Stafford PR consultancy uses University intern scheme to  make permanent appointment 

Stafford based technical PR consultancy Stone Junction has appointed a permanent member of staff, following an internship organised through Staffordshire University. Oana Baetica, a Coventry University graduate, joined Stone Junction as an intern for one month and was offered a full time role as an account executive at the end of March.

The Staffordshire University intern scheme is part funded by a wage subsidy provided by the Higher Education Innovation Fund and is available to all West Midlands small companies and SMEs as well as larger businesses from qualifying sectors. Stone Junction believes that the availability of this scheme, and countless others like it across the UK, further condemns the scandalous practice of using unpaid interns as free labour.

After a successful 2010, in which the company won several significant contracts, Stone Junction chose to give a hard working graduate the opportunity to shine in public relations. Working with the Staffordshire University Careers Centre, the consultancy organised the selection process during which twenty applicants             "Oana Baetica, account executive
were interviewed. In March, the internship was offered to Baetica,         at Stafford based technical PR
who had recently graduated from a Masters degree in                         agency Stone Junction."
Applied Communication.

Richard Stone, the managing director of Stone Junction commented, “The recent media furore about unpaid PR internships has demonstrated bad practice in the PR industry and several other sectors. There really is no excuse to use unpaid labour, thanks to funded schemes like Staffordshire University’s internship programme. It sets an example and shows other businesses the bilateral benefits of paid internships,” continued Stone.

“Oana has the right attitude and fitted the profile of the person we were looking to recruit. Her qualifications and previous experience led us to believe that she will be able to live up to the demands of such a role, which she proved during the internship,” he concluded.

“Despite the media perception that there aren’t enough jobs out there for graduates, Staffordshire University Careers Centre is currently helping employers fill a lot of positions” said Carol Bragg, Staffordshire University Employer Services Co-ordinator. “We really do have opportunities available and we are here to help graduates living in the West Midlands,” she explained.

Baetica is excited about her appointment and said, “Graduate schemes such as this really help young people start a career. I am very fortunate to have been selected for the internship and will do my upmost to prove myself in my future position.”

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