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Employer Case Study: East Devon District Council

 

Name of Organisation: East Devon District Council 

Description of Organisation:  

At East Devon District Council their ambition in the Communications, Digital Services and Engagement Team is to provide a proactive and reactive communication and digital service via all of the council’s external communications channels to ensure East Devon District Council’s reputation as an excellent authority is maintained. 

Name of Employer: Andrew Hopkins 

Job Title: Communications Consultant

Internship Scheme used: 

The Graduate Business Partnership Scheme (GBP) | Employer Engagement & Student Employment | University of Exeter 

Feedback: 

“Vic made an amazing contribution to our team and work during the year she was with us. From the moment she joined she made positive changes – increasing the frequency and quality of our social media content, our e-newsletters and having a willingness to take on any new task asked of her and would work with whoever we asked her to work with. This included working on special projects and events. When the HR intern left, Vic absorbed some of his work in to her own. She also covered when our Communications Officer was away and did whatever was asked of her. 

Vic was amazing from start to finish, but amongst her biggest achievements was her ability to take whatever the project was on and turn this around into a success. Her positive contributions to every task she took on meant she had star quality throughout. 

In summary, I was really pleased with the experience. So much so I have recommended the scheme to others in my organisation and have now recruited 2 more graduate business partners for my team. It has also been gratifying to see Victoria secure an amazing job with Plymouth City Council and we look forward to seeing her progress from here. We are pleased we were able to play a part in her employment journey. Thank you for the opportunity.” 

Student Case Study-Ridgeway Information Ltd

Name of Student:  Umaira Navaid

Degree Subject: BA History and Politics, MA Applied Security and Strategy

Job Title:  Research Intern

Company Name:  Ridgeway Information Ltd

Type of Internship:  Access to Internships (A2I)Student Business Partnerships (SBPs)

Description of Company: We work with major corporates, not-for-profit and public sector organisations. Our current and previous clients include the United Nations, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the European Union, the UK Gambling Commission, multinationals and private clients. We give our clients the confidence to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, tackle challenges and understand the landscapes they inhabit. We do this by providing verifiable insight gained through expert research and analysis of client-supplied and open sources.

What were your key duties and responsibilities during your internship?

My key duties and responsibilities were to help research and write reports on nuclear proliferation. I also created resources for some of the training schemes the company provides.

What outputs and outcomes did you deliver for your employer?

I produced a report for the IAEA on Pakistan’s nuclear complex using my Urdu language skills. I also helped produce two other reports on Taiwan and Jordan. I planned and produced a short activity for people who undertake the OSINT course with Ridgeway. My skills in Urdu led the IAEA to have a better understanding of what is being written and posted about nuclear ongoings in Pakistan.

What was your biggest achievement on your internship?

I was tasked with researching and writing about Pakistan and its new Nuclear Complex from sources in Urdu. I was able to read and translate sources that would have otherwise been unusable. I wrote a report summarising my findings.

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

It was difficult to find much information at first and I spent many days without any relevant information. However, with further encouragement, I was later able to find better details and make the most of my findings.

Skills Learnt 

  • Ability to Work Under Pressure
  • Communication
  • Team Work and Collaboration
  • Problem Solving
  • Time and Work Load Management

Attributes Developed 

  • Confidence
  • Initiative
  • Independence
  • Work Ethic
  • Perseverance

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

“My internship was both fun and hard work. My colleagues were extremely friendly and the Access to Internship team is super helpful. I worked on a number of projects with Ridgeway and was impressed with the amount of autonomy I was given during my time here. I was also given good career and life advice and feel like I have a better idea of what I want to do in the future and my options.”