A month in the life as a Sustainability Graduate Intern

Posted on: 16 October 2024 in Issue 8

Last month, we were delighted to welcome our new Sustainability Graduate Intern, Grace Trotman to the Sustainability Team at the University of Liverpool. In her first blog, she highlights her expectations, experience, and learnings from a very busy first month with us.

Hi, I’m Grace and I am the new Sustainability Graduate Intern at the University of Liverpool, focusing on marketing, communications and engagement within the University’s Sustainability Team. It has been an exciting first month, full of learning, collaboration and creativity, and I’m thrilled to share a glimpse into what I’ve been working on.

About me 

I recently graduated from the University of Liverpool with a degree in Geography, with sustainability being a focus throughout my studies. My dissertation, which examined sustainable consumption and the complex challenges posed by greenwashing marketing practices, ignited my passion for the intersection of sustainability with communications and marketing. This experience deepened my awareness of the critical importance of transparency in marketing, particularly as it relates to fostering genuine sustainable practices. It also highlighted how organisations can align their strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), driving meaningful, positive change while building trust with stakeholders – fuelling my interest to incorporate these principles into my career.

From a young age, I’ve always been passionate about the environment, but I’ve also enjoyed the more creative side of projects, whether it was experimenting with photography in my personal life or creating graphics for assignments using tools like Canva and Adobe Express. This creativity naturally aligns with my interest in sustainable marketing, making this graduate internship the perfect role to blend both passions. 

Like many recent graduates, I felt anxious about the uncertainty of the post-university path. As much as I was excited to dive into the professional world, the process of finding the right job for me felt overwhelming. Thankfully, I utilised the University’s career platform, Handshake, to find this graduate role. After taking time to research the position, work on my application and power through the nerves of my first graduate interview process, I was lucky enough to be selected for the role! I am so grateful for the university’s career resources, which helped me navigate this transition from student to professional.

Week one - A new perspective 

Although I had spent the last three years at the University of Liverpool, starting as a member of staff felt completely different. It was as if I were seeing the campus with fresh eyes, no longer a naïve fresher attending lectures, but a part of the incredible team working behind the scenes to drive sustainability ambitions forward.

My first week began on September 9th with a warm welcome from the Sustainability Team. I was introduced to my colleagues and taken on a campus tour, offering me a fresh perspective on familiar surroundings and helping me settle into my new role. We also enjoyed a team lunch, which made me feel so welcome and at ease right from the start, but also gave me a chance to learn more about my new colleagues outside of the office.

My induction week mostly consisted of completing training courses and getting used to the various platforms I’d be using, including tools for social media and website management. With the help of my amazing new manager Kate, I gained a clear sense of the variety of tasks I’d be involved in, which made me so eager to get started. While I had used design tools like Canva in the past, the challenge of using them in a professional capacity, while adhering to the University’s branding, added a new layer of excitement to my role.

Week two - Welcome Week madness 

My second week coincided with the University’s annual Welcome Week, a busy and exciting time for everyone, including the Sustainability Team. My main task was helping to organise and host our Sustainability Welcome Stall, where we introduced both new and returning students to the sustainability opportunities they can get involved with on campus. It was my first time experiencing Welcome Week from a staff perspective, and I was in awe at the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes from all departments to make everything run smoothly.

The stall gave me the chance to engage directly with students, answering questions about all things sustainability and showing how they could make more sustainable choices during their time at university. It was so rewarding to meet students who had a genuine passion for sustainability, and it reminded me of the positive impacts we can encourage through communication and engagement.

This week also marked the debut of my first social media post for the University’s social media channels! I used to Canva to create an engaging graphic series to promote our sustainability efforts to new students, it was so fulfilling to see it published and receive positive feedback from my colleagues.

As part of my role, I was also enrolled in the Grad+ Professional Development Programme – a twelve-week course designed to support graduates as they transition into the world of careers. It’s an exciting opportunity for both personal and professional development, as well as a fantastic way to meet other graduates in similar roles, both within the University and externally. The networking opportunities are invaluable, I have completed two sessions so far and am looking forward to see how this programme will help me grow my career confidence further!

Week three - Taking on more responsibility 

By the third week, I was starting to feel more settled in my role and was taking on more responsibilities, having the opportunity to contribute to some exciting projects. Kate and I collaborated with our Waste and Recycling Officer, Sam, to publish a blog focusing on the waste reduction achievements of the University. The blog highlighted Sam’s success in reducing waste across campus in line with our 2025 target, showing how his initiatives are helping the University get closer and closer to our ambitious goals. To accompany the blog, I also created an informative waste reduction graphic for social media. The post aimed to raise awareness of the waste achievements  and promote the new blog to both staff and students. It was such a great opportunity to showcase the positive changes and the hard work happening behind the scenes.

Week four - Fairtrade 

The fourth week wrapped up my first month, and just like the others, it did not disappoint! In this week, I collaborated with Alex, one of our Sustainability Officers at the University to organise and host a Fairtrade coffee tasting event with Grumpy Mule Coffee for International Coffee Day. Our goal was to raise awareness of ethical sourcing and the importance of Fairtrade in supporting sustainable coffee farming practices. To promote the event, I created two social media posts to help drive engagement across campus and inform our followers about Fairtrade. Overall, it has been a busy and productive month!

What's next? 

Reflecting on my first month as a Graduate Sustainability Intern, I can’t believe how much I have learned, contributed to, and the diverse experiences I’ve gained already. This role is proving to be the perfect blend of my passions for sustainability and communications, and I feel so lucky to be a part of such a great team. It has been an incredible start, and with the upcoming launch of the new Sustainability Strategy and the third annual Sustainability Week on the horizon, I’m excited to see what the upcoming months will bring!