The Brilliant Club

PhD internships with The Brilliant Club: applications now open!

In our job pack, PhD students can find all the relevant information about what an internship with us is like, including requirements regarding funding and important logistics about doing an internship. The advertised projects are for start dates in 26/27 and cover a range of areas across the charity – including fundraising, partnerships and evaluation: https://bit.ly/421GsRd

It's important to note that we don’t pay interns and we require interns to have their own funding to cover their salary during the 3-month project period.

⏰️Apply by Friday 19th June, 5pm here: https://bit.ly/4tAVSYk

👂Hear from a former intern here: https://bit.ly/4so6lWI

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact [email protected].

PhD internship experience at The Brilliant Club: William Smith Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

1 week left to register!

💻 Webinar - Developing key stills: Effective enrichment in secondary schools
📆 Thursday 11th June, 4pm

In this best practice webinar run by SecEd, we will consider practical ideas for academic enrichment activities in secondary schools that develop key skills and effectively prepare students for higher education.

An expert panel featuring our Chief Engagement Officer, Sabrina Luisi will identify the skills that are most important for further and higher education and the modern workplace before discussing how enrichment activities and learning beyond the curriculum can teach and enhance these skills.

You can learn more about the webinar and register here: https://bit.ly/4nFvuek

Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.

Today, we joined our partners in the Social Mobility Alliance at the House of Commons - bringing together MPs, employers, and young people to push for real change on social mobility.

This morning, young people shared their experiences directly with decision-makers. Together, we made the case for action on:

💼 Routes into employment – making internships and apprenticeships work for social mobility, rather than shutting out those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

🎓 Opportunities in education - closing the attainment gap and making work experience more accessible for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

🤝 Building diverse workforces - making the case for socioeconomic background reporting for large employers and closing class pay gaps.

The Social Mobility Alliance is a coalition of leading organisations working together to tackle class inequality and open up opportunity for young people across the UK; we’re proud to stand alongside our fellow members: upReach, The Social Mobility Foundation, The Sutton Trust, Futures For All, Co-op, Bridge Group, Career Ready, and EY Foundation.

With Social Mobility Day just around the corner, the conversation couldn't be more timely.

A huge thanks to Andrew Ranger - MP for Wrexham and PwC for sponsoring the event and to our young ambassadors Mia Taylor-Seal and Joshua Killilea for representing The Brilliant Club and sharing their stories.

Today we’re celebrating the 3,966 students from 311 schools and colleges who attended 59 graduation events across 34 of our partner higher education institutions this April and May, getting the opportunity to learn more about life at university and celebrate their academic achievements on The Scholars Programme, which you can find out more about on our website: https://bit.ly/3tPlj9D

📷 Schools pictured: Gateacre School, The Wisbech Academy, Havant Academy

Congratulations to all the graduates, and a huge thank you to all involved in making these events a memorable and educational experience for our Scholars. We couldn’t do it without you!

💻 Webinar: School Fundraising
📆 Wednesday 17th June, 4pm

Register here: https://bit.ly/4nWj3ef

Join Hannah Bekkers from our School Partnerships team and guest speaker Gerry Griffiths, Fundraising Officer at The Brilliant Club, to learn more about fundraising for your school.

Topics covered:

- How teachers and leaders can find grant opportunities relevant to their schools
- Tips for writing grant applications and ideas for other activities to help fundraise to run The Scholars Programme at your school.

New Office for National Statistics data reveals that nearly 1 in 8 young people are now NEET – the highest rate since 2013.

This is a worrying trend, which disproportionately impacts young people from less advantaged backgrounds.

We know that each step up the qualification ladder halves the risk of being NEET in early adulthood. Yet stark attainment gaps persist at every level of education and Pupil Premium support to improve educational outcomes ends abruptly when students finish their GCSEs.

With the cumulative annual cost of 1 million NEET young people standing at £125 billion, urgent action is required.

