Nicholas Adams, Strategy & Performance Assistant
After leaving Sheffield Hallam University in May, I returned to my home town of Solihull and began my search for work. In July I sent my CV to Orbit offering my services on a volunteer basis to gain some office based experience, and after an interview and a week of waiting I was put to work.
My first month was spent working with other members of the Strategy and External Affairs team on various research projects, whilst I was given an individual research assignment on the Private Rented Housing Market which I was to present to Group CEO Paul Tenant and Orbit Homes MD Paul High at the end of the month… Talk about a baptism of fire! Thankfully the presentation and following discussion was a success and has now led to 2nd phase investigations which I am working on with other members of the team.
Month two was spent working on a number of projects for both Service Matters and Orbit Academy amongst other departments. Towards the end of month two I received the great news that Orbit were hoping to offer me a contract as its first ever ‘intern’. A few weeks later I received my contract, which I preceded to sign before anyone could change their mind, and am now working full-time in the Strategy and External Affairs team as Strategy and Performance Assistant on a 6-month internship.
Month three, my first in ‘proper’ employment, began with a meeting to discuss future reinforcement of the ‘Service Matters’ brand, and has been interspersed with training and induction sessions each of which have shed gradually more light on my role, the role of my team and the role of Orbit as a whole.
Over my time with Orbit I have been struck not only by the friendliness, knowledge and motivation of all colleagues with whom I came into contact, but also with the company’s apparent desire to be a force for good in what are turbulent times when it is all too easy to look after number 1 and forget about the rest.
I have also already spent some time with other teams like the Sustainable Investment Team at Heart of England and I am looking forward to working with others – one of the great ideas about an internship is the idea of rotating to work for different departments.
It’s also quite interesting to read and hear about the current debate raging in the media about interns and their exploitation. For my part I am thankful for the opportunities afforded to me and am now looking forward to working within Orbit as we move from Good to Great.
Tags: good to great, intern, internship, Orbit, Orbit Academy, performance, Strategy
