Questions?

Here are the things people usually ask. If we've missed something, we'd love to hear from you.

What salary can I expect?

The 3-month internship offers a competitive package of £10,000. If you progress to the 3-year Product Leaders Programme, the starting salary is £50,000 per year.

Where is this Leadership & Innovation Incubator based?

Both the 3-month internship and 3-year Product Leaders Programme are based at our Exeter office. If you were to continue at Sparx after those 3 years, there may be opportunities to head up teams in our Bristol or London offices.

Do I need a specific degree?

You need to have completed a degree before you start the internship, but we don't require a specific subject. We value attitude, curiosity and a diverse skillset far more than any particular academic background.

Is this Leadership & Innovation Incubator just for new graduates?

No. While it's great for new graduates, it is an all-round skills builder so it also suits people coming from other backgrounds like teaching, software engineering, project management, or starting something of your own. What matters most is your mindset: curiosity, pace, and a pull towards fixing real problems that matter.

What does the application process look like?

We know applying for roles can be annoying and we respect your time. We keep things simple and we're transparent about every step.

Stage 1: A short written application (a small number of questions, no CVs or cover letters).
Stage 2:If you stand out, we'll invite you to record a brief video answering a couple of follow-up questions.
Stage 3: A virtual screening call, a chance for us to learn more about each other and for you to ask anything you like.
Stage 4:An in-person assessment day at our Exeter office, where you'll meet our CEO and a range of Sparx team members.

How will the 3-year rotational plan look?

Every stage is designed to build the breadth and depth you need to lead a Sparx product.

Our whole Leadership & Innovation Incubator is adaptive and personalised to the individuals that join us, but here's one example of how the 3-year rotations could look

3-Year Product Leaders Programme

Months 1–3

Understand Every Team

One week with each team across the business: SST, Engineering, Product Design, Data, Content, Community and more. Carry out tasks and research projects to build a full picture of how Sparx works.

Months 4–6

Customer Success & Support

Deep dive into Intercom support and coaching meetings. Understand our customers, their pain points, and how the product serves them at scale.

Months 7–9

AI & Prototyping

Work with our AI enablement lead on AI experimentation, rapid prototyping and innovation. Learn to turn ideas into testable solutions fast.

Months 10–15

Innovation

Embed yourself within our Discovery team and the latest product to come out of it. Find out what true fast-paced innovation and a ‘fail fast’ mindset looks like at Sparx.

Months 16–21

Data & Content

Learn how data underpins our algorithms, models and decisions, and how we create content to cater for the needs of all students.

Months 22–27

Product Management & Design

Take on product management responsibilities across Sparx Science and Lesson Planner with a focus on product design, stakeholder management and end-to-end ownership.

Months 28–36

Prepare to Lead

Understand growing a product, commercial strategy, selling to customers and planning for scale. Rejoin the Discovery team to learn about the product you will take ownership of. Prepare to step into your role as a Sparx Product Manager.

Can the plan change?

Yes. The programme is designed to be flexible. Things change a lot in 3 years and rotations can be adapted based on your strengths, feedback and business needs.

Is the internship a guaranteed path to the Product Leaders Programme?

No, it isn't automatic. The internship is designed to be valuable in its own right, something you can be proud of and a strong addition to your CV. If you do exceptionally well, we may invite you to join the 3-year Product Leaders Programme. That decision depends on mutual fit and our confidence that the programme is the right next step for you.

Is the Product Leaders Programme a guaranteed path to a permanent role at Sparx?

No, it isn't automatic. The programme has been built to set you up to move into a permanent leadership role at Sparx, but the final step depends on performance, readiness, and mutual fit. If it isn't the right move for you at that point, you'll still come away with valuable experience, strong examples of ownership and delivery, and skills you can take anywhere.

Do you offer visa sponsorship?

Not currently. Applicants must have existing UK work rights to be eligible for the programme.

Ready to shape the future of education?

If you spot problems and feel a pull to fix them, if you love learning and move with pace, and if you want to build teams and products that improve millions of lives, we want to hear from you.

Register your interest below

Enter your email to be notified when we open applications for September 2027.

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