👉 Extending disadvantage funding to post-16 education is an essential part of the solution to this growing crisis.

This funding – introduced via a Student Premium - would give colleges and sixth forms the resources they need to support more young people to gain vital qualifications for:

staying engaged in education ✅
moving into rewarding employment 💼
avoiding becoming NEET 🚫

This is both an economic and moral imperative; and a vital tool for driving social mobility. As Alan Milburn's interim report states, "education should be the bridge between childhood and the world of work".

Read more about the proposals to introduce a Student Premium, championed by The Brilliant Club and sector partners, here: https://getfurther.org.uk/student-premium-coalition/

The Sutton Trust, Fair Education Alliance, The Tutor Trust, Get Further, The Access Project, Impetus, Learning and Work Institute / Sefydliad Dysgu a Gwaith, Causeway Education, Association of School and College Leaders, Villiers Park Educational Trust

💻 Webinar - Developing key stills: Effective enrichment in secondary schools
📆 Thursday 11th June, 4pm

In this best practice webinar run by SecEd, we will consider practical ideas for academic enrichment activities in secondary schools that develop key skills and effectively prepare students for higher education.

An expert panel featuring our Chief Engagement Officer, Sabrina Luisi will identify the skills that are most important for further and higher education and the modern workplace before discussing how enrichment activities and learning beyond the curriculum can teach and enhance these skills.

You can learn more about the webinar and register here: https://bit.ly/4nFvuek

“I designed my Scholars Programme course on engineered biomembranes because climate change and energy insecurity are at the heart of my PhD research in biotechnology as we seek innovative biological solutions. By showing how re‑engineering microbial membranes can improve sustainable biofuel production, pupils see that cutting‑edge biotechnology is directly connected to the future of our planet.

"Tutoring on the programme has been transformative for me: guiding students through genuine research questions while widening access to universities is one of the most meaningful parts of my doctoral journey.”

PhD researchers like Olamide are teaching courses in schools across the UK through The Scholars Programme. Applications are now open in key areas, find out more here: https://bit.ly/4kvqvuN

Applications close TOMORROW for Year 12 students to apply to our fully funded summer schools at Imperial College London – and there’s just one month left to apply to the Turing Summer Experience!

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⚗️ Imperial Chemistry Scholars
📅 29–31 July (in person, Imperial South Kensington)

Students will take part in a Chemistry-focused programme delivered by a PhD tutor from within the department, spend time with other academics and student ambassadors exploring what life at Imperial has to offer, and develop the skills you need to make a successful application to the Imperial Chemistry department. You’ll need to be able to access the TfL travel network and reach the campus within one hour via free bus travel.

🕛 Students can apply here by Friday 12pm: https://bit.ly/3NKfyde

🌱 Imperial Life Sciences Scholars
📅 27–31 July (online)

Students will take part in a Biology or Biochemistry-focused programme delivered by a PhD tutor from within the Life Sciences department. You’ll take part in online sessions, have access to academic and student ambassador support and take part in virtual tours and workshops to support your developing knowledge and next steps for applying to university.

🕛 Students can apply here by Friday 12pm: https://bit.ly/41vvNhk

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Turing Summer Experience

📍 Manchester (3rd–7th August) - apply here: https://bit.ly/4dmH1vF
📍 Birmingham (10th–14th August) - apply here: https://bit.ly/42MfAoM
📍 London (17th–21st August) - apply here: https://bit.ly/4eYD2Xi

Students will take part in a week-long programme designed by The Alan Turing Institute, exploring data science and artificial intelligence through practical activities, challenges and expert-led sessions.

Participants will be supported by experts and introduced to a wide range of study and career pathways in AI, including roles in industry, defence and the intelligence agencies.

🕛 Students can apply using the links above by Thursday 19th.

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These opportunities are fully funded and particularly aimed at students from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education. Please share with your networks so we can get the word out to students who may benefit!