Stafford based Engaging Communities triples staff with Keele’s Internship scheme

Engaging Communities case study Jan Sensier (pictured left with graduates Matthew, Rose and Jenni), Director of Engaging Communities Staffordshire (ECS) has shown her commitment to local graduate talent by employing three in the last six months.  Newly formed Community Interest Company ECS act as the voice of the community in regards to health and social care matters in the county.  Set up in partnership with the NHS and local government, it aims to bring together engagement, consultation, complaints, consumer advice and insight services in the sector, so that a “bigger picture” can be formed. 

In October last year, Jan needed to get an “evidence and insight” service up and running, and came across the internship scheme run by Keele University; a free service that matches graduate skills to company needs.  Jan says “Rose was initially on a 12 week internship with us, but within the first week we recognised the impact she was having – her insight and empathy with people was obvious”.  Rose, from Stafford, studied English Literature, and her communication skills are proving very useful in her being able to translate consumer voices into written research and evidence.  In January this year and alongside the delivery of a £1.5m Healthwatch contract, Jan decided to look at offering a second internship. Jan comments “Maria from Keele University was brilliant at shortlisting candidates for me to interview” and within a couple of weeks Politics graduate Jenni Day, also from Stafford, was on board.  Within a few weeks Jenni had two websites ready and had formed some strong relationships with ECS suppliers.  Whilst interviewing for Jenni’s role, Jan also interviewed Business studies graduate Matthew Thompson from Cheadle.  Jan was so impressed with Matthew’s strong work ethic that she offered him a 8 week internship scoping out existing information and signposting services across Staffordshire, making great use of his IT skills. 

Jan sums up “Taking on graduate interns through the Keele Internship programme has enabled us to maximise our resources by combining our small, experienced staff with enthusiastic, fresh thinking and hard working graduates who are using their degrees in very real and practical ways to take forward our business - I feel incredibly lucky to have Rose, Jenni and Matthew, and I want to make sure they get the best possible start to their careers” 

Both Rose and Jenni now have permanent employment with ECS, and Matthew, their most recent recruit, has already had his employment extended to six months. 

For more information about the Keele University Graduate Internships scheme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, please call 01782 733403 or e-mail: internships@keele.ac.uk

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