Each summer, Career Ready students embark on a paid internship – levelling up their skills and gaining vital experience in the workplace. This year we saw over 1,300 young people join our employer partners up and down the country – and we caught up with our network about how it went.
Four weeks that transform futures
Paid internships are an essential part of the Career Ready programme that provides young people from underrepresented backgrounds with a 360-degree preparation for the world of work. We know that all too often young peoples’ opportunities are dictated by their background rather than their potential – but together with our employer partners, we’re changing that.
Over their four-week paid internship, our young people are empowered with the skills and experiences they need to thrive in the workplace. Joining teams big and small across a range of industries and sectors, they get the chance to apply and develop their skills in a real-life setting that supports their growth for years to come.
With continued uncertainty and an increasingly competitive job market, it’s more important than ever before to support young people and help them reach their potential. And it’s why we’re so proud that this year we’ve been able to secure more internships than ever before and have seen transformative change in our young people’s confidence, goals and motivation to build a successful future on their terms.
Working together, for young people
It’s been truly inspiring to see our network come together to support young people and boost social mobility, from employers offering internships (many for the first time) to mentors visiting their students and guiding them through the programme. We caught up with people across our network, including our incredible volunteers and young people. Here’s what they had to say about their internships…
Our young people on their journeys:
“I’ve gained so much confidence and learned it’s ok to just be confident in me, being me.” Aaron, Glasgow, intern at Terrence Higgins Trust.
“I have developed skills such as self confidence, communication, time management and many more. These skills will be crucial for me in the future as I would like to start my own business one day and these skills are important to start a business. I enjoyed networking the most at my internship as it allowed me to meet new people from various different backgrounds. The internship has positively effected my plan for the future as it has given me clarity about what I want to do for the future.” Nahyanur, London, intern at Citi.
“Not only did I learn more about the world of work, but I also learnt about myself. I developed my problem solving and presentation skills, as well as my ability to behave professionally and work in a team.” Inika, intern at Arcadis.
“Working in the bank as a whole is something I didn’t think I’d enjoy but after 4 weeks this has changed. I really like the environment and how everything was there. It was so nice hearing different people’s career paths. Everyone was so lovely and I truly felt part of the team.” Saffa, West Midlands, intern at NatWest.
“This experience has made me determined to go back to S6, get the Highers I need and apply to be a Diodes apprentice next year.” Lewis, Glasgow, intern at Diodes.
“I learnt that being part of a company is much more than just being an employee, it’s about making a positive contribution in the workplace.” Amna, Locala Health & Wellbeing, Leeds.
“My internship at Lotus has had a profound impact on my perspective and future plans. It has solidified my choice to pursue a career in data analysis, particularly within the automotive field. Witnessing the intricate relationship between data and vehicle performance has deepened my understanding of the industry and bolstered my determination to contribute to its advancement.” Kieran, Norfolk, intern at Lotus Cars.
“The thing I enjoyed most was the opportunity to work on live client work – as the work we do in schools is mostly theoretical/prototyped. The opportunity to contribute to something that will create real impact was really rewarding.” Enoch, London, intern at Arcadis.
“I had an amazing time at my internship at BSI over the last four weeks. During my time there I massively grew in my personal confidence and independence as I had to take on new roles and responsibilities and adapt to them. I also believe I have improved my professional conduct and communication through gaining experience talking and interacting with clients.” Neve, London, intern at BSI.
“Before starting at Dundee Science Centre, I was shy and nervous to talk to people because I was isolated during lockdown. My time here has helped me develop my confidence and given me new ideas about the career I want to pursue” Rae, Dundee, intern at Dundee Science Centre.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my internship at BP! It has helped me to develop my networking and professional communication skills. It has also shown me that a career in STEM is rarely ever linear, and has given me a huge boost for tackling Year 13. This opportunity has also confirmed that I would like to work in a laboratory setting in the future.” Akima, London, intern at BP.
Our volunteers on the transformations they’ve seen:
“I’ve seen big changes already from when I first met them – they were quiet and shy and now are bonding and full of confidence. It has been great seeing the internship bring out the skills they already had had and building on them.” Kevin Reynolds, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“For Ruby to have an operational impact in such a short space of time, is incredibly impressive. We would be lucky to have her join Savills on a more permanent basis.” Maya Choudhury, National Learning & Development Partner at Savills.
“What makes my role a mentor enjoyable is seeing two children enter our office then leave four weeks later as adults. I would encourage local businesses to sign up and enjoy the journey – it has also taught me a little more about myself!” Kathleen, Scotland, mentor at Bowman Rebecchi.
“Our Career Ready students are noticeably more motivated and proactive – they show real ambition and drive to learn and develop during their time with us.” Bradley Marshall, Senior Football Development Officer at Charlton Athletic Community Trust and internship supervisor.
Want to transform young lives? Become a partner with us today.
