Pragmatix Advisory work with the Open University to support internship programmes

Pragmatix Advisory is a strategic research consultancy operating fully remotely with staff based in various locations across the United Kingdom. Through the OU’s Opportunity Hub, Pragmatix Advisory have welcomed four interns into the virtual office, offering students a chance to widen their work experience and assist us with our ongoing projects. We currently have two former interns on board as permanent members of staff.

Rebecca's Story

Rebecca took part in the Santander UK Universities internship scheme during the summer of 2020, having achieved a First Class Honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the Open University. “The email advertising the virtual internship came at the perfect time for me. Because of the covid lockdown, I wasn’t working at my usual job and was able to commit to the six-week internship. Fortunately for me, those six-weeks turned into a permanent role and I’ve now been with the company for more than two years. The OU was attractive to me because I could study for a degree without having to relocate and the internship offered that same flexibility. I live on an island off the west coast of Scotland, and an in-person role in this field simply isn’t an option where I am. “I don’t think it’s an understatement to say the virtual internship programme changed my life. I went from my job of thirteen years in a seafood restaurant, to a career in consultancy which has allowed me to work on incredibly important policy and advocacy work for clients, as well as visiting new countries.” Rebecca works as a full-time consultant for Pragmatix Advisory, managing projects with a social, economic or public policy dimension. Rebecca now also oversees the process of interviewing and hiring OU interns, which included fellow OU graduate, Nina.

Nina's Story

Nina completed an OU Careers Service / Santander UK Universities internship from November 2021 to February 2022, during her third and final year of studying for a Mathematics BSc degree. Having graduated, Nina has since rejoined the Pragmatix Advisory team as a researcher and analyst. “My internship with Pragmatix Advisory definitely shaped my final year of study with the Open University. I was able to transfer the organisational and time-management skills I learned over the internship into the remainder of my study and maximise the time I had left on my course. Being completely remote was an advantage as I was able to diminish commute time and costs. Participating in a virtual internship also exposed me to aspects of the business I might not have experienced otherwise, such as shadowing client and staff meetings. “In general, I worked throughout the duration of my OU studies, but this was my first experience of working within the professional services industry. As such, I did not know what to expect prior to starting with Pragmatix Advisory, but the team were very welcoming and approachable. Throughout the internship, I admired the level of detail they put into every piece of work. The projects I worked on and the things I found myself researching were always interesting! It was a steep learning curve, but a journey I am very grateful to have been on. I am glad I found this placement through the Opportunity Hub.” Although she did not secure a position immediately following the internship, it did lead to a job six months later. This summer, Nina applied for a full-time version of the role she undertook as an intern in an open application process, competing against other candidates from a variety of employment backgrounds and universities. Returning to the virtual office, Nina has resumed some of the work she did as an intern, and is building on the experience she gained previously. Nina will be advancing her sector knowledge by studying part-time for a MSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics degree with Birkbeck, University of London this October. Things have now come full circle for Rebecca, as she is Nina’s line manager at Pragmatix Advisory. “Although we didn’t have a position available when Nina completed her internship with us, we were delighted to hear from her six months later when we were advertising for a new analyst. Her time with us demonstrated her skills and ability to undertake the type of research we do, but we were impressed to see how Nina had taken what she learned in the internship and built on it after she left. “If you are an employer with an internship vacancy, we would highly recommend speaking to the Open University. If you are a current student at the Open University or have recently graduated, it would definitely be worthwhile looking through their internship opportunities. Nina and I are examples of how the virtual internship programme can be hugely beneficial to your career.”