Five interns. Five different journeys. One summer packed with learning, new experiences and opportunities.
Scrolling through LinkedIn, you'll see plenty of posts about internships. The polished graduation photos. The project presentations. The end-of-placement celebrations.
But what does an internship actually feel like?
We asked our 2026 Summer Interns to share the moments that stood out for them, from unexpected opportunities to projects they're proud of and everything in between.
“I met Joe Root in my first two weeks”
Before joining Admiral, Fran already had some experience of the business.
As a Human Geography student at Cardiff University with a passion for sustainability, she attended our Sustainability Insight Day earlier this year and left feeling inspired.
“I attended Admiral's Sustainability Insight Day and found it interesting to understand how sustainability was managed and strategised in a corporate setting. I also loved Admiral's positive work culture and was keen to be part of this inspiring environment.”
A few months later, she joined Admiral as a Sustainability Intern.
Sustainability wasn't the only thing on Fran's summer agenda. Through Admiral's community partnerships, she took part in ParaSports 2026 at Margam Park, Admiral's biggest Impact Hours event of the year, which helps children and young people with disabilities build confidence and try new sporting activities in an inclusive environment.
She also attended a panel discussion with Welsh Fire players Sophie Devine, Sophia Smale and England cricketer Joe Root as part of the launch of Admiral's purpose-led partnership with Welsh Fire. The partnership aims to create opportunities through women's cricket by tackling underrepresentation and supporting pathways into skills, mentoring and employment.
Building confidence from day one
For many interns, the biggest takeaway hasn't been a specific project. It's been the people.
Mia, a recent Environmental Management and Sustainability graduate from the University of Reading, said the welcome she received made an immediate impression.
"Even though I am only here for 8 weeks as an intern, I have genuinely felt included in the team and encouraged to contribute in meetings and discussions."
That sense of trust has allowed interns to get involved in meaningful work from the outset.
For Mia, one of the highlights has been:
"Getting involved in my own projects and feeling as though they are meaningful and making an impact."
Career journeys don't always start where you'd expect
Kyle's route to Admiral might be one of the most unique.
"I'm actually a bartender in the bar right under Admiral's head office in Cardiff and have been hearing about how great a place it is to work for years."
When an internship opportunity appeared in his area of interest, he decided to go for it.
"I decided to apply and try to physically move up in the world. From the bar on the ground floor into the offices above!"
His highlight so far?
"Interacting with the Early Careers teams and the internal community."
Learning goes beyond the day job
One theme that came through repeatedly was the opportunity to learn, not just from projects, but from people across the business.
Rivin, who recently graduated from the University of Warwick and has secured a scholarship to continue his studies, was attracted to Admiral after hearing about its culture.
"I was particularly interested in Admiral's open-door culture, which encourages employees to connect and collaborate with colleagues across different departments."
Since joining, he's been able to put learning into practice through real business projects.
"My biggest highlight was submitting my first major work project."
And for Gethin, a Business Management graduate from Swansea University, the wider internship experience has been just as valuable as the work itself.
"The culture and work-life balance surprised me most. Being able to take part in a sports day, community impact day and weekly quizzes despite only being here for eight weeks."
Looking ahead
Although their internships are only a few weeks long, every intern is focused on making the most of the time they have.
Whether that's completing sustainability projects, developing new skills, exploring different areas of the business or simply continuing to learn.
As Kyle put it:
"I'm most looking forward to finding out what I don't know."
And perhaps that's what makes a great internship experience. Not having all the answers, but being given the support, opportunity and confidence to find them.