When we joined Vested for our eight-week internship, we had very little knowledge of financial PR or what life at a specialist communications agency would really be like. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much we’ve learnt in such a short space of time.

From day one, we were encouraged to get involved. Working alongside both the UK and US teams gave us an insight into the variety of work that goes into running an international agency and showed us just how collaborative agency life can be.

We quickly got to grips with tools such as Qwoted, Muck Rack and Signal, which helped us find what we were looking for faster and more efficiently. Weekly meetings with clients from different sectors within the industry enabled us to understand what contributed to the work that goes into Vested. Particularly, meetings like weekly editorials where we discuss what’s going on in the news agenda and how it might impact our clients helped us learn how to cover daily news sweeps.

One of the highlights was attending the many events that took place during our internship, hosted by Vested’s partners Qwoted & Financial Narrative. It gave us the chance to meet people working across financial services, communications and journalism, making the industry feel much more accessible than we had imagined.

What surprised us most wasn’t the work itself, but the culture. Before joining Vested, we expected financial PR to feel quite formal and intimidating. Instead, we found a team that was welcoming, supportive and always willing to answer questions. Everyone took the time to explain things, involve us in conversations and encourage us to contribute, even when we were still finding our feet.

Like any new experience, there were challenges. At first, speaking up in meetings and sharing progress updates felt daunting. But over time, we realised that asking questions wasn’t seen as a weakness, it was encouraged. The more we put ourselves forward, the more our confidence grew.

If we could offer one piece of advice to future interns, it would be to make the most of every opportunity. Be curious, ask questions, seek feedback and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. The experience goes by much faster than you expect.

We want to give our thanks to our fellow Vesties for supporting us and making us feel a part of this wonderful team, in particular to our amazing line managers Ronke Ogunnusi and Amy Lauder and our programme leader Amelia Saxton.

This internship has allowed us to grow as individuals in the workplace, as well as help us improve our skills in our day-to-day lives. 

About our internship programme

At Vested, we’re committed to creating more accessible pathways into financial services marketing and communications. Our internship programme gives students hands-on experience working alongside our UK and US teams, building practical skills, confidence and industry knowledge through meaningful client work.

We work closely with partners including City St George’s University and the Taylor Bennett Foundation to help open opportunities for talented people from a wide range of backgrounds, supporting greater diversity across the communications industry. By investing in the next generation, we’re helping build a stronger, more representative future for financial services marketing.