Is it just me or is time FLYING… how can it be May already?? Personally I blame the fact that Easter was late this year, suddenly it’s over and BAMM April has gone.

I was talking to a colleague the other day, who is also on a fixed term Internship, about how quickly our time here is going. Being on a 12 month internship I have very much been tracking the progress of my year here through the key events in my diary. Scarily so many of these have been and gone, with thoughts now firmly focussed on the event of the year here in the Retail Office,  the Summer Congregation ceremonies, which will this year run from 1st- 4th of July. The Retail Office runs a ‘pop-up’ shop in the marquee on Palace Green giving new graduates the chance to buy a piece of Durham memorabilia before they move on to pastures new.

I have heard from the rest of the team that the lead up to graduation is an exceptionally busy time with stock arriving left, right and centre to be stored away until the event and lots of plans to be put in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly from ... read more

I am writing this blog entry just after returning to the office from a session of the Leadership and management course I am enrolled on. Despite being a little warm and out of breath after a power walk up the hill, it has left me feeling really positive. I have so far completed two of the eight sessions and have found them both informing and inspiring. As I said in my previous post, for me, the best thing about being an intern is the opportunity it provides to develop personally and professionally. Today's course was about how we act towards other members of staff and students who we come into contact with on a daily basis, the service we provide and receive. We all enjoy receiving a high level of customer service wherever we go; therefore it is important that we are also willing to provide the very best.

The session ended with a presentation by Catherine Olley, the Accommodation and Commercial Services Continuous Improvement Manager. Catherine's talk really made me think about the way in which we interact with each other daily and how the smallest thing, such as offering a smile and a warm hello, can make the biggest difference. ... read more