This piece was written by Annie Ferguson, the John Smith Centre’s first Mayoral Internship Programme intern.
When I stepped through the cloisters of the University of Glasgow for the first time as a wide-eyed student, I was both enthralled by and paralysed from the weight of its legacy of intellect, innovation, and world-changing alumni.
For a first-generation, working-class student with undiagnosed neurodivergence, it’s safe to say that it felt like no small feat.
Coming from a school with low academic attainment and a community struggling with poverty exposed me directly to the harmful effects of systematic institutional underfunding and sensitised me to increasingly poor social mobility chances. When I entered university, I had no concept of who I was, what I wanted to do or frankly what I felt that I could do with my life. Whilst this is a rite of passage for every student, for a first-generation, working-class student it brings its own set of challenges – we are quite literally forging our paths within institutions and systems which were not originally built to accommodate us.
Survival became my philosophy – I just had to get through the next assignment…term…year – and eventually I would figure it all out – right? This mindset drained my passion for learning. I also didn’t know how to navigate professional etiquette, gain work experience, or access opportunities that often lacked financial support. Without the prior networks, knowledge, capacity or experience I found myself excluded from aspects of university life and the wider world of work.
It was these beliefs led me to almost not apply for the internship programmes of the John Smith Centre. Twice, in fact. First with the Parliamentary Internship Programme and again with the Mayoral Internship Programme. Both times, I hesitated, convinced I didn’t have what it took. But challenging those beliefs changed everything, and before I knew it, I was walking into the Greater Manchester building as a Mayoral Intern for Andy Burnham!
During my internship, I had the opportunity to connect with senior politicians, high-level policymakers, stakeholders, CEOs, and even the media.
Highlights from my internship
- Creating briefing notes for and writing letters on behalf of Andy Burnham.
- Meeting the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza to discuss education reform initiatives.
- Shadowing the Mayor of the West Midlands and Andy Burnham to a roundtable discussion with the Chair of Social Mobility Commission Alun Francis, who discussed The State of the Nation Report summary.
- Attending the HS2 alternative launch event in partnership with West Midlands Council.
- Attending a live BBC Hotseat interview with Andy Burnham and briefly participating.
- Attending a summer event hosted by Deloitte.
- Attending a roundtable with the children commissioner to discuss Mbacc.
- Attending an event on how to tackle homelessness hosted by the Ambassador of Finland.
- Attending a youth reformation event with Andy Burnham and Kate Green to showcase local youth rehabilitation art programmes.
What I've gained as a result
- I’ve gained confidence and networking skills by participating in professional events with various senior-level stakeholders across politics, policy, business and the media.
- I’ve gained knowledge of the inner workings of a devolved council by working across a range of policy areas from housing, transportation, education and international trade and development. I’ve been able to see how theoretical concepts in policy translate at a devolved level of governance which has deepened my understanding of the structures, roles and processes which underpin local governance.
- I’ve gained knowledge and awareness of how policies are affected by internal constraints such as fiscal budgets, legislative power and policy mechanisms to external constraints such as political, social and economic factors allowing me to develop an understanding of effective policy-making.
- I’ve gained clarity by being exposed to a range of policies which has allowed me to gauge where my natural interests lie and what I would like to explore further post-university. It has given me clarity over what type of jobs are out there and how to access them.
- I’ve strengthened my communication skills through drafting policy briefs and letters.
- I’ve learned how to have your voice heard, how to be an effective leader and how to navigate the realities of being a public figure who oversees two and a half million locals from Andy Burnham.
- I’ve learned about the importance of passion and self-advocacy from the Greater Manchester Youth Council.
The internship gave me a unique opportunity to explore policy and politics, make connections, gain skills, and experience the mechanisms of governance within the UK’s most powerful council. By the end of my time at the GMCA, I felt a profound shift within myself. Whilst I expected to learn practical knowledge, I underestimated how much I would learn about myself. I’m not the same person that I was before, and this is directly due to the Internship.
The lesson? Don’t rule yourself out. It’s daunting to put yourself out there, but that’s exactly why taking risks is essential for young students trying to find their feet in this world. You need the negative experiences as much as the positive ones; every setback and hurdle you face brings you new opportunities to gain knowledge, understanding and clarity over what you want and builds resilience to face the global job market and build crucial interpersonal skills. In a world where living costs are rising and competition for jobs is fiercer than ever, opportunities like this are vital, especially for students from non-traditional academic backgrounds.
The John Smith Centre gave me more than just an experience, it has given me knowledge, networks and skills to go and forge my career path, whatever that may be. Programmes like this open doors to spaces that often feel exclusive and inaccessible, proving that there is room for all of us, if only we have a little courage to take that first step!
My advice to anyone considering an internship with the John Smith Centre: Go for it. You’ll gain valuable skills, meet incredible people, and discover what it feels like to truly belong in a field that you care about. I am deeply grateful for this experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone ready to learn, grow, and explore what a career in public service could be.
