Blenheim Palace has achieved a top honour for its archive internship programme.
The gold standard internship host status is awarded in recognition of its partnership with Oxford University Careers Services and Internship Office, offering students opportunities to gain hands-on archival work experience since 2019.
The five-day placements, spanned over two weeks at each term's end, involve transcribing digital images of archival material relating to Blenheim Palace and the Dukes of Marlborough.
Interns also contribute by identifying names for a staff database using wage books dating back to the 1850s.
When the partnership formed, students gathered experience at Blenheim Palace Archives.
However, due to the pandemic, the UNESCO World Heritage Site adjusted its procedures, allowing students to work remotely.
Ellen-Rose Thompson, an archives intern, said: "My internship with the Blenheim Palace Archives gave me such valuable experience working behind the scenes at a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"Since completing the internship I've been able to apply the skills I learnt to further voluntary and paid work in the heritage sector."
Lucy Turner, another archives intern, added: “I had a fantastic experience working as a micro-intern at Blenheim Palace's archives in March 2022.
"It really felt like I was making a valuable contribution to the archives, and specifically the availability of information about those living and working on the Estate."
Gold Standard Internship Host recognition reflects Blenheim Palace’s commitment to student internships, quality feedback, consistent provision, student and office communication and responsiveness to constructive feedback.
Dr Alexa Frost, archivist at Blenheim Palace, said: "I work with between six and eight students three times a year, so this means I have had the pleasure of helping to mentor over 30 young people.
"It’s brilliant to know their internship experience at Blenheim Palace may have had a hand in this and motivated them further.
"It’s an honour to be recognised as a Gold Standard Internship Host and we hope to continue offering this programme for years to come and inspiring the next generation of archivists."
Dr Fiona Whitehouse, head of the Internship Office at The University of Oxford, said: "I love this partnership with the archives at Blenheim.
"These high-quality internships give students a rare insight into the workings of an archives and an opportunity to delve into the social, historic and economic fabric of the Palace."
Visitors using public transport, bicycle or electric cars for their commute to Blenheim Palace are eligible for a 30% discount off an annual pass or Palace, park and gardens day ticket with the code GREEN30.
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