Are you looking for an opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic people in strategic communications, and to learn and develop your skills on some of the most interesting client briefs in the UK and internationally? Are you interested in finding out more about communications from political advisory to crisis and reputation management? Are you interested in working in a growing company, where each person is valued and encouraged to grow? 

Hawthorn Advisors summer internship programme offers participants the opportunity to work with a diverse and specialist team of strategic communications experts, gaining hands on experience across a range of sectors and developing skills across communications disciplines in the following areas:

·       Corporate and financial strategic communications

·       Political advisory and policy

·       Digital

·       Sustainability and purpose

·       Crisis and reputation management

·       Employee engagement

·       International strategic communications

·       Litigation 

To date, Hawthorn has offered permanent positions to candidates from the internship programme, and it is increasingly a key source of talent for the firm. Following the 2024 internship round, Hawthorn intends to offer Analyst positions upon graduation to suitable candidates. 

If you’re looking to launch your career in a place that values curiosity, creativity, and ambition; are eager for interesting, diverse, and challenging work; have a desire to learn; and if you’re seeking to learn from big thinkers who love to collaborate, then we could be the place for you.

With us, you get the opportunity to work across a diverse mix of high-profile clients, industries, and specialisms with some of the most interesting organisations, individuals, and on topical issues. We give our teams the freedom and autonomy to make a real difference, to help our clients achieve great things and continuously strive to grow.

Candidates should have strong academic credentials, demonstrate excellent research and written skills, as well as meticulous attention to detail. They should also be proactive, self-motivated, and thrive when working as part of a team. This internship is targeted at final year students, graduates and those wishing to change careers. You do not need to have any prior experience in communications, but a strong interest in pursuing a career in the industry. 

We are currently seeking applications from final year students, recent graduates and those looking for a change of career who are open to the opportunity of a full-time role as an Analyst at Hawthorn, should they be offered a position, immediately following the internship.

Candidates must be available to work for eight weeks during July and August 2025. Internships are paid the equivalent of £28,808 per annum pro rata for the eight-week period, in line with the London Living Wage. At Hawthorn, we adopt a hybrid working culture with a recommended minimum three days a week spent in our office in Victoria, London.  In order to make the most of your internship, we recommend you work from the office as much as possible.  A laptop will be provided.

Candidates must be fluent in written and spoken English and must have the right to work in the UK.

To apply for the internship, please submit a CV and cover letter of no more than 500 words which answers each of the following questions: 

·       Why are you interested in pursuing a career in strategic communications?

·       What aspect of communications are you most eager to learn about? Why?

·       What skills and/or experiences do you bring to the role?

Hawthorn is committed to being an inclusive workplace and we actively encourage applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds. To encourage this, please note the initial stage of the recruitment process (reviewing and shortlisting applications) will be blind, meaning we will remove personal information from CVs and Cover Letters. This includes Name, Pronouns/Gender, University, and Age (if provided) before sharing with our assessors to ensure an unbiased, fair selection process. Successful shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a written assessment and participate in a virtual interview with members of the team.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 16 February, 2025 at midnight.  Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted.

Hawthorn Advisors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, marriage/civil partnership, or disability. We comply with all applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment and promote an inclusive environment for neurodiversity.

 

About Hawthorn Advisors

We are an independent and dynamic global strategic communications consultancy. We put the client first, building long-term and trusted relationships. We use our expertise to navigate, across digital and traditional communication disciplines, the challenges of our clients’ own businesses and the economic, political, media, social and environmental landscapes in which they operate. 

We pride ourselves on our highly experienced team. The strength of our insights, advice and ideas, underpinned by data and analysis, our diverse network and our extensive experience deliver impactful results in all aspects of our clients’ businesses.  

Our services: For more than 10 years, we’ve worked successfully to shape conversations and deliver change for leaders and organisations globally. Renowned for the quality of our services and our integrated approach, we’ve grown rapidly through word-of-mouth recommendations, our strong reputation for quality advice which delivers results, and our relentless focus on our clients and our people.

Our team: Our greatest asset is our people. We bring together an ambitious senior team with many years of expertise from the highest levels of the corporate, political, media and sustainability worlds.  We draw on in-depth intelligence, strength of creative ideas and extensive expertise across digital and traditional platforms to build communication programmes which reflect our clients’ bold ambitions. We shape conversations and deliver change for clients across economic, political, media, social and environmental spheres as well as within their own internal communities. Building an inclusive culture is vital to our future. We believe the best way to drive collaboration, unlock creativity, and enable innovation is through combining diverse perspectives, experiences, and ideas.