We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Communications and Partnerships – Intern

Role Purpose

To support planning and delivery of British Council South Africa’s work in line with our strategic objectives. The role will provide a highly motivated beginner/recent entrant to the workforce a learning experience that will help them build essential work skills in a dynamic organisational environment and cultivate a strong foundation for their professional life.

Role Context

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Our vision is a more peaceful and prosperous world built on trust and mutual understanding. We make a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives via work in Arts and culture, education and the English language. We share the best of the UK, learn from the best around the world, and work with young people, influencers, future leaders, and institutions across the world to make a difference.

The British Council works with partners in more than 100 countries to realise positive change, particularly for young people. Our work includes providing technical leadership and management of complex, multi-stakeholder programmes, forming trusted partnerships that shape new approaches to tackling profound challenges, led by local communities, and informed by international best practice.

We work primarily with young people between 18 – 35-year of age and with constituents who have the capacity to help maximise positive outcomes for young people and the systems that support them, including improved opportunities for employability. We partner with like-minded organisations to enhance our ability to scale and to make a difference in sustainable, meaningful ways for the long term.

The internship is a professional development opportunity aimed at enabling a talented new entrant/recent joiner to the world of work to build a strong start to their career and contribute to our work in a mutually beneficial way. Priority will be given to individuals from formally disadvantaged backgrounds, marginalised communities and/or living with disability.

Main Accountabilities:

The accountabilities focus on equipping the intern to grow knowledge, skills and confidence and deliver tangible results performing the following specific functions working with and learning from more experienced colleagues.

1. Communications:

• Contribute to social media strategies to enhance the British Council’s online presence.
• Actively assist in improving and embedding digital communication and their use in the Directorate.
• Learn to track and report on the performance of content across different channels.
• Learn to create visually appealing and engaging high-level video content and digital assets for internal and external use.
• Collaborate with the communications team to conceptualise and produce multimedia assets for campaigns and events.
• With the support of the Country Director (CD) and Marketing and Communication (MarComs) colleagues, contribute to the development and implementation of a 2-pronged country level communications plan that will build the Country Director’s (CD), Country Leadership Team’s (CLT) and Directorate’s national social media and digital profile, highlighting our impact and areas of expertise.
• This will include contributing to and coordinating communication activities and documents, writing impact stories, awareness raising, assist in report writing etc.

20. learning: How to use communications and effective communications tools to help build an inclusive and coherent culture and enhance the external profile of the British Council to deliver on strategic objectives (internal and external)

2. Partnership Development:

• Support Business Development manager and programme teams with research that will enable stakeholder mapping and the identification of potential new partnerships.
• Develop stakeholder databases
• Present progress and findings alongside the BD manager to Country Leadership Team Assist in the identification and building of productive partnerships with internal stakeholder’s, including across the UK in South Africa platform (British High Commission, Department for Business and Trade etc.,) to produce and help deliver creative ideas for one-off and enduring events and engagements that build relationships and showcase the impactful work of the British Council.

The learning: How evidence-based research and sustainable partnerships contribute to the delivery of strategic objectives.

3. Programme Support:

• Provide monitoring and evaluation administrative support as required
• Assist in the delivery and promotion of internal and external events and activities, collaborating closely with internal teams, partners, and stakeholders.

20. learning: the value and role of strong leadership, planning and communication in ensuring success and how to multi-task, prioritise and deliver across multiple and competing workstreams to achieve this.

All duties and responsibilities will be in line with our Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy, Safeguarding and other British Council corporate policies. Persons living with disabilities and previously disadvantaged will be prioritised.

Qualification Requirements

Minimum requirements:

• Must be a graduate in Marketing, Communications, Social Sciences or be a new/recent entrant to the workforce.
• Must hold an equivalent qualification (Certificate/Diploma/Degree.
• A Degree will be desirable.

Role specific skills

• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Computer literacy and basic digital skills- using social media platforms (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc.,) and Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and TEAMS.
• Basic understanding of desk-based research and reporting.
• High degree of professionalism and integrity.

Role specific knowledge and experience

Minimum/essential

• Report writing, research and analytical skills.
• Able to conduct a presentation and has basic understanding of the key marcoms basic principles.
• Strong interest in education, skills, youth empowerment and/or the creative economies and arts.
• Commitment to learning

Desirable

• Active participation on social media platforms or able to demonstrate

Additional Information

Contract Duration – 12 months

Location – South Africa

Role holder must have existing rights to live and work in South Africa.

Language requirements: The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. Written and verbal proficiency in English is required

Closing Date – 27 February 2025 (Applications will close 23:59 Central Africa Time)

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.