Unemployed graduates in marketing, communications, media and journalism can apply for two National Empowerment Fund internships in Sandton focused on content design and digital multimedia production.
The opportunities will place you inside a financial-services organisation where marketing content is used to explain funding, support entrepreneurs, communicate with applicants and tell the stories of NEF-backed businesses.
You can choose between Marketing Content and Design or Digital and Multimedia Communications, depending on whether your strengths are closer to writing and visual design or photography, video and digital storytelling.
Applications close on 15 September 2026.
Which NEF internship can you choose?
The NEF has two opportunities in this intake:
- Trainee: Marketing Content and Design, Ref nef_000192
- Trainee: Digital and Multimedia Communications, Ref nef_000191
Both are based in Sandton and sit within a professional financial-services setting, but the day-to-day work will be different.
The first is more closely connected to marketing materials, written content and visual communication. The second focuses more heavily on photography, videography and multimedia production.
What will you work on in Marketing Content and Design?
If selected for the Marketing Content and Design internship, you will help develop materials used in NEF marketing and communication activities.
Your work can include content for:
- Brochures
- Booklets
- Infographics
- Presentations
- Funding guides
- Applicant education material
- Campaign collateral
- Social media artwork
You may also support writing, editing, research and communication activities.
The experience will give you a practical view of how a financial organisation turns detailed information into content that clients and the public can understand.
Why is content design important at the NEF?
The NEF works with funding, business development and entrepreneurs, so some of the information it communicates can be technical.
Good marketing content needs to make that information clearer without losing accuracy.
If you join this team, you may help turn funding information, programme details or business stories into visual and written material that is easier to follow.
That combination of communication and financial-services exposure can be useful if you want to work in corporate marketing, financial communications or content strategy.
What will you do in Digital and Multimedia Communications?
If selected for the Digital and Multimedia Communications internship, you will gain practical experience producing visual and digital content.
You may travel to NEF investee sites, photograph businesses, record interviews and help package those stories for digital platforms.
Your work can include:
- Photography
- Videography
- Entrepreneur interviews
- Video editing
- Reels and short-form video
- Event coverage
- Executive interviews
- Social media content
- Digital storytelling
This stream is especially suited to graduates who prefer producing content on location rather than working mainly with static marketing material.
What could you photograph and film?
You may help document entrepreneurs, NEF-supported businesses, events and other activities connected to the organisation.
That means your subjects could range from business owners and executives to operational sites and public events.
You will need to think about how images and video tell a clear story while still representing the organisation professionally.
This is a useful skill if you want to move into corporate video, branded content, digital journalism or social media production.
Will social media be part of the work?
Digital platforms form part of the multimedia opportunity.
You may help create content for social channels and gain exposure to basic monitoring and analytics.
That means you will not only produce photos or videos. You may also begin learning how organisations evaluate whether digital content is reaching and engaging the intended audience.
This adds a useful marketing dimension to the creative work.
What qualifications do you need?
Both internships require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
Accepted study areas include:
- Marketing
- Communication
- Corporate Communication
- Media Studies
- Public Relations
- Journalism
- Related disciplines
You must also be unemployed and must not currently be participating in another internship or learnership programme.
Which internship is better for you?
The better option depends on the type of work you want to build experience in.
The Marketing Content and Design internship may suit you if you are interested in:
- Graphic design
- Marketing communication
- Written content
- Campaign materials
- Corporate communication
- Information design
The Digital and Multimedia Communications internship may suit you more if you enjoy:
- Photography
- Video
- Editing
- Interviews
- Social media
- On-location content production
Both can lead into broader careers in communications, but the practical skills you develop will be different.
What makes the financial-services setting useful?
You will be producing communication inside an organisation connected to funding and business development.
That gives the work a different context from general consumer marketing.
You can gain experience communicating topics linked to entrepreneurship, finance, funding and business growth while still developing creative and digital skills.
This combination can be useful for future work in financial-services marketing, corporate communications, public relations and business media.
What skills can you build?
Depending on the internship you choose, you can develop experience in areas such as:
- Content creation
- Graphic design
- Photography
- Videography
- Editing
- Corporate communication
- Social media
- Digital analytics
- Interviewing
- Research
- Campaign support
- Financial-services communication
You will also gain experience working within a professional organisation where creative work needs to meet business and communication objectives.
Where could this experience lead?
The experience can support early-career development across several fields.
Possible directions include:
- Digital Marketing
- Corporate Communications
- Graphic Design
- Multimedia Production
- Content Marketing
- Social Media
- Public Relations
- Videography
- Photography
- Financial Communications
- Brand Content
The strongest advantage is that you will be able to combine creative skills with experience inside the financial-services sector.
How do you apply for Marketing Content and Design?
Applications must be submitted through the NEF careers portal.
Apply for the NEF Marketing Content and Design Internship
Reference: nef_000192
Location: Sandton, Gauteng
Contract: Internship
Remuneration: Market related
How do you apply for Digital and Multimedia Communications?
Applications must also be submitted online.
Apply for the NEF Digital and Multimedia Communications Internship
Reference: nef_000191
Location: Sandton, Gauteng
Contract: Internship
Remuneration: Market related
Applications for both opportunities close on 15 September 2026.
