Summer Internship Programme – Black Talent & Leadership in STEM

This will be the sixth year of the internship programme offered by our Building Changemakers employer, and there are two internship opportunities available. For the first internship, our employer is looking for a student studying Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related subject. 

For 2026, they have introduced a second internship for a student studying electronics or electrical engineering, physics, or other closely related subjects will be considered. (Please note this is an office-based internship, not a hands-on engineering role.)

Location: Manchester - The internship will largely be in our Building Changemaker for Black Talent & Leadership in STEM (BTLS) employer’s Manchester office, with travel to other sites in the UK. If you are not local to Manchester, travel and accommodation throughout the internship will be paid for. Travel and accommodation required to attend other sites will also be provided.  Arrangements for this will be discussed with the successful interns. 

All travel and accommodation will be paid for.

Salary: Local Living Wage

Salary bands will range based on the different employers partnering with the scheme.

Application Closing Dates: 26 June 2026. The interviews will be held either week commencing 13 July or w/c 20 July and will be virtual.

The internship will be Monday to Friday, 1st – 25th Sept 2026. We can be slightly flexible on the date, but please make sure you are available around that time before applying.

Advertising organisation: Black Talent & Leadership in STEM

Job Description: This is a joint internship opportunity between a leading global intellectual property law firm and a global leader in the power engineering sector who are seeking two interns of Black heritage studying Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related subject) and electronics or electrical engineering, with excellent communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a natural curiosity about how things work. They are open to applications from candidates who are studying for an undergraduate degree, a Master’s or a PhD. 

You may never have considered a career as a patent attorney, so this is a great way to learn about a different career path.

Your impact   

Join our Building Changemaker employer’s four-week paid summer internship, largely based in Manchester, with travel to other sites in the UK. The internship will allow you to use your scientific technical skills in a commercial and legal setting, so you should have not only a sound scientific background but also an interest in the law and a desire to understand how technology can be applied to solve real-world problems.

Our Building Changemakers employer

The internship is provided in conjunction with their client, a global leader in the power engineering sector that designs, builds, and distributes diesel and natural gas-powered engines for on-highway and off-highway use, power generation equipment for use in a wide range of sectors, including residential, industrial, mining and oil and gas, and new and emerging alternative power technologies, including electrified powertrains and fuel cells.  At the heart of this organisation is a team of dependable, innovative thinkers who are extremely passionate about their company and the positive contribution they make to its success. Its core values include diversity and integrity, which have led to the creation of a diverse, inclusive, and empowering environment present worldwide.

What you will get

You will have the opportunity to spend time on-site with the engineering company at one or more of its sites, gaining hands-on experience alongside its engineers. You will also be able to visit their in-house legal team in Paddington, London.

During the remaining time, you will be working for the intellectual property law firm on client patent work. You may be involved in discussing a new invention with an engineer, reviewing older designs to see if a new design is sufficiently novel and inventive to be patentable, helping to prepare arguments to send to a Patent Office examiner to explain why our Building Changemaker’s client should be entitled to a patent for a new idea, or maybe all three! In addition, you may also help negotiate and/or prepare some agreements concerning the development or commercial exploitation of inventions. There will also be the opportunity to engage with our Building Changemaker employer’s Training Academy.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Final Year Undergraduate, Graduate, Master's, or PhD Student of Mechanical Engineering (or related course) or Electronics or Electrical Engineering;
• A flexible self-starter who is keen to drive your career forward; 
• Excellent communication skills; 
• Meticulous attention to detail; 
• A natural curiosity to understand how things work.