Mid Sussex District Council helps law students gain practical workplace experience with new intern partnership
Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) says it has helped three University of Sussex law students with a six-week summer Career Lab internship.
MSDC said the internship allowed the students to gain valuable and practical workplace experience.
The council said the programme was the first of its kind at MSDC and was run in partnership with the University.
MSDC said the programme was designed to help students ‘bridge the gap’ between education and employment.
Councillor Robert Eggleston, Leader of MSDC, said: “Lack of experience should never be a barrier for someone who wants to pursue a new opportunity. Before my professional career, I studied for a university degree which included a four-year sandwich course, offering me some valuable, lived, work experience. I’m proud that the Council is helping to open pathways for local young people in a challenging job market. By creating opportunities like this, we’re giving talented individuals the chance to gain experience, confidence, and professional skills that can make a real difference to their future careers.”
The council said three interns were selected after a competitive recruitment process, which included the Council’s first assessment centre. The interns were based within the Council’s Governance team and worked on live projects that involved legal research, information governance requests and the implementation of changes arising from new planning regulations. The council said they took part in coaching and professional development opportunities too.
MSDC added that the students got first-hand experience of public sector project delivery, decision-making processes, stakeholder engagement, and the collaborative processes that ‘underpin’ local government services.
Interns Esme O’Rourke-Black, Matthew Llong, and Vaishnavvi Kulam worked alongside Assistant Director of Governance, Julie Galvin, and met other senior figures at the Council, including the Leader, Councillor Robert Eggleston, who spoke to the students about his own career progression.
Esme, 25, said: “I’ve learnt and grown more than I ever expected. We’ve learnt so much beyond the role description and been given loads of opportunities, including coaching and Insights Discovery professional development.”
Julie Galvin said: “The internship programme has been hugely beneficial both for the students and for the Council. We welcomed three talented and motivated individuals into the team, who quickly became integrated into our day-to-day work. Student interns bring fresh perspectives, strong research and analytical skills, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Schemes like this allow us to support local young people while drawing on the wealth of talent that exists within our communities.”
Emily Huns, Head of Careers and Entrepreneurship at the University of Sussex, said: “Mid Sussex District Council's commitment to supporting University of Sussex students through the Career Lab Summer Internship Programme has delivered outstanding results. Seeing all three interns progress into extended or permanent roles demonstrates the impact that strong employer partnerships can have on student outcomes. We are proud of our award-winning programme and of the positive contribution that the University of Sussex and its students make to our local community and economy.”
MSDC said its internship programme supports its commitment to creating pathways into employment, helping local people develop skills, access good jobs and remain in the district. The council said its programme also supports its Sustainable Economic Strategy by strengthening links between education and employers. MSDC said the programme also reflects its Social Value Charter commitment to improving community wellbeing through access to employment opportunities.
A council spokesperson said: “MSDC currently supports 13 apprentices across Levels 3 to 7, working in teams including Finance, Environmental Health, Planning, Human Resources and Communications. These opportunities support school and college leavers beginning their careers, existing employees seeking professional qualifications, and individuals looking to change career. Alongside its apprenticeship offer, the Council has also hosted 11 work experience placements over the past year for young people aged 15 and above. These placements provide students with the opportunity to shadow professionals and gain an insight into careers within local government.”