, many more. The Police and Crime Commissioner is to be the voice of the people in policing.

Name of Employer: Andrew Kirchin

Job Title: Communications and Engagement Manager

Internship Scheme used:  GBP

Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Feedback:

We employed an intern to work within our office of the police and crime commissioner. The GBP became a valued member of the team very quickly and showed her worth. She worked hard in the workplace and made a great impact on our organisation. We were very impressed with her work so we have extended her internship with us and we would also like to offer her a full-time contract too.

This is the third intern I have brought into my team and, in all the fifth into the office. All have made a fantastic impact, and all have been offered a full-time roll as a result. Bringing in bright, ambitious individuals has changed the dynamic of the office for the better in a way I have seldom seen in the public sector.

I would just like to say that, yet again, the standard of applicant we attracted through the University’s Graduate Business Partnership was outstanding. All three passed the threshold for appointment at interview. We were very impressed with the way the chosen candidate presented herself. She was a credit to whatever work the University does to prepare students for this next stage of their lives. I would highly recommend the University of Exeter’s internship team and we will continue to use this brilliant service.

 

Devon County Council- Employer Case Study

Administration, Charity and Development Work, Defence and Public Protection, Employer Feedback, Graduate Business Partnership (GBP), Internship Schemes, Law, Politics and Government, Politics and International Relations, Social Guidance and Community Work, , ,

Name of Organisation: Devon County Council

Description of Organisation and Role: Devon County Council is the county council administering services across Devon. The members are elected every four years to reflect the electorate of each county division. Most being nominated by the large national political parties.

The main purpose of the internship was to support the Democratic process of Devon County Council to assist in ensuring those processes are carried out in accordance with statutory requirements and the Council’s Constitution and procedures and also with the promotion and encouragement of public involvement and participation through, for example, webcasting and social media.

Name of Employer: Karen Strahan

Job Title: Head of Democratic Services

Internship Scheme used:  GBP

Graduate Business Partnership (GBP) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Feedback:

We recruited an intern to work as a Democratic and Scrutiny Support Officer. He worked on a task group which researched air quality and congestion in Devon. This included producing a report with innovative recommendations targeted at improving air quality and congestion. The report attracted media attention with the Chair undertaking a radio interview, based on the work done by our brilliant intern. Our student became a very important part of our team.

I believe quite passionately about giving young people the opportunity to start their careers and give them a platform to move onwards and upwards. At present there was no vacant full-time position to offer so I made the decision to go through the intern process for a second time.

As a newly appointed manager, I was keen to explore the opportunities offered by the GBP. The fact that I am about to undertake a second placement is testament to the GBP and the calibre of candidates that apply for the positions. The experience was very positive, support from the University of Exeter is excellent and also a fresh face joining the team is always good to shake things up and look at how we do things differently. I recommend hiring an intern, ours was timely and smart and made a positive contribution to our organisation.

 

Restore Support Network- Employer Case Study

Access to Internships (A2I), Charity and Development Work, Defence and Public Protection, Internship Schemes, Law and Legal Services, Social Guidance and Community Work, Sociology and Criminology, , ,

Name of Organisation: Restore Support Network

Description of Organisation: We are a national registered charity who provides personalised and specialist one to one support for people who are in prison prior to release, as well as those who are over the age of 50 with criminal convictions in the community with physical, mental health or social care needs.

Name of Employer: Stuart Ware

Job Title: Chief Executive Officer

Internship Scheme used:  A2I Employer subsidies (A2I) – Employment Services – University of Exeter

Feedback:

We recruited an intern to work as a Trainee Mentor and Coordinator who worked exceptionally well as part of our small team.

We were all very happy with the calibre of the student. She worked hard to meet all the objectives we set and played a lead role in developing an ex-offenders women’s group which was attended by over 10 women.

The University of Exeter student proved an enormous benefit to our charity and she contributed greatly to the development of our women’s support group. Without hesitation we would have her again placed with us. She was a great credit to the university.

We found the internship experience very positive and the contribution our intern made in our organisation was outstanding.