Supporting next generation of innovative talent in Bristol

This year will see 20 young people have access to internships at Future Space in Bristol thanks to programmes funded by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

Future Space resident businesses who are taking part in the programme include Mass Spec Analytical, biotIP, CodexIQ, MTJB Engineering, Service Robotics and HBXL Group.

To mark World Youth Skills Day the team is celebrating the interns, who are all completing eight or 16-week internships at Future Space in engineering, VR, AI, explosives, biomedical sciences and more.

Future Space was launched in 2016 and has so far offered 40 students internships and a chance to pursue their innovative goals.

“I was looking for opportunities to gain work experience. Aimee told me that they’re recruiting here at Future Space through the internship, and now I’m part of the customer service team at Service Robotics,” said Jessika Perdomo, who is from Bogota and has just graduated in Environmental Health at UWE Bristol.

“I help them to communicate better with their users and I’ve also got involved in setting up the robotics. It’s been a very flexible role because it’s a start-up, and that’s what attracted me to the role. The flexibility means you get to learn skills that are transferable.”

“I’ve worked as a carer before and so I have an understanding of the needs of the end user. This combined with the internship has meant I’ve now been offered a full-time role with Service Robotics and I’m so happy because it feels like a family. I didn’t know I was going to enjoy it so much so it has surprised me and I’m excited for the future.”

One of the other Future Space residents who has taken on four interns is Mass Spec Analytical.

Intern at Mass Spec Analytical, Phillippa (pictured above, far left), said: “It’s been great doing the internship alongside other students, and so near to the university and with amazing equipment – the machines we’re working with are the best out there for what we do and now I know this is what I want to do.”

Peter Luke (pictured above, centre right) is Technical Director at Mass Spec Analytical. He says: “We were previously based in Filton but now we’ve moved to Future Space we have a really good connection with the university and they were able to approach us to see if we had any vacancies available over the summer.

“We’re organizing their work and giving them some new skills and equipment to work on. The students have missed out on quite a bit through the pandemic so giving them a chance to catch up with hands-on experience has been really important.”

Claudia (pictured above with Stefan) has just graduated from a degree in Games Tech at UWE and is completing an internship with CodexIQ. She says:

“My degree covered a bit of everything including AI and VR and taught me to create games but also useful interactive software. This is my first time using the skills I’ve learnt in the real world and it has made me realise just how much I enjoy it and I now know this is what I want to do. It’s been ideal having these opportunities right here on campus.

The popular internship scheme is entering its biggest year yet and hopes to continue funding the next generation of innovative talent in the city.

Aimee Skinner, Innovation Manager at Future Space, recently sat on the panel of our Bristol24/7 Presents event looking at how innovators in Bristol can help re-start our economy. She says:

“It is vital for our city’s economy and future that we give the next generation of innovators in Bristol a chance to work at the cutting edge of science and technology.

“This programme also provides funding for Future Space businesses to bring in vital skills to their companies so that they can work on research and kick-start projects that they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to progress. This is especially important right now, when many young people have been cut off from these opportunities due to the pandemic.

“This year we’re delighted to be working with students from every faculty of the university, from photography undergraduates to forensic science masters. Some of them have already been offered full-time employment here and we’re all looking forward to seeing where it might take them in the future.”

Main photo: Mass Spec Analytical interns and staff at Future Space

Read More: Bristol experts on how innovation fast-forwards economic recovery