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SBP 7972 Website Designer Intern

University of Exeter Internships
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Job Summary

Model Financials Solutions Limited are looking for a creative, motivated student to be their Website Designer. This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to build a real portfolio while working closely with a director who champions innovation, clarity, and social impact. If you’re looking for a project that gives you ownership, responsibility, and a standout addition to your CV and portfolio, this is a great fit.

This role is part of the Student Business Partnership (SBP) scheme and offers around 6 hours per week that can be worked flexibly and on a remote basis. You will meet with your manager once a week to feedback on progress.

 

Key Dates

Closing Date: 4/12/25

Interview Date: 12/12/25

Start Date: TBC/ flexible

End Date: Once the project is completed

 

Pay: £14.00 per hour

 

Purpose of the Role

You’ll be responsible for redesigning the main company website, Model Financial Solutions (modelfs.co.uk), then creating fresh new websites for RateSwitch (a consumer-focused mortgage rate-review platform) and Simplin (a friendly, accessible insurance-education brand). You’ll have full creative input in shaping the design direction, user experience, colour palettes, layout, and visual storytelling across all three sites. These projects genuinely matter to real clients and communities: our work helps people navigate mortgages, protection, and financial well-being with confidence. You’ll gain hands-on experience, regular feedback, and the freedom to experiment with new ideas in a supportive, flexible environment.

The aim of the work will be to:

  • Redesign ModelFinancial Solutions’ primary website to better reflect the brand’s values, professionalism, and approachable style.
  • Build a full website for RateSwitch, designed around simplicity, clarity, and helping clients easily understand their mortgage options.
  • Create a visually compelling website for Simplin, a new educational platform focused on making insurance easy and engaging.
  • Improve user experience and accessibility across all three sites.
  • Develop consistent branding across the Model FS family of services.

 

Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Designing, wireframing, and building three websites from concept to final launch.
  • Working with existing brand colours, tone, and values (bright, friendly, accessible).
  • Creating user-friendly navigation structures and page layouts.
  • Advising on stylistic choices, imagery, typography, and overall brand feel.
  • Designing icons, graphics, or templates as needed.
  • Ensuring all sites are mobile-responsive and accessible.
  • Using website platforms such as WordPress (Model FS is being rebuilt on WordPress; RateSwitch and Simplin may use WordPress or another recommended platform).
  • Attending weekly online check-ins with the director for feedback and progress updates.
  • Liaising with developers or support services where needed (e.g., hosting migration).

 

Training and Development - What Skills and Experience will this Opportunity Provide?

This internship will give you the chance to take the lead on three real website projects from start to finish. While you won’t receive technical web-design training from the company (as the director is not a designer), you will receive:

  • Clear briefs, brand guidelines, tone-of-voice direction, and written content for the sites.
  • Weekly feedback, idea-development sessions, and support shaping the brand storytelling across Model FS, RateSwitch, and Simplin.
  • Experience managing real client-facing web projects with full creative responsibility.
  • The opportunity to design websites independently using your existing skills.
  • A portfolio of work for three different brands — ideal for future job applications and freelance work.
  • Insight into how small businesses develop brand voice, customer journeys, and digital identity.
  • Flexibility to recommend the tools, platforms, and design approach you think will work best.

This role is ideal for someone who already has basic web-design ability and wants to put it into practice on meaningful live projects.

 

Support Available

  • Weekly one-to-one meetings with the director for guidance, feedback, and design direction.
  • Clear briefs and expectations for each stage of the project.
  • A supportive, relaxed working style with room to experiment and ask questions.
  • Access to brand assets, drafts, and previous design materials.
  • Ongoing support from the Internships Team at Exeter.

 

The Benefits

  • Fully remote and flexible working around your studies.
  • A friendly employer who values creativity, autonomy, and student development.
  • Experience designing for three different brands, giving you variety in your portfolio.
  • A strong reference upon successful completion.
  • A LinkedIn recommendation from the director.
  • The chance to contribute to projects that help real people with mortgages and financial wellbeing.
  • Potential for future paid design work as the businesses expand.
  • Work that makes a positive social impact by improving financial literacy and accessibility.

 

About You (Person Specification)

Degree & Attainment

  • Open to students from any discipline with an interest or skill in digital design.
  • Ideal (but not essential): Computer Science, Digital Design, Marketing, Psychology, Media, or related fields.

Skills

  • Good understanding of website design principles.
  • Ability to use WordPress, Elementor, Wix, Squarespace, Figma or similar.
  • Strong creative thinking and willingness to try new ideas.
  • Basic understanding of UX and user-centred design.
  • Ability to take feedback and develop ideas iteratively.
  • Good written communication.

