Daniel Wooster
By Daniel Wooster, computer science with AI student
My journey to the Nottingham Internship Scheme was a little different from the typical route. During my first year studying computer science with AI, I participated in the Nottingham Consultancy Challenge (NCC). My group was paired with Footprints Conductive Education Centre, a local charity based in Clifton.
Making a good first impression
As the team leader, I struck a real chord with their staff. They were impressed by my motivation during the challenge and mentioned they had an opening through the Nottingham Internship Scheme.
As they had seen my work ethic and knew my background, they suggested that I should apply, as they were having some tech-related difficulties and were in dire need of someone with the knowledge to help.
Applying for the role
As I already knew the team, I didn’t feel the usual interview fear, especially as this was my first ever interview for an internship. The atmosphere at Footprints was wonderful; they never made me feel stressed or confused, and they even supported me during the interview phase.
Incredibly rewarding work
During the internship, I worked as a support engineer. My responsibilities involved helping the charity with their current database, migrating them off their old CRM and updating their online shop.
Working for a charity, you realise every penny saved is money that can go directly to helping the families who go to Footprints, which makes the work feel incredibly rewarding.
The culture at Footprints was amazing. Even though my internship has officially ended, I am still in touch with them. I believe in the work they do and plan on continuing to support them with tech-related queries for as long as I can.
My top application tips
1. Carry out extensive research into the company/charity you are hoping to get an internship with. The more you know, the more impressed the interviewer will be. It instantly ticks the motivation box, and I feel like it can often make up for a lack of experience in other areas.
2. Planning your time effectively helped a lot, especially with all the university work expected of us. Make this easier by assigning specific times of the day for applications and setting a limit of doing say two or three per day for a two-week block, and then give yourself a short break.
3. Utilise your connections made through other university schemes. I can safely say that if I had not participated in the NCC, I would not have had the pleasure of interning at Footprints. Keeping an eye out on MyCareer, personal careers portal, and doing that extra research into schemes offered by the university can help more than you would expect.
An impactful experience
Overall, my experience on the Nottingham Internship Scheme was very impactful.
It is thanks to the UoN Careers team that I was able to easily apply for the Nottingham Consultancy Challenge and, from there, apply for an internship through the Nottingham Internship Scheme, with loads of support along the way. I would highly recommend it for anyone trying to gain more experience, especially with SMEs and charities.
The Nottingham Internship Scheme takes place in June for a minimum of four weeks. Applications open on 1 April for one month and job vacancies will be posted on the webpage from the 1 April.
If you need help with applying for work experience placements, check out the advice on our website and book an appointment with a member of our team.
Posted on Tuesday 24th February 2026