Getting a first job can feel like a difficult cycle to break: employers want experience, but young people need opportunities to gain it. As concerns grow about the opportunities available to young people, we’ve been thinking about what Bean Research can do to help.

For me, this has a personal connection. An internship at Ipsos at the start of my career gave me valuable experience, and I’ve long wanted to offer that opportunity to someone else. With our new office base at Canopi, it felt like the right time to put that ambition into practice.

Finding the right programme

Through King’s College London’s Civic Leadership Academy (KCLA), we found a paid internship programme designed for charities and social enterprises, with a focus on widening access for undergraduates.

Fahmida Ahmed helped us shortlist a strong pool of candidates. We were so impressed by the students we interviewed that we welcomed two interns, Charlotte Leung and Aliza Mathew, to Bean for six weeks. The KCLA team provided great support throughout, helping us make the most of the experience.

Learning went both ways

Charlotte and Aliza got stuck in from the outset. They brought enthusiasm, challenged our thinking and gave us fresh perspectives on our work. We learnt a great deal from them, too.

That exchange was one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Offering an internship creates space for someone to learn, but it also gives an organisation an opportunity to listen, reflect and approach things differently.

We’d recommend Charlotte and Aliza wholeheartedly. You can read their reflections on their time at Bean, and we’re delighted that Aliza is staying with us while completing her global health degree.

Creating more opportunities

For a small organisation, offering an internship can take some thought and planning. Working with KCLA helped us turn a longstanding intention into a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

If your charity or social enterprise is considering welcoming bright, enthusiastic interns, take a look at the Civic Leadership Academy programme.

Young people need opportunities to build experience. Our first internships have shown us how much we can gain by opening that door.