“I used to think that the people in business were really different and that I was invisible to them. Working with them, I realised they were just like me. The Career Academy has given me a glimpse of a world that I thought I couldn’t be part of. Now I know I can be.” [Sultana]
The ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Career Academy model is the internship, which takes place in the summer between the two years of the course. Employers provide a six-week paid work placement, based on a standard working hour week in a real operating environment and aiming to use the skills and knowledge the student has learned in school / college.
Internships are neither the traditional ‘work experience’ offered to 15 and 16 year olds, nor mini versions of undergraduate schemes. Still adolescents rather than graduates, Career Academy students may have had less opportunity to develop workplace skills and are likely to need more support and training. Yet - with a year’s business study under their belt – they can make a real contribution to the organisation, especially as the six weeks progress. Host companies also report that working with Career Academy interns enhances staff development or approaches to employee diversity.
Key dates
- March - April
- Employers confirm number of internship places they can offer
- May
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- Employers submit a job description / skill requirements for each internship
- Students matched to intern places
- Briefing meeting for host employers
- June
- Host employers interview students
- July - August
- Internships take place
“When it comes to getting work experience for our children it’s easy to ask friends or colleagues to help. But many of the Career Academy students don’t have that network to call upon so it’s great that we can do something to help them gain experience of the world of work. Over the six week period you can really see their confidence increase, they feel less intimidated by the office environment, they become more relaxed, they interact with people better.
You feel you’ve been able to raise their ambitions. These are bright individuals who, when they leave us, hopefully have a sense that a corporate environment is not out of bounds. They see for themselves the types of jobs they could do, the value of working hard and of going to university.
And it’s not just the student who changes as a result of this experience; you also get to develop your coaching skills. It is a big commitment, for any team involved, and a lot of hard work. But the rewards make it worthwhile – and when we received a lovely letter from a student thanking us for our help, it makes us feel proud that we may have contributed to their future success.”
Mark, BUPA
To hear more first hand experiences - from students, employers and teachers - play our film clip about internships.
Interested in hosting a young person for their internship? Please contact us.