The value of internships for graduates and employers

We’ve participated in the University of Nottingham’s intern scheme for a number of years now. It’s always a fantastic experience, not only for the participants, but also for the team. This year we welcomed Tamara-Leigh Sutton to the marketing team. 

She’s newly graduated having read English and was looking for an internship to gain valuable workplace experience and bridge the gap between her studies and full-time employment. Tamara was just one of 4,000 competing for 115 opportunities on the programme. Her CV and covering letter stood out to us and when we interviewed her, we knew that she’d be a great fit for the team. And we weren’t the only ones impressed, because Tamara actually landed two internships! 

During her placement, Tamara was introduced to many aspects of digital marketing. She carried out research for other members of the team and wrote content for our website, including an article about social proof. Initially, Tamara was drawn to apply because of her experience in social media, but she actually took a shine to the technical side of digital marketing, telling us:  

I thought I’d love social media management, but it didn’t interest me as much as some of the other areas of digital marketing. I’m actually more drawn to SEO, analytics, and even content development now.

Hearing Tamara’s reflections on social media was a great reminder of how valuable internships can be. We receive so many applications from people who are passionate about social media, but once they experience the reality, they often find it’s not what they expected and sometimes their interests change completely. That’s the beauty of internships: they open doors to different areas of marketing and help people discover where their true strengths and passions lie.

While with us, Tamara was also able to develop crucial content editing skills. Already a very strong writer, the challenge was to write engaging but concise copy. Writing for a digital audience is very different to writing an essay, you need to capture attention and keep it long enough to deliver your message. Likewise, being able to edit and amend your work based on feedback is probably one of the best skills you can develop when it comes to copywriting.  

Tamara credits her experience at webdna as helping her build confidence and preparing her for full-time employment. Internships are incredibly valuable because they give students the chance to gain real, hands-on experience and see what, for example, digital marketing is really like. This helps them make informed career choices and develop practical skills they can’t always learn in the classroom.

But of course, internships aren’t just beneficial for students; they benefit us too. They bring new ideas, fresh energy, and often challenge us to think differently. 

For us, internships are just as important. They help us build strong partnerships with universities, stay connected with the next generation of talent, and bring fresh perspectives into the business. Interns often challenge us to think differently, ask great questions, and even spark new ideas within the team. Digital marketing moves fast, and working with new graduates helps us keep pace with emerging trends and new ways of thinking.

Supporting that growth is something we truly value, and we’re proud to play a part in helping early careers take shape. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with the University of Nottingham for many more years to come.