NTU Graduate Internship Scheme enables business diversification and “serves as a launchpad for building a successful and fulfilling career”
Nottingham Trent University (NTU)’s annual Graduate Internship Scheme connects businesses from across the UK with recent graduates seeking to implement their academic theory and employability skills.
Previous iterations of the scheme have provided businesses with fully funded support from 6-12 weeks, with many organisations choosing to extend beyond this period to retain the exceptional talent of their intern.
An interview with Mocean:
In 2023, Bristol-based Mocean - specialists in sustainable corporate events, creative content and communications – discovered the Graduate Internship Scheme via a connection on LinkedIn. With an ambition to disrupt the events industry and diversify their product offering, but a skills gap in the current team to fulfil this, getting involved in the Graduate Internship Scheme presented an exciting solution.
We are always looking to bring fresh ideas and skills into the business and we’ve not had a graduate role before but it was something that appealed to us. We were missing a skillset in our team for a project we had undertaken. We didn’t have the means to fund a salary so the fully funded scheme enabled us to employ a graduate, something that other university graduate internship schemes/partnerships didn’t offer.
(Siena Taylor, Events and Marketing Manager – Mocean).
Introducing Salman Shaik, who graduated from NTU’s Nottingham Business School in 2023 with a Master’s degree in Management and Business Analytics. Considering his academic history, Salman reflected:
"this [course] provided me with a comprehensive understanding of various business management principles alongside specialised training in advanced analytics techniques. Through a blend of theoretical coursework and practical projects, I honed my analytical skills and developed a strategic mindset essential for addressing contemporary business challenges."
Participating in the Graduate Internship Scheme represented a pivotal opportunity for me to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world practice.
The project:
"We were looking to create a report and measurement platform for corporate events, measuring the carbon and waste impact of our events and so SUSSED was born. SUSSED is a ground-breaking platform that helps corporate organisations minimise their environmental impact by accurately measuring the environmental impact of corporate events, as well as providing a verified sustainability report for ESG reporting.
We needed to gather data for all areas of an event (i.e. venue, accommodation, travel etc.) in order to accurately measure the impact. Salman’s role was to gather data and work on the calculations that were necessary to sit within the platform, working with web developers to incorporate it into the platform."
"In the initial eight weeks, Salman's role involved data research, finding sources of data and calculations and creating a spreadsheet with the data gathered on Microsoft Excel. Salman played a vital role in the delivery of the project, and we soon realised that we needed to extend his time at Mocean because of the sheer volume of data he was finding and interpreting.
Salman has created a report methodology to sit alongside the platform and introduced us to machine learning. We are currently in the process of applying for additional funding and we hope to continue Salman’s employment so we can extend the platform from corporate events to the whole of the creative industries."
(Siena Taylor, Events and Marketing Manager – Mocean).
Find out more about SUSSED here.
The graduate perspective:
For Salman, “engaging in the Graduate Internship Scheme has equipped me with a diverse array of skills essential for success in today's competitive job market.
Reflecting on my journey within the Graduate Internship Scheme, my most significant takeaway is the realisation of the profound impact of hands-on learning. While academic coursework lays a solid foundation, it is the practical application of knowledge in real-world setting that truly accelerates personal and professional growth. The internship experience has reinforced the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, empowering me to navigate ambiguity with confidence and resilience.
Interacting with seasoned professionals has provided invaluable mentorship and insights into industry best practices, enriching my professional development journey.”
A mutually beneficial experience:
As a business who has not worked with graduate talent before, the idea of integrating them into an established team can appear challenging. However, Siena highlighted that “the communication and support available from NTU was very reassuring”. Ultimately “without Salman’s knowledge and skills, we wouldn’t have been able to complete the project at this time in the business”.
To businesses contemplating participation in the Graduate Internship Scheme, I would emphasise the mutually beneficial nature of the programme. By engaging with talented graduates, businesses can infuse fresh perspectives and innovative thinking into their operations while also nurturing a pipeline of potential future hires. Likewise, to graduates considering the scheme, I would underscore the unparalleled opportunity it offers for hands-on learning, skill development, and networking within their chosen industry. It serves as a launchpad for building a successful and fulfilling career trajectory.
(Salman)
Mocean’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and pioneering efforts to address this in the events industry, is impressive. It’s brilliant to be working with a business closely aligned to NTU’s Embracing Sustainability strategic priority, and the team look forward to seeing how their new platform transforms the sector.
Get involved in the 2024 edition of the Graduate Internship Scheme:
This year, businesses from any sector in the UK, can take on NTU graduates for a 6-week internship, fully funded by NTU on a 30-hours per week contract (working Tuesday – Friday). Find out more here.