A cohort of summer interns at Tees Valley Combined Authority is now looking for a move into full-time work after finishing three-week paid placements.

Eight university students and new graduates were offered roles in six departments; Business and Skills, Net Zero, Risk and Strategy, Creative Place, Marketing and Communications and one working across several departments such as Legal, Governance and HR.

Helena Keane, 19, an intern in the Net Zero department, studied Environmental Science at the University of Manchester. With growing career opportunities in Net Zero in Tees Valley, Helena decided to apply to work within the region, having lived in Stockton before moving away, and is happy others in a similar position made the same choice.

She said: “Almost all of us have moved away from Teesside for university to areas like Leeds, Manchester, London and Oxford. Seeing all of us so close to home shows how much there is to gain from working in the Tees Valley.”

Now in her second year of university, Helena has been working in the department to better prepare herself for a career within the green energy industry.

Helena said: “It has been exciting to strive towards a greener future, prioritising decarbonisation, with an emphasis on carbon capture underground storage and the development of hydrogen fuel via water electrolysis.”

Two-time masters graduate Ewan Grainger, from Stockton, is the oldest at 25.

He said: “Whether you’re in university or whether you’ve just graduated like me, it’s an excellent way to narrow down what you want to do over the course of your studies.”

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Interns were given responsibilities equivalent to a full-time employee, and, while supported by their team, were given the freedom and control to carry out their work and meet their project briefs.

Helena added: “The feeling of structured independence in completing your own projects that actually help the authority brings a great sense of worth to the internship rather than being given insignificant or juvenile tasks.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’m proud that, as an organisation dedicated to supporting and uplifting businesses within the Tees Valley, we can encourage these intelligent students and graduates to return to the region. It sets the precedent for students living outside of the area with ties here to return, helping to retain talent boost our economy as they ‘Stay Local but Go Far’.”