Learning through internships
We regularly offer internships throughout the Forum, for a minimum of 6 weeks (full or part-time), giving people the opportunity to acquire experience working in the sustainable development field. These internships are valuable in helping us to achieve our mission, by expanding our resources.
Specific internships with details of how to apply are advertised on our Jobs page, but we welcome applications from people interested in internships at other times. Please send your CV and a covering letter to recruitment@forumforthefuture.org
We have several rolling internship arangements - vacancies are advertised regularly. These include working on projects in our Bristol Office, research for Green Futures magazine, working on the Sustainable Cities Index and research for our delivery teams. Our resources team has two rolling internships - working on IT and HR/Office Administration.
We ask applicants to apply with a CV and covering letter. Covering letters should include examples on how applicants meet the person specifications. Applicants for Green Futures magazine should include at least two samples of writing. We ask successful applicants to provide us with at least one referee to contact - current/previous employer or an academic contact. On an intern's first day we draw up a volunteer agreement to set out the intended objectives and outcomes for the intern and Forum. It also lists the policies that we ask volunteers to adhere to.
Our internships are unpaid, however we cover the cost of travel within London's Zone 6, reimburse cycle miles, contribute to local travel costs for internships in Bristol and Cheltenham and reimburse lunch costs up to £5 per day.
Interns have a supervisor with whom they have regular meetings, and they are encouraged to attend in-house meetings, training sessions and informal staff events while they're working with us. We also offer careers advice and information on applying for jobseekers allowance and other benefits.
What kind of work do interns do?
Tom Roberts joined us as an intern with a degree in Environmental Management and English. His knowledge of the sustainable development agenda stood him in good stead, but in-depth prior knowledge is not a requirement.
Tom worked for three months including a week at our magazine Green Futures. He was involved in a range of tasks over his internship, including:
- Writing material for the Regional Futures news digest
- Conducting interviews and collating research
- Reviewing regional economic strategies
- Updating and amending web pages
- Helping with research and proof reading articles.
Tom found the experience very fruitful.
"I'm certain now about my career choice, and I've a better understanding of sustainable development. I've also made a lot of new friends."
Quotes from other interns include:
"It’s no exaggeration to say that when I arrived here I was a bit disillusioned with the world of work and very disillusioned with the way the world was going, but my time at Forum has really helped on both counts. Interning in an organisation with a positive message delivered by dedicated people has been just the tonic and, at the risk of causing a flood of mature applicants, something I’d definitely recommend to others."
"It's rare to find the concentration of such interesting and enthusaistic people as can be found in the offices of Forum for the Future. Forum as an organisation just attracts people who are positive, forward thinking and intelligent about the workings of the world. It's been an absolute privilege to pick their brains!"
"Interning at Forum was an invaluable experience. It helped me take my academic knowledge on the subject of sustainability to a whole new level."
"A fantastic experience. Valuable, interesting, fun - you will learn more in the three months at Forum than you could anywhere else."
"Forum is very good at accommodating any interests and/or goals that their interns may have, and it has been inspiring to be part of such a hard working and dedicated staff in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere".
"My time here has been fantastic. After starting out dubiously, I have been completely 'Forumised' and finding another organisation to top Forum will be very hard."
" The IT internship has enhanced my IT knowledge, skills and experience to a higher magnitude. I didn't feel treated like 'just another intern', I felt I was part of the team. The IT internship is an excellent opportunity for those who are looking to step in to the IT Industry."
"The foot in the door I needed to launch my career as a sustainability professional in London".
"Interning at Forum has been an entirely positive experience and has made me even more determined to pursue a career in the not-for-profit sector. It’s been inspiring to work with such a talented bunch of people who are so clearly committed to what they are doing."
“Really enjoyable experience so different from what I’d expected. Will really miss both the job and the people.”
“It’s inspiring being surrounded by lots of people who want to make the world more sustainable.”
"It has truly been a fantastic experience and I'm leaving with many new skills, lots of fond memories, and a new found passion for sustainable stationery!"
“My experience at Forum For the Future has been extremely enriching, stretching and fun.”
"Forum has turned me around. I feel inspired to promote change in a positve way."
"A challenging time that has helped me to see what goes on behind the scenes of building a more sustainable society - wish I could stay on!"
Forum for the Future subscribes to the standards for ethical internships developed by the Interns Network.
For more information please contact recruitment@forumforthefuture.org
