£11.44 per hour + £1.38 holiday pay
Advertising End Date
02 Feb 2025
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  • FASS Exclusive Internship: Research and Policy Intern, Generation Rent

Role & Department Overview

Please note: these internships are only available to current students registered on a degree scheme in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University.

If you apply for this role the information within your application will be shared with the recruiting organisation. Generation Rent are recruiting for a new Research and Policy Intern to help change the lives of private tenants and people facing home insecurity across the UK. We’re looking for a creative individual to help us influence change and give renters a voice.

Generation Rent is the non-profit voice of private renters across the UK. We are a small team making a big impact, broadly focused on six key areas of work: research, public affairs, communications, participation, rights awareness and fundraising.

You will carry out research to support our work to influence government(s) on behalf of private renters, joining a fast-paced team at a vital time for legislation and politics around renting. With the Renters’ Rights Bill in England and Wales and the and the Housing Bill in Scotland soon to be made into law, this internship would largely focus on monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the new legislation and scoping new areas to campaign around. 

 

Please submit a CV (maximum of two sides) and a Cover Letter (maximum one side) both tailored to the role, and include the following details: 

  • What course in the LU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are you currently studying? 
  • When is your expected graduation? (month and year) 
  • Why are you interested in this internship? 
  • What skills and experiences do you have relevant to this role? 
  • Please mention any other information you deem relevant. 
Preferred start date: 10th of March 2025
 
Expected end date: 30th of May 2025
 
Interview date: 27th of February 2025
 
Weekly hours: 7 hours per week, over 1 or 2 days, for 10 weeks (total 70 hours)
 
Location: Entirely remotely (in the UK)

Job Description

Main Responsibilities:

You’ll have experience in creating academic and research papers and a clear and convincing writing style able to be adapted for a wide variety of audiences. 

Above all, you should be passionate about improving the lives of renters through research, with particular emphasis on support for those facing discrimination.

Research

  • Assist Generation Rent’s policy and research programme by conducting research tasks, including Freedom of Information, mystery shopper and survey data collection.
  • Conduct research highlighting issues that renters face; ranging from problems with poor standards and conditions, to inequalities and discrimination, to consumer related issues.
  • Analyse qualitative and quantitative data to determine trends, issues, and learnings important to Generation Rent’s work.
  • Use Generation Rent data and expertise to contribute to the national evidence base on issues affecting private renters, especially those from marginalised communities. 

Policy

  • Assist in drafting and developing evidence-based policy.
  • Support the Research and Engagement Manager in writing submissions to government inquiries and consultations, press releases and online blogs for the Generation Rent website.
  • Be aware of the relevant issues which private renters experience and look for new developments and issues that it is important for Generation Rent to work on.
  • Seek new and innovative ways of contributing and supporting Generation Rent campaigns, including engaging the press and utilising social media.
  • Involve private renters in shaping and driving Generation Rent campaigning, especially those from marginalised communities. 

Person Specification

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following:

Essential: 

  • Enrolled in a Lancaster University undergraduate/postgraduate course and eligible for the FASS Internship scheme. 
  • Proven experience in creating robust academic-standard research. 
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills. 
  • Strong organisational and planning skills with an eye for detail and accuracy. 
  • Ability to work alone or in a team and inspire trust. 
  • Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks to meet deadlines. 

Desirable: 

  • Proven experience in research and evaluation management and methodology, including analysing qualitative and quantitative data.
  • Awareness of relevant domestic legislation including housing law and human rights. 
  • Strong understanding of the political and policy environment facing renters in the UK. 
  • Experience working directly with people, particularly marginalised groups. 
  • Personal experience of renting.
Working in this role will help develop the following skills and experience:
  • Analysing
  • Exercising professional judgement
  • Persuasion
  • Research
  • Written communication
For any informal information, please email [email protected]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
You are required to submit a cover letter to support your application. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. For further information regarding this role please contact [email protected]
 

Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, this role is only open to individuals living in the UK.

Under the terms of this work, we endeavour to provide the advertised number of hours however, hours are not guaranteed and that work may cease if there is a fall in demand. 

Adverts that display a closing date should be treated as a guide. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to prevent disappointment.

Apply

Help and advice on making applications can be found on the Lancaster University Careers pages. Visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/careers.

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