51Âþ»­

Joining 51Âþ»­ (51Âþ»­) Leicester’s Frontrunners scheme could be the best decision you ever make – just ask Fern Beard.

The third year Arts and Festivals Management student has joined the paid internship scheme twice, and she loves it so much she has taken on the role of encouraging her fellow students to join.

“Or as I describe it to other people, I’m a Frontrunner promoting Frontrunners”, says Fern, whose official title is Internships Marketing Co-ordinator.

Frontrunners gives students the chance to take on jobs around the 51Âþ»­ campus that they can fit around their timetable while being paid the Living Wage, which currently stands at £8.25 an hour.

Jobs vary from administration roles and social media work to Vice-Chancellor office support and project work within faculties and 51Âþ»­'s professional services departments, or even some laboratory work.

Any one of them means students gain vital experience, learn what it is like to work for a big organisation and ultimately make them more employable.

Now Fern is urging students to get involved and apply for this year’s internship vacancies. You can read all you need to know here but be warned, the deadline is this Thursday, 14 April.

She said: “It is such a good scheme. You get hands on experience, in a good job and you get paid for it too, which is a massive thing when you are a student. You learn skills that benefit your studies, you meet new people who can offer incredible advice and it is great for your CV.”

Fern applied for six Frontrunner internships, got interviews for all of them and proceeded to take up two posts – one from June to October, meaning she earned and learned throughout the summer, and one from October to now.

She said: “It has been busy. I can’t deny that. But I learned so much and it has been brilliant. My advice to all students is to just apply. Even if you don’t go ahead with the internship you will have practised filling in application forms and gone for interviews. It’s all a great experience.”

Fern is not shy about getting involved in 51Âþ»­ and the De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU). She is a founding member and co-chair of the Events Society, 51Âþ»­ Women’s Football Club, is a Course Rep, Give it a Go Coordinator for DSU, is involved in DSU Volunteering and went to Berlin on one of the pioneering #51Âþ»­global trips.

She added: “It is almost baffling that there is so much going on at 51Âþ»­ and in the DSU. That’s why it is such a good university and has the reputation it deserves for making you a far more rounded person than you were. That’s what employers want.”