About me: I’m Toe Pyae, a recent Politics and International Relations graduate from SOAS, University of London. In July, I joined DeHavilland for four weeks as a Policy Intern through the Taylor Bennett Foundation’s Summer Stars programme, which turned out to be one of the most eye-opening experiences of my professional journey so far.
A new partnership, a new opportunity
This summer, I had the privilege of joining DeHavilland as part of the Taylor Bennett Foundation (TBF)’s Summer Stars programme, which is an annual initiative dedicated to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within the PR and Communications industry. As the first-ever intern to join through this partnership, my four weeks were not only a chance to contribute to meaningful work with a talented and welcoming team, but also an opportunity to step inside a fast-paced, unique branch of PR and Comms: the world of public affairs (and political monitoring).
From covering sectoral round-up stories to writing daily debriefs and despatches, and exploring the nuances of UK politics, the experience has been both professionally enriching and personally fulfilling. Thus, I wanted to share my honest reflections, tips and insights from my time here so future interns, whether through TBF or otherwise, can make the most out of every opportunity at DeHavilland.
Getting started: first impressions and settling in
On my first day at DeHavilland, I remembered looking around the office filled with excitement and nerves: full of desks and computers, people glued to screens yet still laughing and chatting with colleagues nearby, mugs of coffee within arm’s reach. It struck me immediately as a place where curiosity, collaboration and attention to detail were key to a successful workday.
After meeting my manager Hattie Ireland, I received a comprehensive onboarding schedule of presentations, explainer videos and one-on-one chats with Policy Team members to learn more about DeHavilland and their individual career journeys. My introduction to the team was quite warm and welcoming. My colleagues not only scheduled time out of their day to explain their roles and answer my questions but also made me understand the value of my work and contributions to DeHavilland’s mission.
However, the onboarding process at DeHavilland is fast-paced and nothing like I expected. What really stood out for me was that during my first two days, I didn’t have much to do except watch videos, scroll through PowerPoints or observe and interact with my colleagues but on my third day, I immediately sprung into action by covering my first debrief story and aviation round-up. In the morning, I was given a tutorial to writing round-ups by a colleague, and by that afternoon, I had jotted down all the notes and opened tabs for the news stories I would be covering to be released that evening. From then on, Hattie really encouraged me to be more proactive by asking around colleagues for tasks to do and shaping this internship around what I wanted to learn. This not only gave me the much needed context to navigate the fast-moving UK political landscape, but also the courage to take true ownership of my time and make each day count, which made me feel instantly trusted and included in the team.
What I worked on
During my time at DeHavilland, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of tasks that gave me a front-row seat in UK public affairs. When I had joined DeHavilland, I was set on primarily focusing on the Education sector as it was a policy area I had been most passionate about, so I contributed to round-ups, shadow committee hearings and identify news developments within education whenever I can. What really helped was how open the Education team was in allowing me to write round-up stories and clarifying any doubts.
However, my curiosity did not stop me from collaborating with colleagues beyond Education, working on a lot of sectoral round-up stories and debriefs, mapping out relevant stakeholders for clients, and even contributing to marketing which gave me a wide exposure to different sectors and understanding of how different aspects of society interact with our day-to-day political landscape. Each task, from client-facing content that I enjoyed to behind-the-scenes admin that were not my cup of tea, felt purposeful and directly connected to delivering value for clients.
Skills that I’ve gained
One of the most rewarding parts of these four weeks was the steep but thrilling learning curve in such a brief period. Each and every task really amped up my ability to work efficiently without compromising on accuracy or quality. As a perfectionist, this was one of the struggles that I faced when I joined DeHavilland but the supportive and encouraging environment really helped me to realise that you can still offer the details and maintain high-quality delivery to your clients. I’ve developed this sharper eye for detail, writing under pressure and confidence in dissecting very political and policy-oriented resources.
Most importantly, I learned not to be scared but to adapt to my environment. Whether that is asking for feedback or tasks from my colleagues or even signing office birthday cards, I felt more motivated every day to be more expressive and independent, while still being resourceful and cooperative with the team.
What made it meaningful
Beyond the tasks, projects or skills, what truly made my experience meaningful was the people. From being a quiet and unsure person on my first day to a confident and proactive person on my last, my colleagues across all teams truly created this sense of belonging, not just by taking the time to explain tasks or answer questions, but also inviting me to their socials and taking an interest in my personal and professional journey. That made me feel comfortable in contributing my ideas and asking for guidance.
I also valued the regular check-ins I had with Hattie, who not only provided encouragement, but also constructive feedback based on her own experience and space to reflect on my progress. These check-ins (and the chance to attend weekly Policy Team meetings) made me feel seen and valued not just as an intern, but as a valuable team player.
My advice for future interns
- Come curious and stay curious
This internship at DeHavilland is as much about exploring the UK political landscape as it is about understanding how a fast-paced, client-focused organisation functions every day. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or put yourself out there – you’ll be surprised to know how many people are willing to give you tasks that will put you at the forefront of client-facing work.
- Make the most of the people around you
As an intern at DeHavilland, the world is truly your oyster. Do not limit yourself to working within one policy area or sector or waiting for messages in your inbox. Colleagues are really generous with their knowledge so take the initiative to join team socials (i.e. post-lunch walks, coffee, free cake), ask for feedback and learn from different teams within Policy or even a whole other team like Marketing!
- Keep yourself productive but don’t fear saying no
There is often pressure on interns to perform really well and stand out to their managers (trust me, I had this too). So when the opportunity comes, it’s tempting to take on as many responsibilities as possible. However, at the end of the day, people are aware that you are there to support everyone’s work so if asked to take on tasks, don’t be shy to clear up if or how much of the task you can handle. What matters is the outcome, not just the quantity.
Final thoughts
If I could sum up my internship at DeHavilland in one single word, it would be eye-opening. I came three years ago to the UK from Myanmar (Burma) to pursue my higher education dreams and I often faced the question of what would I do growing up. As a Politics student, the only expectations set on me was to become a politician or completely leave the passion behind but I never would have thought that today, I would gain a newfound calling for a career that balanced both my deep interest in politics and my desire to work in a professional and impactful environment.
By sharing these tips and thoughts, I hope to have inspired you and encourage everyone, regardless of your background, to pursue a career in public affairs or take the initiative to break barriers and inspire more people wherever you choose to go. Leaving with professional growth and lasting connections, I know this internship has been a milestone in my career – one I will treasure and carry forward with genuine appreciation. And perhaps, one day, it could be yours too.
