When I first heard about the Claverton Scholarship, I had one thing on my mind: money.
If you know anything about living in Bath, you will know it is not exactly cheap. So, when I found out that through the Claverton Scholarship Programme I could attend a residential summer school, gain employability experience and receive financial support, I thought, "That's a pretty good deal." A few days of my time for money and something to add to my CV? Sign me up. What I did not expect was how much more it would become.
Somewhere between the workshops, conversations, questionable juggling attempts, cream tea, and meeting people from all sorts of courses, the residential stopped feeling like something I had to do. It became something I genuinely wanted to be part of. In this blog, I will take you through the three-day residential, explain what being a Claverton Scholar means to me, and hopefully show why the Summer School and Claverton Employability Passport is about so much more than ticking a box.
Defining Employability Passport
For me the Claverton Scholarship's employability passport was about stepping outside my degree and trying a wide mix of experiences.
It’s everything from micro-internships and volunteering to shadowing, skills workshops, and even just taking the time to properly sort out your CV and LinkedIn. Some of it can feel quite corporate or career focused, like attending careers fairs or doing internships, but other parts are more about personal growth, like trying something new or getting involved in outreach or ambassador roles. That mix is what makes it so valuable it helps you figure out what suits you while also making you stand out.
It’s also structured across the years, so in first year you’re building awareness and trying things out, and by second year you’re going a bit deeper with more substantial experiences. And alongside all of that, there’s a real incentive too once you complete it, you receive £1,500 on top of the Bath Bursary, split into two instalments across second and final year. It’s a really nice way of recognising the effort you’ve put in.
The Summer School
Is money the reason? It was mine.
I will be honest I applied for the Scholarship was because I thought it was a great deal. Money and an Employability Passport? Two for one? I did not take much convincing. At first, I viewed the residential as something to complete. Turn up, take part, collect the experience, receive the financial support, and move on. That mindset didn't last very long.
The Summer School is not about filling a few days with activities. It is about collecting experiences that genuinely help you grow. It pushes you to try new things, meet people you would not have crossed paths with otherwise, and develop skills you do not even realise you are building until you look back.
The money may have got me through the door, but it is not the reason I stayed engaged.
Making new connections
One of the easiest parts of the residential was meeting people. Everyone arrives a little nervous, wondering who they will talk to or whether they will fit in. The funny thing is that most people are thinking the same thing.
Many scholars study similar courses or are in related departments, so conversations start naturally. Before long you are chatting over lunch, laughing during activities, and swapping stories about university life.
Some of the people I met had experiences completely different from mine, while others shared similar journeys. That mix made every conversation interesting. It reminded me that networking does not have to feel formal or intimidating. Sometimes it starts with a simple "Hi" over a cup of tea.
Are you willing to juggle?
Day two was easily my favourite.
If someone had told me juggling would become one of my highlights, I probably would not have believed them.
There we were, throwing beanbags into the air, dropping them every few seconds, laughing at ourselves, and somehow learning much more than how to juggle.
The activities focused on confidence, wellbeing, teamwork, and stepping outside our comfort zones. We spoke to people we had not met before, worked together, and challenged ourselves to make the first move instead of waiting for someone else to.
I could not juggle before the residential. I still would not call myself an expert, but I am getting there with three balls now.
More importantly, juggling became a reminder that most things feel impossible until you keep practising. Drop the ball? Pick it back up. Try again. That is a lesson that stretches far beyond juggling
Cream tea, conversations and discovering new opportunities
After all the activities, the cream tea was the perfect chance to relax.
Everyone seemed more comfortable, conversations flowed naturally, and it felt less like a networking event and more like spending time with friends.
We also had the chance to speak with a range of organisations across the university. As a Social Sciences student, I found myself particularly drawn to volunteering opportunities with the Students' Union.
Before the residential, I had no idea how many opportunities Bath offered. From volunteering to student-led initiatives, there were so many ways to get involved that I had never even heard of.
It felt like someone had placed all these opportunities right in front of us on a silver platter. Interests I had always had but never knew how to pursue suddenly felt achievable.
I'm already excited to get involved next academic year, and it is another opportunity to continue building my Employability Passport while doing something I genuinely enjoy.
Becoming a more confident scholar
If there is one thing I took away from the Summer School, it was not just new contacts or new opportunities, it was confidence.
Confidence to walk into a room without overthinking. Confidence to introduce myself first. Confidence to ask questions instead of staying quiet. Confidence to believe I actually belong in these spaces.
The Employability Passport is not just about employability. It is about personal growth too. I never thought I would be involved in learning how to code and and improving my IT skills. But becoming a scholar has provided me with enriching experiences.
It has encouraged me to become someone who is willing to say yes to opportunities, try something new even if it involves juggling and trust that every experience adds something valuable.
Looking back, I joined because I wanted the financial support.
I left with a community, new friendships, a growing network, more confidence, and a completely different perspective on what being a Claverton Scholar means. And I would say that is a much better deal.
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