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Students gaining experience while helping charities
The registered charity operates by taking University students and matching them with external charities they can impact in a business sense.
Bridging the gap for both charities and emerging professionals is the aim of the game for the team at Ignite.
Ignite Chief Executive Officer Clementine Rose, who is currently studying Law and Commerce, says the registered charity operates by taking University students and matching them with external charities they can impact in a business sense.
“We take students completing various degrees to work in teams of six for the duration of a semester. The teams work to provide their matched charity with strategies to overcome any business struggles they may be facing.”
The group started in Dunedin 11 years ago and has since expanded to Wellington. The consultants have worked with a wide variety of charities in both districts, including Youth Line Otago, Dunedin Wildlife Hospital and Stitch Kitchen.
“It creates opportunities for students to get experience for their future careers and equally benefits charities who get a strategy report from the student groups. We can help with implementing those too.”
“Over my time at Ignite, I have spent my time as a volunteer for the Regent Trust, which means I sit in on meetings and gain experience in a governance role while completing my studies.”
The past year has been a busy time for the Ignite team. While 2020 halted many projects for organisations around the country, Ignite’s executive team has grown and started introducing more education initiatives.
As well as the usual work, Ignite also run internships through the University year.
Law and Commerce student Grayson Hardy, who is the Consultant Development Manager for Ignite, has been leading some of the latest projects.
“I’m currently working towards micro-credentials as a training process that can go alongside students’ journey. At the end they will have a credential which they can put on their resume.”
Grayson joined Ignite two years ago.
“My older brother was a consultant here a few years ago, and when I was in the third year of my studies I decided to give it a go. I started as a consultant and moved up to an executive role.”
As well as the usual work, Ignite also run internships through the University year.
“The internship is one of the most important things that we do,” Grayson says. “It gives students the opportunity to partake in board meetings and gain governance experience.”
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