Main purpose of job:

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the UK Government department responsible for promoting trade and investment globally. As the department for economic growth, DBT supports businesses to export, invest and scale internationally, helping to create jobs and opportunities across the UK.
Through its global network, based in British Embassies, DBT plays a key role in delivering the UK’s trade and investment ambitions. Working at the intersection of business, policy and diplomacy, DBT teams collaborate with UK and international stakeholders to generate commercial opportunities, improve market access and build long-term partnerships.

The Latin America and Caribbean (LATAC) network, led by His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner, manages the UK’s trade and investment relationship across the region, including Mexico. Within this context, the DBT team at the British Embassy in Mexico City supports UK exports and promotes investment across priority sectors aligned with the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience supporting trade promotion, market access and investment activities across priority campaigns, including education, Life Sciences, Financial Services, Food & Drink, Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy and Water.
As an intern, you will work closely with the team to support a range of commercial activities. This includes contributing to market research, stakeholder engagement and the organisation of events and trade missions. You will also gain exposure to high-level engagements and international trade initiatives, developing a strong understanding of how trade policy and commercial activity are delivered in practice..

The intern will primarily support trade promotion activities within the Education and Life Sciences campaigns, working closely with the respective campaign teams to support stakeholder engagement, information gathering, and delivery of trade-related activities.

Within the Education campaign, the intern will support engagement with UK education providers and relevant stakeholders in Mexico, contributing to activities that promote UK education capabilities, facilitate institutional connections, and support collaboration in areas such as international education and skills development.

Within the Life Sciences campaign, the intern will support a range of activities related to healthcare, research, and innovation, including engagement with government counterparts, industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and UK companies. The role will involve supporting market understanding, stakeholder coordination, and information sharing relevant to the life sciences sector.

While the role offers some exposure across DBT Mexico’s broader portfolio, the intern’s core responsibilities will be focused on supporting the Education and Life Sciences campaigns, with the precise balance of work evolving in line with business needs.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of the Education and Life Sciences campaigns by contributing to market research, trade data analysis, and the identification of commercial opportunities for UK companies in Mexico, including sector-specific trends (e.g., education services, healthcare, digital health, and pharmaceuticals), competitor landscape, and market entry insights.
• Assist in the preparation of high-quality briefings, reports, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, including UK companies, partners, and senior officials, with a focus on education and life sciences-related opportunities and engagements.
• Maintain and update client pipelines, stakeholder databases, and records of interactions in internal systems, ensuring accurate tracking of commercial opportunities, engagements, and potential export outcomes.
• Support stakeholder engagement and relationship management across government, academia, and industry, including mapping key actors in the education and life sciences ecosystems, supporting follow-ups, and helping coordinate interactions with UK and Mexican partners.
• Support the planning and delivery of sector-focused events, trade missions, and high-level visits, including logistics, agenda development, coordination with partners, and post-event reporting.
• Participate in meetings, site visits, tradeshows, and external engagements with UK and Mexican organisations in the education and life sciences sectors, providing note-taking, follow-up actions, and general support to the team.
• Assist in the development and execution of campaign-aligned marketing and communications activities, including drafting content and supporting efforts to promote UK capabilities in priority areas such as English language training, international education, healthcare, and life sciences innovation.
• Support internal coordination across campaign teams, including project tracking, meeting preparation, and follow-up actions, ensuring timely delivery of activities and alignment with campaign priorities.
• Assist with internal reporting, planning, and administrative processes, including pipeline updates, performance tracking, and cross-team coordination within DBT Mexico.
• Provide general administrative and operational support to the team, contributing to the smooth delivery of campaign activities.
• Undertake other relevant tasks as required in support of DBT Mexico’s education and life sciences trade objectives.

Learning and development opportunities:

The UK Government actively promotes continuous learning and professional development. As an intern with DBT Mexico, you will have access to a range of formal and on-the-job development opportunities within a dynamic international and diplomatic environment.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work within the UK Government overseas network, gaining first-hand insight into the UK’s trade, economic, and policy priorities, and how these are delivered in a global context.

You will develop practical experience in international trade and investment promotion, while building an understanding of UK–Mexico commercial relations and the broader international business landscape.

Learning opportunities will include:

• Exposure to real-world commercial projects, supporting UK companies entering or expanding in the Mexican market
• Participation in coordination of high level meetings, industry events, and trade missions, providing insight into business development, high level stakeholders, and government-to-business engagement
• Access to internal training resources and UK Government learning platforms, including courses on trade, data analysis, and professional skills
• On-the-job learning and mentoring from experienced trade professionals, including informal coaching and feedback
• Development of transferable skills such as communication, research, stakeholder management, and cross-cultural collaboration

This role offers a unique opportunity to build practical experience in an international government setting and develop a strong foundation for a career in trade, business, or public policy. Working at the British Embassy in Mexico City, you will be immersed in an international, multicultural environment, gaining exposure to the intersection of business, policy, and diplomacy. This experience provides a strong foundation for careers in international trade, public policy, consulting, or global business.

Essential on arrival:

• The candidate must be currently pursuing or recently completed an undergraduate degree in International Relations, Foreign Trade, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or related fields.
• Demonstrated interest in international trade, economic development, public policy, or international business.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, in English and Spanish.