Line Manager Name: Amy Borchard
Job Title: Innovation Manager
Pathways Programme: Pathways to Arts, Culture & Heritage 2024
Organisation Summary: BLR WORLD is an award-winning talent consultancy for the culture, entertainment and events sectors, enabling organisations to plan, staff and operate unique permanent and temporary visitor experiences with the very best people.
How did hosting an intern via the Professional Pathways programme benefit you and your organisation/department?
Hosting an intern via the University of Exeter’s Pathways to Arts, Culture & Heritage programme has been incredibly beneficial for both myself and BLR WORLD. Paige, our intern, contributed significantly to one of our key projects: an education programme for children that we are currently delivering for a second year at a museum in Dubai.
During her internship, Paige produced a comprehensive research report that compared our education programme with local, regional, and international comparators. This benchmarking exercise was instrumental in helping us ensure that our programme remains competitive and of the highest quality. Paige’s research highlighted various aspects where we excel and identified potential areas for improvement.
One of the standout contributions from Paige was her set of recommendations to enhance our education programme. She not only suggested improvements but also created mock-ups of marketing materials that we could utilise. To ensure her findings and recommendations were easily accessible, Paige created a Loom video summarizing her report, allowing our team to review it at their convenience.
The work completed by Paige will be directly applied to our future planning for subsequent iterations of the education programme. By incorporating her insights, we are confident that we can continue to provide exceptional educational experiences for children in Dubai. This aligns with our commitment to delivering high-quality educational content and ensures that we remain at the forefront of educational innovation in the region.
Moreover, hosting an intern brought fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to our team. Paige’s innovative ideas and diligent work ethic were inspiring and highlighted the high calibre of students participating in the Professional Pathways programme. It was a real joy to give back to the University of Exeter, especially as an alumna of the programme myself. I can’t recommend this programme highly enough for both students and host organisations.
How was your experience of hosting a Pathways intern?
Hosting a Pathways intern was a highly rewarding experience for our team at BLR WORLD. Paige worked with us fully remotely, and this arrangement proved to be highly effective given the nature of her research project.
To ensure the internship went smoothly, we had daily video-meeting check-ins and regularly touched base via Google Chat. These measures were crucial in maintaining open lines of communication, discussing any challenges, and providing updates.
Since Paige’s project involved producing a comprehensive research report, working remotely did not pose any significant obstacles. On the contrary, it highlighted Paige’s ability to work independently and manage her time efficiently.
Ensuring that we could connect to discuss any challenges and provide updates was the most important aspect of managing a remote intern. Regular communication helped us address any issues promptly and kept Paige aligned with the project’s goals and expectations.
To set Paige up for success, I provided a solid brief at the beginning of the internship. It was important to make sure that she was clear on her tasks and had everything she needed to get started. This included sharing all necessary documents and reading materials on her first day. Providing a comprehensive orientation helped Paige to hit the ground running and contributed to the smooth progression of her work.
In summary, our experience of hosting a Pathways intern remotely was extremely positive. The remote setup worked well for the research-focused nature of the project and demonstrated the capability of students like Paige to deliver high-quality work independently. For anyone managing a remote or hybrid working intern, I recommend maintaining regular communication, providing clear initial instructions, and ensuring the intern has access to all relevant resources from the outset.
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?
To ensure both the intern and our organisation gained the most from the 35-hour internship, we put several key measures in place. Preparation was crucial, and we made sure to have a well-structured plan before the internship began.
I prepared an Internship Briefing Pack for Paige, which included a comprehensive overview of BLR WORLD as an organization, her specific project brief, and key contacts within the company. This pack provided Paige with all the necessary background information and set clear expectations for her role.
On her first day, Paige received an induction session from our HR Manager. This session was important to familiarize her with our company’s culture, policies, and procedures before she started working on her project.
To maintain focus and ensure that the work was on track, we implemented daily touchpoints. We had video meetings every morning to discuss progress, address any challenges, and plan the day’s tasks. Additionally, I would review Paige’s work and leave comments at the end of my working day, so she had feedback ready for us to go over together the next morning. This consistent communication helped keep the project moving smoothly and ensured that Paige always knew what to focus on next.
Given the limited time frame of 35 hours, my recommendation would be to set one larger, cohesive task rather than multiple smaller ones. For Paige, this meant focusing on producing a comprehensive benchmarking report. This approach allowed her to dive deeply into a single project, gain a better understanding of the work, and produce a key output that she could reflect on and discuss at the end of her internship. It also provided her with a significant piece of work to showcase her skills and experience.
In summary, thorough preparation, clear communication, and setting a focused project are essential to maximize the benefits of a short-term internship. By providing comprehensive initial information and maintaining regular touchpoints, we ensured that both Paige and BLR WORLD gained valuable insights and results from the experience.
Why would you recommend hosting an intern via Professional Pathways?
First and foremost, the programme connects organisations with highly motivated and capable students who bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to the workplace. Our experience with Paige is a testament to the quality of students involved in the programme. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and innovative thinking significantly contributed to our project outcomes.
Hosting an intern through Professional Pathways also allows organisations to give back to the academic community. As an alumna of the University of Exeter, it was particularly fulfilling for me to support the next generation of professionals entering the arts, culture, and heritage sectors. This connection to the university fosters a sense of community and ongoing collaboration that benefits both the organisation and the students.
Lastly, the structured nature of the Professional Pathways programme ensures that both the intern and the host organisation are well-prepared. The programme’s emphasis on clear objectives and comprehensive preparation means that interns can quickly integrate into the team and start making meaningful contributions. For us, having a well-defined project for Paige ensured that she could focus her efforts and deliver tangible results within the 35-hour timeframe.