Personal Qualities & Attributes

  • Creative, proactive, and willing to take initiative.
  • Enjoys problem-solving and finding simple ways to communicate complex ideas.
  • Reliable, organised, and able to work independently.
  • Friendly and able to communicate clearly in online meetings.
  • Interested in helping businesses that make a positive difference.

Knowledge

  • Basic understanding of branding, layout, and colour theory.
  • Awareness of accessibility in web design.
  • Interest in financial services, fintech, or education is a bonus.

Prior Experience 

  • Some experience designing websites or digital content is required (can be from university projects or personal websites).
  • Confidence using a website builder or design tool independently (e.g., WordPress, Elementor, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, or similar).
  • Portfolio examples — even small ones — are welcomed.

You must have valid right-to-work documents with you for verification if appointed, as copies are not accepted.

 

About the Company

Model Financial Solutions is a friendly, values-driven mortgage and protection firm led by Hannah, a director who is passionate about financial education, accessibility, and innovation. Alongside advising clients, the company is developing multiple new platforms — including RateSwitch and Simplin — aimed at making mortgages and insurance easier for people to understand.

We’re a small, dynamic business with big ideas, always looking for better ways to support our clients and communities. We champion creativity, clear communication, and projects that make a positive social impact. It’s a great place to work if you want real responsibility, genuine appreciation, and the chance to see your work make a difference.

 

Student Business Partnership (SBP) Scheme Requirements

  • Applicants must have current student status or proof of an acceptance on a degree at the University of Exeter.
  • Applicants must be a student for the full duration of the internship.
  • The University of Exeter is committed to developing an environment which promotes equality of opportunity, values diversity and inclusivity.  
  • The University of Exeter is a Disability Confident Employer, committed to attracting and recruiting people with disabilities and retaining and supporting staff with disabilities. If an applicant declares a disability and meets all the essential criteria, they will be invited to interview. 
  • We are committed to creating an inclusive culture and engage with evidence-based charter frameworks for gender (Athena SWAN and Project Juno for Physics), race equality (Race Equality Charter Mark) and LGBTQ+ inclusion (Stonewall Diversity Champion).
  • We welcome applications from all eligible students and in particular those from underrepresented groups. Selection and recruitment itself will be based entirely on merit alone unless there are multiple applicants demonstrating equal merit. In this clear circumstance, preference would be shown to applicants from under-represented groups. This is in line with lawful positive action measures under sections 158 and 159 of the Equality Act 2010. 
  • All applicants are required to provide their employer with proof of their Right to Work in the UK before they start work and follow the Intern Guidance- Proving Right to Work the UK.
  • All interns need to reside in the UK whilst undertaking this role.
  • Undergraduate students can work a maximum of 15 hours per week in term-term or full-time hours in vacation.
  • Full time Postgraduate students can work a maximum of 6 hours per week and no more than 180 hours per year, this includes those working already working as Postgraduate Teaching Assistants (PTA). You may work more hours with written permission from your academic.
  • For further details on the Scheme eligibility, visit the university’s SBP page here.

 

How to Apply

  • Please download and complete the attached Internship Application Form and upload to the job on Handshake. Please make sure you have downloaded the latest copy of the Internship Application Form. 
  • Guidance and useful tips for completing your application are found on the Internship Application Form. 
  • Refer to the job details contained within the advert when writing your personal statement.
  • Use the STAR approach to evidence each requirement in the Person Specification. 
  • You should insert the correct reference code on the application form: SBP 7972 
  • Please save your Internship Application Form as ‘your surname - your forename - SBP 7972’ 
  • The University is a Disability Confident employer and as such this policy applies to recruitment through the Internship Schemes. 
  • Applicants who identify a disability on the application form will be offered an interview if their application demonstrates they meet the essential criteria. Please also include details of reasonable adjustments you may need for an interview or to undertake the role. 
  • You should explain why you would like to work for the employing organisation and why you think you would be a suitable candidate for this role. 

 

Further Guidance and Support

  • You can refer to the My Career Zone Digital resources on application and interview preparation here.   
  • If you need support with your application, you can book an appointment with a Career Zone Advisor by emailing careers@exeter.ac.uk. 
  • Unless stated, interview expenses will not be paid.
  • It is recommended that you check your online presence on social media to ensure it represents you well, as some employers may undertake online research of their applicants. 
  • If you have any questions, you can email the Internships Team at internships@exeter.ac.uk