Small business, big impact: creating social value through paid internships

At Heart of the City, we believe that responsible business doesn’t exclusively require large budgets or dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility teams. Small businesses can create meaningful social impact through practical actions, such as offering paid internships that support young people while bringing fresh skills and perspectives into their organisation.

As part of our work with MSDUK on the Southwark Supplier Readiness Programme, a Southwark Council initiative supporting local businesses to build the skills, knowledge and connections needed to win contracts with larger organisations and the public sector, we committed to creating social value through two paid internship placements.

We welcomed London South Bank University students Hassan Tusiime and Mukthar Danmola for two-week, Living Wage-paid internships. Their placements provided hands-on experience while supporting programme delivery, demonstrating how even small social value commitments can create benefits for emerging talent, organisations and communities.

Building skills, confidence and career direction

Both Hassan and Mukthar joined Heart of the City as Marketing Interns to support the promotion of the Southwark Supplier Readiness Programme by engaging local businesses and raising awareness of the fully funded support available.

Hassan: finding his lane in marketing

Before joining Heart of the City, Hassan was Lead Representative of the Business School at LSBU Students’ Union and was looking for practical marketing experience. He described the internship as “incredible”, helping him discover “what lane of marketing” he wanted to pursue.

During his internship, Hassan:

• Supported marketing campaigns with partners including Southwark Council
• Conducted market research and competitor analysis
• Helped manage CRM data to track programme activity

The combination of strategic and practical experience helped Hassan gain clarity on his career direction, leaving him “100% certain” that he wants to pursue marketing.

Mukthar: turning outreach into impact

Mukthar joined during recruitment for the second programme cohort, bringing experience from retail, live events and project management. The internship gave him the opportunity to lead outreach activity and apply his skills in a professional setting.

During his internship, Mukthar:

• Built relationships with local businesses through face-to-face outreach
• Used active listening and communication skills to overcome barriers and encourage engagement

The experience strengthened Mukthar’s confidence in his abilities, demonstrating how his academic training could translate into “high-impact operational results.”

Trust and responsibility: supporting interns to succeed

A key theme across both placements was the trust placed in the interns. Despite being new to the work, both were given responsibility alongside the support needed to succeed.

As Hassan reflected, the culture of the team played a central role in his development. Mukthar similarly valued the balance of independence and support.

Responsible business starts with small initiatives

This experience demonstrates that social value doesn’t need to be complex. By offering two paid internships, we created meaningful opportunities for young people while gaining additional capacity, fresh perspectives and new ideas within our own team.

For SMEs looking to strengthen their social value impact, internships can be a practical place to start. Providing meaningful work, support and trust can help emerging talent develop while bringing real value back to your organisation.

Supporting Hassan and Mukthar’s next steps

Since completing their internships, both Hassan and Mukthar have graduated from London South Bank University. Hassan graduated with a degree in Marketing and is now seeking opportunities in marketing, while Mukthar graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business Management with Project Management and is exploring roles in project management, event operations and business development.

If you are aware of opportunities that may be a good fit for either graduate, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please get in touch with the Heart of the City team and we would be happy to pass details on.