The object of the Bergmans intern programme is to introduce young people - especially graduates -to the world of work and in particular to the communications industry.

It aims to show them how a small owner managed business works in a commercial environment. But as all Bergmans employees are fully employed, interns are expected to add back some value. They will not be asked to do anything that others do not already do or have not done, and so are expected to carry out all allotted tasks to the best of their abilities.

The position is paid at the level of the National Minimum Wage, and will generally be for a period of up to 25 weeks. Bergmans reserves the right to terminate an internship at any time for any reason, and although we don't give subsequent references we will usually give interns an agreed letter outlining activities undertaken, “to whom it may concern”.

Interns are expected to abide by the firm’s standard working practices, including health and safety. Most of these are laid out in the Office Procedures Manual, and interns are expected to sign the Volunteers’ Charter to signify acceptance.

It should be noted that the Office Procedures Manual also contains much information on “how to do PR”. Interns are welcome to photocopy any of this material for their own subsequent use.

There is one overarching principle: interns who do not use their brains, tongues and best endeavours are unlikely to get the maximum benefit out of their time with us. Or to enjoy it as much as they could!

WHAT WILL I DO?

This depends very much on current activity within the firm. However, a graduate intern might be asked to support one of our pro bono clients (such as preparing material for BusinessMatters - http://busmatters.blogspot.com) , or our other information dissemination activities.

An example is DEFENCEnet Daily, an email alert sent to some 4000 leading figures in the industry globally The intern might prepare this from a variety of public domain sources, edit and issue. This requires some abstracting and IT skills which if not already present would need to be acquired rapidly. There might also be the oportunity to write papers for our daily blog Defence Viewpoints (http://ukdf.blogspot.com) or Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/defenceredbox)

Interns will also learn the importance of the whole spectrum of activities within public relations. These range from the first point of contact with the outside world – telephone and mail for instance – to the final demonstration of the job done to the highest professional standards.

But in between there is also basic housekeeping and office practices. If you can’t use a fax or make coffee you’ll soon learn to. Somebody has to deal with the outgoing post – the full time staff will welcome any such help.

If there are office skills interns don’t have, we expect them to identify them to us so that they leave us with greater capabilities than they started with.

Many of the people in the leading public relations consultancies in the north east (and London too) trained at Bergmans. They learned that the highest standards are expected at all times, and have gained professional reputations as a result. 

VIEWS FROM PREVIOUS BERGMANS INTERNS:

After graduating with a BSc in a degree discipline not associated with public relations, journalism or media, I wrote to several companies in the hope that I could get 'my foot in the door' of the public relations industry.

Bergmans offered me a period of work experience where I was able to get a feel for the vital research techniques, client liaison skills and excellent writing-style that has enabled Bergmans to become one of the North-East's leading public relations companies and defence consultants.
- Hannah-

My time at Bergmans as a volunteer proved an ideal way to get my foot on the PR and Marketing ladder. As a fresh graduate new to the industry I learned a great deal during my time there, benefiting from the knowledge and expertise of all the staff, and gained a wealth of practical, hands-on experience.

As a result, not long afterwards I landed my first 'real' job with a new government agency, working on multi-million pound national campaigns; and although I have since gone the in-house route, working at Bergmans gave me an insight into the way that communications agencies work that I now put to use every day in co-ordinating pr and marketing activities. Overall, Bergmans gave me a fantastic start to my career which was fun to boot!
-Mark-

Throughout my time spent at Bergmans I was introduced to PR from a practical sense which enabled me to fully appreciate the way in which PR integrates into marketing. My primary role was producing a 'North East in Europe' newsletter which I thoroughly enjoyed and received positive feedback from. After my work experience I completed a marketing project within a north east engineering company and I completed my Business and Marketing degree, achieving a 2:1 grade.

I then moved on to working in Sydney Australia.
-Rowena-