Line Manager Name: Clare Owen
Job Title: Sales Director of All Jigsaw Puzzles
Pathways Programme: Pathways to Marketing
Organisation Summary: All Jigsaw Puzzles are a Devon-based manufacturer of high-quality jigsaw puzzles, which we produce in as eco-friendly manner as possible. We work with premium brands such as National Geographic, The Daily Telegraph and The National Gallery, and we build unique
relationship with artists. We’re a small friendly company with 30 employees and an open,
inclusive culture.
How did hosting an intern via the Professional Pathways programme benefit you and your organisation?
We had two interns join us in July 2023 and the reports they submitted at the end are really thorough research documents that we wouldn’t otherwise have had time to do ourselves in-house. We tasked them with finding social media influencers against key criteria we had set down, as well as doing competitor analysis of the European Market jigsaw manufacturers. We knew exactly the body of work we wished them to complete and they set to it with great enthusiasm. We will now use our sales team to pick up the direction/leads they provided and move forward with approaching the names on the database they fed into.
How was your experience of hosting a Pathways intern?
The two interns commuted into our offices and worked here for the week. It was important to have them on site, to see the products they were helping research with, but also to speak to both the MD and the Marketing Team to get all the angles that were required for their body of research. They also sat in on one 9am Production Team meeting to see more of the daily life of a manufacturing facility and how it works. The interns that the University send out seem to be the best of the bunch, as they two we had were really smart, bright and personable. They asked questions and clearly wanted to learn. We had set KPIs of what we wanted them to achieve in the hours they were here, as well as ask them to present a report to us at the end of their time here. Laying all that out, meant we focused in on what we needed and they had clear direction and guidelines. I met with them at 3pm each day to review what they had done that day.
Given the Professional Pathways internship is 35 hours in total, how would you recommend ensuring both you and your intern(s) gain as much as possible from the experience?
I had a zoom call before the interns started and shared my research brief and the KPIs needed in advance of them starting so they had time to think about it. Also it was good to meet face to face even through a screen, so we didn’t come across as too daunting. We agreed in advance if we wanted them to be here at the factory or working remotely, so we both knew what to expect. As well as told them to dress casual and bring their own lunch etc and where to park.
Why would you recommend Professional Pathways to other employers?
Young people the University put forward on the pathway are keen to get experience and learn, they are the best of students there.