For both, the internship offered something they weren’t necessarily expecting: the chance to discover just how many opportunities exist on their doorstep in North Wales.
For Llio, returning home to North Wales after a year studying in Lisbon came with some uncertainty about what the summer would hold.
“Unlike many of my friends, who were returning to cities like London, Cardiff, Frankfurt or Boston, I was returning home to North Wales, which, you could say, doesn’t have quite the same reputation for work experience opportunities.”
She had expected another summer working in hospitality before returning to Bristol for her final year studying Economics. Instead, she found an eight-week Business Support Internship at M-SParc.
Catrin was also looking for something that would give her valuable professional experience after finishing her final year at university. Having spent previous summers working in hospitality, she wanted an opportunity that would benefit her future career.
“Then this internship was sent to me by my sister, and I thought, this is perfect!”
On their first day, the two interns met each other and were introduced to the M-SParc and Business Wales teams, before getting started on an eight-week programme covering a surprisingly broad range of work.
One of their first experiences was shadowing different Business Wales teams, including the AI, Decarbonisation, Digital and Mentoring teams.
This gave them an insight into the range of support available to Welsh SMEs, from specialist advice to funding and business development.
“It was interesting to see just how many different areas businesses can receive support in,” Catrin said, “and how important this support is when developing a business.”
For Llio, the experience also provided an opportunity to see how businesses can use new technology in practice. AI became a recurring theme throughout her internship, particularly through working alongside the Business Wales AI Advisors.
She learned how SMEs can adopt AI safely and responsibly to improve productivity and ease workloads, knowledge she expects to take with her into her final year at university and beyond.
The interns were also given the opportunity to work on their own projects and get involved in real business decisions.
One of their biggest projects was developing a proposal for a new STEM kit that M-SParc could potentially sell.
The project involved researching the market, developing a financial model, identifying suppliers and logistics, creating a marketing plan and analysing potential demand. They then presented their proposal to the M-SParc team.
For Llio, it became one of the highlights of the internship.
“It was such a varied piece of work that ended up receiving fantastic feedback, and I really hope to see the work continued, and maybe one day seen in Clwb Sparci.”
They also had the opportunity to sit in on investment pitches, watching businesses present their ideas to Angel Investors.
“It felt like real life Dragons’ Den,” said Llio.
The experience gave them an insight into how entrepreneurs communicate their ideas, respond to challenging questions and demonstrate the potential of their businesses to investors.
They also helped review applications for Haf Mentrus, M-SParc’s fully funded programme supporting young people as they develop their own business ideas, before meeting the successful applicants during their time at Ar Y Lôn in Bangor.
Their work wasn’t limited to the M-SParc office.
At Ar Y Lôn in Bangor, they carried out research into how the space is being used and how it could be developed further. They reviewed marketing and event data, analysed footfall and Eventbrite information, interviewed staff and local users, and got involved in activities including STEM workshops and Caffi Trwsio.
For Catrin, speaking directly to people who use the space was a particularly valuable part of the experience.
“This gave us the opportunity to step outside of the office environment and speak directly to people who use the service, which was something I enjoyed.”
Llio described Ar Y Lôn as a brilliant community space, giving them the chance to see the impact of M-SParc’s work on the high street, including opportunities for upskilling and co-working.
Over the eight weeks, the interns also attended events and conferences, representing M-SParc at events including the FSB Wales Conference and the AI Conference in Aberystwyth.
These experiences allowed them to meet people from different businesses and organisations, build their professional networks and see how the ideas they were working on fitted into the wider Welsh business community.
For Catrin, the experience helped her understand how the knowledge gained through university can be applied in a professional environment.
“I feel like I have gained more than just experience to add to my CV. I have developed my confidence, improved my communication and presentation skills, gained an understanding of how organisations work, and had the opportunity to see how ideas can be developed into real projects.”
As their internship comes to an end, both Catrin and Llio are taking away more than professional experience.
For Llio, the experience has changed her perception of the opportunities available in North Wales.
“From working here, I’ve become aware of the amazing work M-SParc does for the community, local businesses and young people, and learnt there are a lot more opportunities closer to home than I assumed.”
Catrin leaves with greater confidence, new skills and a better understanding of how her university experience can translate into the workplace.
“Most importantly I have had the chance to experience a professional environment outside of university and understand how the knowledge I have gained throughout my degree can be applied in the real world.”
And before they finish, there was one final first for both interns: recording a podcast together with M-SParc’s Skills & Outreach Manager, Emily.
The podcast gave them a chance to reflect on the experience, the projects they had worked on and what they had learned during their eight weeks.
For Llio, it was an ideal way to bring such a busy internship to a close.
“It was something I’d never done before, and honestly an ideal way to wrap up eight weeks and properly process everything we’d learned.”
As they head towards their next chapters, both interns leave with new skills, new connections and a much clearer idea of what a career can look like beyond university.
For Catrin, that means travelling in January with the reassurance that she has gained valuable experience before heading off.
For Llio, it means returning to Bristol for her final year with a new appreciation for what is happening much closer to home.
And for M-SParc, it means saying goodbye to two interns who have spent eight weeks getting stuck in, asking questions and contributing ideas of their own.
Diolch Llio and Catrin, and all the best for the future.
tom@m-sparc.com
Tom used to work at the KFC in his hometown of Colwyn Bay before it mysteriously burned down. He then spent several years “on the lam” in East Germany, where he worked as an animator in Berlin. When the wall fell, Tom came home.
He enjoys climbing and hates ice-skating.