Employer Profile - The National Trust

Number of placement students taken on per year: Two

Positions available within the company: Both positions are for student interns. One position is as an assistant to the house manager and the other as assistant to the visitor services manager. The assistant to house manager performs front-of-house duties, volunteer management, as well as some conservation and security roles. The assistant to the visitor services manager is involved in marketing, customer services, communications tasks as well as some financial responsibilities.

What is the process for recruiting placement students? There is an application form followed by interviews.

What are you looking for in a placement student? Primarily we look for initiative and enthusiasm. We also look for the ability to take on responsibility and to get on with the existing staff.

What does the placement involve? The programme lasts for one year and there is a full induction programme that lasts up to a month, where the placement student works one-to-one with the outgoing student intern. After that it is up to the individual to progress under the guidance and encouragement of the relevant manager.

What do you pay the placement students? We pay £1,500 a year towards living expenses and there is free accommodation as well.

What does your organisation get out of the experience? We hope to provide a demanding year full of variety. Ideally, after the year we hope that the students will consider joining the National Trust for their career after graduation. Currently, six out of the 13 student placements we’ve had are enjoying successful National Trust careers.

How would you advise students to make the most of the experience? See it as an excellent opportunity to be given genuinely demanding projects to work on autonomously and to experience the reality of working life in the heritage sector. The more you put in, the more you will get out.