At Sheffield, this Easter break was different. The first edition of the Spring Internship Experience brought together 630 students from the Faculties of Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences and over 60 partner organisations for a week-long, fully scaffolded and supportive work experience scheme.
On-campus study rooms were turned into co-working spaces and offices, student groups became full-fledged teams supported by professional development workshops offered throughout the week, and careers and employability staff acted as supervisors to facilitate effective teamwork.
What made this project stand out began at the design stage: open and equal access for all applicants who needed or wanted work experience, with no competitive filtering that led to rejection. Students were matched with organisations and projects that were aligned with their career aspirations, giving them work experience that is relevant to their goals.
This is the first time I have ever done any form of work experience, and I can't believe how good it's been - thank goodness you have run this before I graduated.
Final-year Geography student
Insightful into what real-world work is like and what employers genuinely value. An invaluable experience which would not be possible any other way as a first year [student].
First-year student
Throughout the week, students worked in interdisciplinary teams to tackle externally provided project briefs designed by a wide range of organisations, from local SMEs and charities, to household names like ITV, global multinational companies like Samsung and Siemens, and the local and national government, such as the Civil Service and various government departments.
This project has changed my outlook on what I want to do and what my skills are - I realised that I have a lot to offer and that I can use my skills in lots of different industries and roles.
Second-year History student
For many, the constitution of their teams, mixing Accountancy or Economics students with English or Philosophy students across different year groups, allowed participants to bring, consider and incorporate different perspectives and approaches at every stage of their projects, simulating the process of working across teams and functions in complex organisations.
Working interdisciplinarily gave me a fantastic opportunity to work collaboratively and incorporate many different ideas into one vision, whilst honouring everyone’s perspectives.”
“Wonderfully insightful week spent with the kindest people!”
“Fantastic, I loved working and collaborating with people I would not have otherwise had met.
Student feedback
We can't believe how much the students have delivered in the week and all of it is actionable, totally delighted.
Berneslai Homes
I was blown away by what the students had done, really interesting honest feedback with strategic recommendations, presented brilliantly.
ITV
It was fantastic what they achieved through the Spring Internship Experience, they honed in on [one] of the gaps within our policy work, came up with incredible recommendations for ministers, couldn't speak more highly of the group.
Department for Education
We thank our local, national and global partner organisations who designed the projects and supported our students throughout and the incredible organisers who made it all possible, and we congratulate all the students who took on the challenge to enrich their employability, grow their network, and apply their skills and subject knowledge to make change in the community, one project at a time.
As Director of Education, I see first hand how transformative it is when we connect our students with external companies. These partnerships are not just valuable, they are essential. They allow students to step beyond the classroom, apply their learning in real-world contexts, and begin to understand the expectations and opportunities that await them in their future careers.
Professor Stephen Hincks
Director of Education in the Faculty of Social Sciences
Interested in getting your organisation involved in future projects? Get in touch with our dedicated employer engagement team for guidance on how you can best raise your profile, provide development opportunities, and connect with our global student and alumni community.