Rural broadband provider Quickline is continuing its commitment to improving employability by giving young people the opportunity to gain real-world experience through its internship programme.
The initiative forms part of East Yorkshire-based Quickline’s wider commitment to delivering lasting social value through Project Gigabit, the UK Government-funded programme bringing fast, reliable, gigabit-capable broadband to rural communities that would otherwise miss out.
As well as transforming digital connectivity, Quickline is helping create opportunities for local people to develop skills, gain workplace experience and build future careers.
Over the summer period, university students Shana Blaize and David Betancourth have been embedded within the Social Value team, contributing to projects that have made a genuine difference to communities across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire while developing valuable workplace skills.
Rather than observing from the sidelines, both interns took on meaningful responsibilities spanning community engagement, STEM education, social impact measurement and data analysis, giving them first-hand experience of life in a fast-growing telecommunications business.
Shana, who is studying Computer Science at the University of Hull, said the opportunity to combine technology with community impact was what attracted her to Quickline.
She said: “The role wasn’t just about gaining workplace experience – it was about being involved in projects that directly impact people. I’ve learned how teams collaborate, how projects are delivered and how important communication is. It’s given me confidence and shown me how my university skills can be applied in industry.”
During her placement, Shana supported digital skills workshops, community events and careers sessions, while also spending time with Quickline’s Data team to explore how technology supports business decision-making.
For David, who is studying a dual degree in Mechatronics Engineering at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science at the University of Hull, the internship offered the chance to apply his technical knowledge to projects with a real social purpose.
He worked on Social Return on Investment analysis for Quickline’s community programmes, helping measure the impact of initiatives including the company’s Project Gigabit partnership with South Yorkshire Community Foundation.
“I wanted somewhere that would give me real responsibility rather than just shadowing people,” he said. “That’s exactly what I found. The experience has even introduced me to a career path in impact measurement that I’d never considered before.”
Outside of analytical work, David also represented Quickline at a number of STEM events, helping inspire young people considering careers in engineering and technology.
Both interns said they had been surprised by the supportive culture at Quickline and the importance placed on delivering social value alongside commercial success.
Looking ahead, Shana hopes to build a career in technology before one day creating an academy to help young people develop digital skills, while David plans to specialise in industrial artificial intelligence.
Reflecting on their experience, both encouraged other students to take advantage of opportunities like the Quickline internship programme.
Shana described it as “an opportunity to learn, contribute and grow”, while David’s advice was simple: “Apply – and then say yes to everything.”
Ash Cane, Quickline’s Social Value Lead for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, said: “It’s been a pleasure to welcome Shana and David to Quickline and watch the confidence and capability they’ve developed. They embraced opportunities, brought fresh ideas and different perspectives to the team, and made a real contribution to our work.
“Supporting young people as they take their first steps into the workplace is something we’re really proud of, and these internships are a great example of how we’re helping develop future talent while learning from the next generation ourselves.”
Quickline’s internship programme forms part of the company’s wider commitment to creating opportunities for local people, improving employability and inspiring the next generation through education, skills development and meaningful workplace experience.
Students interested in joining Quickline can find out more about internships and career opportunities on the company’s careers page.
