Bupa UK is launching a 4-week long paid internship programme for sixth form students in partnership with Career Ready – a national charity which supports young people to get into work.
Following a successful pilot last year, the Bupa Foundation and Career Ready are celebrating their 20-year partnership by welcoming 37 interns to give them a taste of the world of work, as well as teaching them workplace and life skills that will serve them throughout their careers.
The partnership has previously enabled hundreds of young people to develop key employability skills through a mix of initiatives, including career insight sessions and masterclasses.
As well as significantly scaling up the internship programme, Bupa UK has also been hosting workplace visits for students aged 15-18 at its offices in Manchester and London. The two-hour visits include a tour of the office, activities to support the students to identify their strengths, a career insights session and a guest speaker from the company.
The internships, taking place in July and August 2022, are available at Bupa’s London, Manchester, Staines and Leeds offices, based within a variety of departments, including Corporate Affairs, Digital Marketing, HR and Finance. The placements will allow young people to discover the breadth of career opportunities on offer and help them match their skills and passions to their long-term career aspirations.
Seconded within a team and supported by a dedicated line manager and mentor, interns will have the opportunity to meet and network with colleagues, develop important employability skills and contribute to team projects, as well as attend sessions on building a personal brand, writing CVs and interview skills.
Anna Russell, Director of Bupa Foundation said: “We’re passionate about providing young people with opportunities so they can pursue their ambitions. Our interns will learn what it’s like to work in a leading healthcare company in a caring, inclusive environment. As well as on the job learning, we’re providing a programme to help them look after their own wellbeing and development.
“Most of all, we’re looking forward to learning from our interns and hearing all their great ideas.”
Jen Hartley, Director of Fundraising & Business Development at Career Ready said: “We’re thrilled that Bupa UK has expanded their internship programme this year. The three students who joined Bupa last year were so excited and learnt so much about their future and the world of work.
“We’re very proud that we’ve been working with the Bupa Foundation for so many years, helping hundreds of young people develop key employability skills through a range of different activities. We’re really looking forward to hearing how the interns get on!”
Mistura, aged 18, who took part in the Career Ready internship programme last year said: “I wanted to do the internship at Bupa as I wanted to see whether a career in the health sector is for me. I gained valuable experiences which you cannot be taught in a classroom, and developed employability skills such as time management and critical thinking. The main piece of advice that I would give to anyone who is interested in an internship at Bupa is to go for it!”
Bupa is committed to supporting young people starting out in their careers and also offers graduate placements and a large-scale apprenticeship programme. Bupa places around 1,000 apprenticeships each year within dental, caring and nursing roles, as well as within digital technology and leadership development. Over 80 per cent of Bupa’s apprentices remain with the business at least one year after completing their training.
Bupa’s ‘Be You at Bupa’ commitment means that everyone in the business – from all backgrounds – can feel comfortable bringing their whole self to work every day. By celebrating and supporting people’s differences, Bupa aims to promote collaboration, encouraging everyone to feel comfortable at work.
For more information or to apply for an internship visit the Bupa UK Careers website https://careers.bupa.co.uk/our-internships
For information about Bupa apprenticeships visit https://careers.bupa.co.uk/our-apprenticeships
