Internships
Hansard Society Internships
The Hansard Society has a long tradition of supporting interns in beginning or further developing their political careers. Many that have worked for us have gone on to distinguished careers in a variety of sectors and organisations including the civil service and Parliament, public affairs consultancies, NGOs and charities, the media and some have attained permanent positions within the Hansard Society. We really appreciate their immense efforts and hard work over the years and attempt to welcome all interns in the same way as any other member of staff. We feel we are able to provide a spring board into a political career through our broad network of contacts and wealth of experience of the political system.
We have a number of internship opportunities available throughout the year working with different programmes and issue areas - if there are current opportunities they will be listed on www.w4mp.org.
We hope to give our interns as wide an experience of our area of work as possible and some new challenges. If you don't believe us why not read some testimonies below.
Communications & Events Intern
Are you interested in politics? Are you organised and
enthusiastic? Are you a good communicator and multi-tasker?
If you are, and you're looking for 3 month internship, we'd
like to hear from you. The Hansard Society is the UK's leading independent non
partisan, political research and education charity. We promote democracy and
strengthen Parliament and to help us in this we're looking for an intern to
join our communications team to support us with our events, communications and
media monitoring.
Applicants should have strong written and oral
communications skills, good attention to detail and be able to prioritise
competing time-pressured tasks. Experience of events and communications would
be an advantage, as would an interest in British politics. Based in our London office on Chancery Lane, it
will offer you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and experiences in a
professional environment. Travel expenses (within London zones 1-6) and a daily lunch allowance
of £5 will be available. Key tasks:
-
supporting the Communication
team on events management
-
putting together the daily
media monitor
-
supporting the Communication
team with the monthly newsletter and its digital marketing, including updating
the website
-
supporting the Communication
team with Membership
If you would like to apply for this position please send us
a copy of your CV together with a covering letter (no more than one page
please) outlining why you are interested in the role and what you can bring to
it, bearing in mind the skills and tasks listed above to k.egglestone@hansard.lse.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is March 24 at 12 noon.
Interviews are likely to take place in the w/c March 29. The successful
candidate would be asked to take up the internship w/c April 12. If you have
not heard from the Hansard Society regarding your application by Friday 2 April
please assume that you have been unsuccessful this time.
Scholars Intern
A position has arisen at the Hansard Society for an
intern for the prestigious Hansard Scholars Programme. The Programme
currently welcomes 80 undergraduates and reserachers from round the
world three times a year (2 x 12 week programmes and a shorter
programme in the summer) to the UK to do internships in the House of
Parliament and take courses in British Politics. The internship
position will provide an excellent opportunity to gain experience in
the international education field in the UK's leading independent,
non-partisan political education and research charity. We would expect
the intern to have excellent people, organisational and administrative
skills and be confident in working with a wide range of people (from
students to senior civil servants, MPs and Peers and be sensitive to
different cultures. Advanced IT skills, are highly desirable.
The intern will also provide support to the Director in the development of the Society's corporate supporters' scheme.
The internship position is 5 days a week, and will
last for 6 months from April 1st 2010. It will be based at our offices
in Chancery Lane, London. The position is unpaid, although we can
provide travel and lunch expenses.
Interested applicants should email a CV and a covering letter of
not more than two sides of A4. Please explain briefly and give
successful examples of your experience, qualifications and skills
relevant to this position and email this to study@hansard.lse.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 5.00pm on
Thursday 25th March. Interviews will take place on Wednesday 31st March
and the successful candidate will be expected to take up the position
as soon as possible thereafter.
If you do not hear from the Hansard Society by Tuesday 30th March, please assume that your application has not been successful.
The Hansard Society is an independent charity that
works to promote effective parliamentary democracy and has extensive
political links.
In
addition to work on the Scholars Programme and on corporate
development, the intern will have the opportunity to assist at and
participate in some of the Society's wider activities and events.
