February 13, 2024, by brzms6

My experience with the Nottingham Internship Scheme

By Anna Short, English graduate

In the midst of my last university semester — the panic over final assessments, the pre-emptive nostalgia, the graduation preparation— a friend told me about the Nottingham Internship Scheme (NIS). My first thought was to panic. My head had been so swarmed with everything going on that I didn’t even think to check for summer internships. The deadline to apply was in 2 days! Luckily, you’ve heard about them before me, so you won’t be in the same position. If you are, don’t panic, the best thing you can do is just go for it. 

What is the NIS? 

The NIS is a collaboration between the university and small to medium enterprises that provide work experience for students and UoN graduates. You can go for a spring internship or a (longer) summer internship. The scheme offers a range of different roles, so you can apply for a variety of opportunities that interest you or hone in on one area of interest. If gaining more experience isn’t enough of an incentive, you also get paid! 

My experience

Despite my unfortunate timing, I was interviewed for a role with Follow the Orient (a bilingual storybook company) as a Marketing Intern. I got to know the company and we discussed my previous experiences and skills that could make me a good fit, as well as any disability support I may need. I was offered a role as a Marketing Intern! Of course, I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. If you are unsure of anything, ask your employer, they want to help you learn. The first day consisted of familiarising myself with the office, what the company was currently doing, and the admin of the office (such as emails and online notice boards).

I quickly got into the swing of things and found myself surprised at what I was able to do. The job ranged from planning and running events to creating marketing materials, and researching the market. I didn’t have any professional experience before this, so this internship allowed me to expand my skills and contextualise them into a professional environment for future employers. I never envisioned myself managing events, but my internship gave me the support to push myself, I didn’t know what I was capable of until I started doing it.

Advice for those applying

• Go in with a willingness to learn, and to make mistakes. It’s normal to feel a little nervous when you start, but your employers know that you’re there to learn.

• Ask questions! If there’s something you want to know about the field then now is the time to find out. 

• Be open and honest. To grow you have to try new things. Be honest if you’re unsure about something and express that you want to try— you deserve to be supported as you make the most of your learning.

Good luck!

If you’re interested in gaining hands-on experience this spring, the Nottingham Internship Scheme is the perfect opportunity to boost your CV. Applications open from Monday 26 February until Wednesday 13 March, visit the Careers and Employability website to apply.

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