Future Shift

Low Carbon Devon Internship and Leadership Programme
Future Shift

The Low Carbon Devon Internship and Leadership Programme is a 3-month fully-funded internship opportunity placing current students or recent graduates of the University of Plymouth within Devon SMEs to work on a low carbon project.

The internship programme will provide invaluable support for Devon-based enterprises combined with practical work experience and leadership development for current students and recent graduates. This will allow local organisations to deliver a low carbon project, develop or implement a new low carbon idea, product or service, and/or reduce their carbon emissions.

The innovative leadership component will comprise of change-leadership and personal development workshops for the interns to enable them to become future-fit as change-makers, leaders and role models of a low carbon society. These weekly 1-hour workshops will focus on sustainability leadership and developing the skills and tools combined with the inspiration, confidence and ability to facilitate compassionate and proactive change to tackle the climate challenge. They will be framed using the Plymouth Compass leadership tool.

Applications for the June – August 2022 cohort are now closed. The next cohort is October – December 2022 – details to be announced nearer the time.

For an informal discussion about the internship programme please contact Chris Woodfield, Low Carbon Devon Knowledge Exchange Officer, sustainabilityhub@plymouth.ac.uk 

More detailed information on the Low Carbon Devon Internship and Leadership Programme can be found in our information pack.

For FAQs regarding the application process for prospective interns, see our FAQ document.

Key details

  • 3 months in duration (3, 4 or 5 days per week).
  • Free to sign-up and salary of intern is fully funded by the Low Carbon Devon project.
  • Practical work experience combined with leadership development.
  • Programme runs in 3-month cohorts; the next cohort is June-August 2022, followed by October-December 2022.
  • Eligible organisations – SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) based in Devon.
  • Available for current students and recent graduates of the University of Plymouth.
  • Transformational professional and personal leadership development – empowering today’s future leaders.

<p>Low Carbon Devon Internships&nbsp;</p>

“Going through the B Impact Assessment process has been extremely insightful and useful for us as an organisation, highlighting what we are doing well and where we need to improve. I would definitely recommend it and the Low Carbon Devon internship programme has enabled this to happen.” 
Phil Hawthorne, Head of Design at Red Paddle Co

<p>Low Carbon Devon Future Shift Red Paddle</p>
<p>Low Carbon Devon Internship Knowledge Exchange&nbsp;</p>

“The Internship programme helps take action on real-world challenges facing Devon enterprises whilst providing meaningful and empowering internship opportunities for the interns. We’ve seen that the enterprises have been able to put into practice projects and ideas they wouldn’t be able to otherwise without the valuable resource and fresh perspective from the interns.” 
Chris Woodfield, Knowledge Exchange Officer, Low Carbon Devon

“I liked the systemic change workshop; I really think that was key in keeping motivated and seeing the bigger picture for the potential in maintaining the aim to make change within traditional businesses."

Madeleine Flynn, ESG and B Corp Intern at Red Paddle Co


<p>Low Carbon Devon Internships Red Paddle Intern</p>
<p>Low Carbon Devon Internships Intern J Wippell &amp; Co</p>

“I actively engaged with independent project development and completion and as a result, have further developed my skill set in relation to task-management, efficiency and monitoring productivity.”

Hannah Smalldon, Environmental Impacts Intern at J Wippell & Co

Future Shift Internship Graduation

Applications now closed

Are you a current student or recent graduate?

Applications for the June – August 2022 cohort are now closed.

The next cohort is October – December 2022 – details to be announced nearer the time.

Previous internship roles:

ARC Marine – Sustainable Business Development Intern

Bird Eyewear – Climate Impact Intern

Diversity Business Incubator – Environmental Impact Intern

dryrobe® – Sustainability Intern

Emerald Green Power – Sustainable Energy Intern

Nudge Community Builders – Climate Action and Eco-Retrofitting Intern

Pepper Communications – Planet Positive Marketing Intern

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) – Environmental Sustainability Intern

Sound View Media – Creative Climate Impact Intern

The Bshirt – Carbon and Circular Economy Intern

The Woodland Presents – Woodlab Sustainability Intern

Two Drifters Consultancy – Environmental Consultant & Marketing Intern

Yealm Community Energy – Yealm Estuary to Moor (YEM) Intern

YGS Environmental Consultants – Environmental Consultant Intern

YOKE The Salon - Sustainability Intern

Are you a Devon based SME?

We are currently recruiting and actively looking for Devon based enterprises for our October - December 2022 cohort to host an intern.

Would you like a fully-funded student or graduate to work on a low carbon project, idea or help to develop a new product or service?

Contact Chris Woodfield on sustainabilityhub@plymouth.ac.uk to discuss further.