Hansard Society Internships
The Hansard Society has a long tradition of supporting interns in beginning or further developing their political careers. Many that have worked for us have gone on to distinguished careers in a variety of sectors and organisations including the civil service and Parliament, public affairs consultancies, NGOs and charities, the media and some have attained permanent positions within the Hansard Society. We really appreciate their immense efforts and hard work over the years and attempt to welcome all interns in the same way as any other member of staff. We feel we are able to provide a spring board into a political career through our broad network of contacts and wealth of experience of the political system.
We have a number of internship opportunities available throughout the year working with different programmes and issue areas - if there are current opportunities they will be listed on www.w4mp.org.
We hope to give our interns as wide an experience of our area of work as possible and some new challenges. If you don't believe us why not read some testimonies below.
What you can expect as a Hansard Society intern....
Citizenship Education
An intern in the Citizenship Education department's primary role is to assist in the running of a range of innovative political literacy projects for schools. These projects include The Y Vote Mock Elections and HeadsUp. Other duties include processing orders for citizenship resources, managing databases and research for HeadsUp debates. Attending and supporting other staff at events and external meetings may also be required. Those wanting to work in educational policy and training or with young people would benefit from this type of internship.
Communications
As an intern in the communications department your work will be divided amongst fundraising, events and communications work. Work is widely varied and will allow you to gain an understanding of the breadth of work that the Hansard Society undertakes. You will attend Hansard Society events at the Houses of Parliament, produce daily round-ups of news articles for all the members of staff and edit material for the website, amongst many other things. Interning in the communications department at the Hansard Society will give valuable experience to those wishing to pursue a career in public affairs, events planning or fundraising.
eDemocracy
The eDemocracy programme undertakes a variety of cutting edge research, trying to understand and advance the effect of digital media on parliament, government engagement and civil society. As an intern, you’ll be working with us on real projects, undertaking literature reviews and supporting the research team. The eDemocracy programme prides itself on being rigourous, innovative and forward thinking, which makes this an ideal role for someone with an interest in politics, policy and digital media that would like a hands-on introduction to research.
Parliament and Government
The main tasks for interns within the Parliament and Government Programme are conducting background research for current projects from a variety of sources and assisting at events - often within Parliament. Other work may include researching biographies for speakers or contributors to publications and monitoring the work of Parliament. This internship would suit those wishing to pursue a career in research, policy or public affairs.
My Experience of the Hansard Society....
Katie Russell - Communications and Events Intern 2009
My experience with the Hansard Society has been fantasitc. Nowhere will you find a warmer welcome as an intern. My role has been wide and varied, ranging from a daily media monitor, drafting press releases, producing a monthly newsletter to organising seminars, lectures and receptions. This is brilliant opportunity if you want to emerse yourself in the political, get a grip of the political media landscape and of course know the names faces to watch in 2010! The great thing about working for the Comms team is that you get an overview of each and every programme, touching on all that is done by the society including research publications, youth projects and international visits.
An internship with the Hansard Society is perfect for those looking for a varied and stimulating political experience. Furthermore, there is life after the internship...support, encouragement and advice are there on tap to help you take the next step on your chosen career path.
Daniel Baldwin - eDemocracy Intern 2009
On my first day, I was made to feel like I would play a real part in the work being done. During the weeks to follow, this was borne out and having left, I miss being there! It was a collaborative and stimulating environment to be in, in most part because of how involved I became in a short space of time and how participatory the dynamic of the eDemocracy team is. All this made the time I spent there useful, interesting and worthwhile.
Adrian de Mello - Communications Intern 2008
I had a very enjoyable time at the Hansard Society. Working as a communications intern here you are thrown in at the deep end, really finding out how an organisation like the Hansard Society is run. My work varied widely, from considering invitees for different conferences to browsing through the newspapers everyday to compile a list of the day's most relevant stories.
I was also lucky enough to be given my own project to work on. I met with some academics who were hoping to work with the Hansard Society to kickstart their project Our Democratic Heritage (an attempt to re-engage people to the political process by re-igniting their interest in their democratic past). Following a couple of trips to the British Library and the LSE library, and drawing from suggestions from people throughout the office, I researched into and compiled a list of sites of ‘democratic significance'. I put these onto a database before placing them onto an interactive map. I also developed a website for the project which I hope the next intern will continue to develop where required -- and hope that the Hansard Society will continue to promote the project as it grows in strength over the next few years.
