Earlier this month, DRD Partnership ran our third annual Summer School, delivered with our partner organisation Future First. The three-day programme gives eight brilliant sixth form students an inside look at careers in strategic communications, public affairs, media and law — sectors that can be difficult to access without direct exposure.

Over three days, students spent time with professionals across sectors, visited organisations shaping policy and public debate, and developed practical skills to help with next steps.

This year’s programme

Day one: the world of PR and public affairs

The programme kicked off at DRD’s offices with an introduction to the fundamentals of PR and public affairs, with sessions led by DRD on routes into the industry, core skills, and what the work looks like in practice. Members of the DRD team shared their career journeys and gave their insights into what a day in the life in the industry can look like.

In the afternoon, students headed to Parliament for a guided visit, a discussion with the office of Rachel Blake MP and had the opportunity to observe a debate in the House of Lords. This provided a unique chance to understand policymaking in action and what working in Westminster really involves.

Day two: the world of digital communicatons and law

Day two combined digital communications and law. First up was a  visit to Snapchat’s London office, where the group met with members of the company’s Marketing and Comms teams to learn how one of the world’s biggest platforms communicates with their stakeholders.

Following this, the group headed to Mishcon de Reya LLP, where students heard directly from legal professionals about the different routes into the sector. The day concluded back at DRD with a CV and cover letter workshop, helping students sharpen their application skills for job applications, internships, or future study.

Day three: Visit to court, crisis comms and interview insights

The final day started with a visit to the Royal Courts of Justice, where students explored the workings of the UK legal system and had the opportunity to sit in on a live court session, allowing students to witness courtroom procedures first-hand.

In the afternoon, back at DRD, students took part in a crisis communications exercise. The programme concluded with mock interviews, where the team at DRD put their acting skills to the test, playing out a good and bad interview. Students observed each scenario, then took part in a discussion to identify what worked well and what could be improved. This gave them the chance to think critically about interview techniques and presentation and develop a clearer sense of what employers are really looking for.