Intern Reflections: Our time with Accelar
The team working (in-person!) at The Exchange
During the month of August, Accelar has welcomed two new interns from the University of Birmingham, Freya Lees and Cara Clarke. Utilising hybrid working, they have supported a range of data and research projects to address Accelar’s 5 key themes, even having a day working collaboratively with other Accelar team members, Michael and Max, at The Exchange in Birmingham.
From elements they have particularly enjoyed, to aspects they found surprising, they have taken time to reflect on their experiences and how they will utilise them moving forward. The pieces below highlight some of the key outcomes of their time at Accelar (daily coffee naturally being a central part of any internship!).
Freya Lees
Whilst not only allowing me to broaden my knowledge base, this has also provided me with the tools to combat any research question, and cope with research that isn’t just academic papers! However, the key takeaway for me has been how ‘cutting edge’ some of the projects Accelar works on are, as established background information or case studies for a certain project may not really exist (and while this is frustrating, it’s really exciting to be involved in!)
Interacting with the marketing side of the business has also been rewarding, within which I was able to write a short LinkedIn article outlining my findings on research on the green transition. I was surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed applying creativity and writing skills to this area, in promoting a message I align with, and how important marketing is in pushing the sustainability narrative overall as well as supporting business growth.
It’s safe to say that there’s a host of skills I am able to take away from my time at Accelar – organisation, adaptation and creativity just to name a few! Moving forward I’m excited to draw on my experiences and the knowledge I’ve gained surrounding the current space for nature-positive projects, and the scope for more to be done. A carbon-neutral, sustainable future is a future I’m excited to be a part of.
From studying Economics, I had a theoretical understanding of concepts such as the management of scarce resources in the face of climate change, and the importance of valuation to correctly price natural assets. However, without a technical background I felt unsure of whether I had the right skillset for a career focusing on protecting the natural environment and promoting a sustainable, circular economy.
The Impact Internships scheme at the University of Birmingham allows students to undertake a 4-week internship with Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), one of the roles this year being with Accelar. I was drawn to this position as I admired Accelar’s values and its mission to further the ‘green transition’, or pathway to a climate resilient economy. I felt that this was a great opportunity to work in an industry that I’m passionate about, whilst also applying the knowledge I’ve learned during my degree to a practical environment for the first time.
My role over the past month has been to support various projects and team members with background research, whether this be as an introductory insight into a new area or to facilitate the bid development process. From investigating the costs of climate adaptation solutions, to the ways local authorities can attract green business into their area, I’ve covered a wide base of topics and challenges.
The Internship Dashboard 2022 highlights some of the key achievements from our time with Accelar, including research projects undertaken and the number of case studies for the Nature Finance Impact Hub.
Cara Clarke
Grant schemes, such as Investment Ready Nature Scotland (IRNS), are one of the ways to do this. It has been inspiring to hear about the positive environmental impacts and opportunities a scheme such as this can bring. More funds like this are being set up, but a significant increase in investment into these projects is needed to close the finance gap in nature.
The main thing that surprised me about the internship and Accelar, is the breadth of projects I was involved in. I contributed to the marketing side of the company, sat in on external client meetings and took various learning sessions around Accelar’s guiding principles. This allowed me to develop a wider range of invaluable skills and knowledge, which I can carry with me into my future career and as I go into my final year at the University of Birmingham. Sustainability is a sector that is growing, but more attention needs to be brought to it. I look forward to being part of these pivotal next steps in the green transition to ensuring a more sustainable future.
Working for a cause that you are not only extremely passionate about, but that is so relevant in today’s world, comes with its challenges. There are times when you can feel isolated and frustrated at the state of the planet. The team were incredible at supporting me around this and reminding me that they all had those feelings too. Accelar has continued to motivate me to strive for a future that is green and sustainable, and I look forward to taking this into my future life and work, and going on to inspire others.
As a student currently going into my 3rd year of Theoretical Physics at the University of Birmingham, sustainability is not a term I see in my degree every day. However, it’s something at the forefront of my mind constantly and has been for as long as I can remember. The thought of what the planet could be like for future generations, is motivation enough to generate an interest in sustainability. This is the main reason that I wanted to do this internship for Accelar this summer. The work the company does is inspiring, but not only that, it is extremely important for the biggest and most crucial challenge the world faces today: creating a sustainable future.
Green finance, circular economy, carbon, natural capital, and climate resilience. Before starting this internship, I could not have defined these words accurately. But after the last four weeks, I have discovered how important each of these are within sustainability and to achieving the clean growth transition.
My biggest role during the internship was collaborating on Accelar’s Nature Finance Impact Hub. The Impact Hub has become an important tool for research and data on nature-based projects, and I hope that my work on this over the last four weeks will help grow this platform. From working on the Hub, I have been able to reflect on the importance of green finance. Across the world, more nature-based projects have started to appear that aim for positive environmental outcomes, whilst generating revenue.