I was made to feel very welcome here - they are a very friendly bunch and from the first day everyone was warm and welcoming. It was both fulfilling and interesting, I learned a great deal in a short time, and would recommend that anyone with an enthusiasm for politics and the political process apply.
Karishma Desai - eDemocracy Intern 2008
I have had a thoroughly enjoyable three months at the Hansard Society. I was given a substantial project to work on during my time in the e-Democracy team. Being given my own project made me feel that I was part of the team as well as that I was actually undertaking work of some importance. It was fascinating to see the large amount of thorough research that was needed for a particular project. By the end I had a very good understanding of the subject matter as well as having discovered the different and most efficient ways of undertaking research. I also was taught how to use the research computer programme, Invivo, where I coded the material I had researched to ascertain the main themes of the area.
There were also always Hansard Society events to attend. I have been to a drinks reception at the House of Lords where I got to meet a number of Lords and Baronesses and their staff. I attended a debate on ePetitions in Westminster and have also been invited to the Hansard Society Reception in the House of Commons. For an internship where you are able to thoroughly develop your research skills on very topical political issues in a friendly and professional environment, the Hansard Society is an excellent choice.
Dana Peters - Citzenship Education Intern 2006
As an intern on the Citizenship Education Programme I supported a range of educational projects designed to promote political awareness and participation among young people. From day one I enjoyed a good degree of responsibility and was welcomed as a full member of the team. Primarily writing for a youth websites Being Heard and HeadsUp, I was charged with the challenge of engaging young people with difficult and controversial questions on such issues as education, religion and world affairs. This involved communicating complex information clearly and simply and presenting subjects in a balanced way - no easy task when dealing with hotly debated topics like Iraq!
The Hansard Society provided the perfect platform from which to progress a career in politics. My internship was hugely enjoyable and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for positive political experience in a friendly environment.
Clare Helm - Citizenship Education and Parliament and Government Intern 2007
My internship experience with the Hansard Society has been nothing but enjoyable. I have benefited from having my time split between two programmes, as this has helped me to gain a greater insight into the work of the Society. The staff have made every effort to ensure my internship has been engaging and allowed me to expand the work in my own areas of interest. Being able to attend seminars and a reception at the Speaker's House were highlights of my internship.
My enthusiasm for research has grown through this experience and I think an internship with the Hansard Society would be of great value to anyone who is interested in, and keen to work around, politics.
Will Hoyles - External Relations Intern 2007
Interning at the Hansard Society has been a completely different experience to other internships. I was immediately treated as part of the team and it was obvious that while I was here I would be thought of as a full member of staff. At first this was quite intimidating and I had a very steep learning curve but I think I've gained more from the experience, and contributed a lot more, as a result. On my first day I went to a drinks reception with the Speaker of the House of Commons and I've since spent time at seminars attended by cabinet ministers and written copy for important advertising materials.
Everyone has been incredibly supportive and made sure that I've got what I wanted out my time at the Hansard Society, and I have been given a lot of help in trying to find paid employment when I leave, including arranging meetings with senior people at organisations I'd like to work for. I'd recommend interning at the Hansard Society to anyone who wants to gain a broad knowledge about the way political organisations work.
Jenny Stevens - Parliament and Government Intern 2007
Working as an Intern within the Parliament and Government team at the Hansard society has been an exciting, illuminating, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. I was immediately made to feel part of the team, and treated less as an intern, but as a permanent member of staff. The work was engaging, challenging, and worthwhile. I felt that my knowledge and skills were encouraged, enabling me to develop a good understanding of Parliament and the political environment.
The Hansard Society's Parliament and Government team were incredibly supportive of all aspects of my work, and I was given help and support with job applications and careers advice in a professional environment. I would highly recommend an internship to anyone serious about working in a political environment, who wants to work for an excellent organisation and a wonderful team.