B2C Employability Education UX Writing Case Studies Content Strategy

White Rose Industrial Physics Academy: Case Studies Hub

The White Rose Industrial Physics Academy (WRIPA) is a collaboration between the universities of York, Leeds, Sheffield, Hull, and Nottingham. Its mission is to improve the employability of physics graduates by strengthening relationships between higher education and industry.

One of WRIPA's key initiatives is to publish real-world success stories from physics students and graduates to help others explore diverse career paths and increase confidence in applying their skills outside academia.

Situation

When I joined, the WRIPA case study hub was underutilised and sparsely populated. Without a consistent pipeline of new content, students struggled to see themselves reflected in existing stories or understand the full range of career opportunities available to physics graduates. The few available case studies lacked standard formatting and inclusive language, making it difficult to compare different roles or understand key takeaways.

There was also no centralised system for managing interviews, permissions, or publishing workflows, which created bottlenecks in content delivery. WRIPA needed someone to rapidly increase the number of published case studies while improving quality, clarity, and sustainability of the content process.

Task

My role was to increase the number of published case studies by independently sourcing, interviewing, writing, editing, and publishing content that met WRIPA's strategic goals. I was also responsible for developing reusable tools and templates to help future contributors maintain the same level of quality and consistency.

Toolkit:

WordPress HTML5 CSS3 Google Workspace Microsoft Office Canva

Action

Over two internship periods, I was embedded within the WRIPA team to scale up the employability case study content pipeline. I worked end-to-end on the creation and publication of case studies, from sourcing participants to final web publication. My work focused on increasing the volume, consistency, and accessibility of the content, while laying the foundations for others to contribute efficiently after my role ended.

I had three main areas of impact:

  • Content Creation and Editorial Consistency
    • Conducted over 50 interviews with current students and recent graduates across WRIPA's partner universities, covering placements, internships, and first graduate roles.
    • Analysed responses to identify key themes, compelling quotes, and high-impact messaging relevant to physics students exploring their future careers.
    • Wrote and edited clear, accessible case studies using plain English and inclusive language, highlighting skills, career progression, and personal insights.
    • Used WordPress and HTML/CSS to publish each case study directly to the WRIPA case study hub, ensuring layout consistency and web accessibility.
  • Workflow and System Improvements
    • Developed a reusable case study template with defined structure, tone, and field guidance to speed up future content creation.
    • Authored a practical style guide to ensure future interns and staff could follow consistent editorial standards.
    • Created interview preparation materials and internal guidance to streamline onboarding for future contributors.
    • Independently managed all editorial workflows, including scheduling interviews, handling participant consent, storing interview data securely, and managing version control from draft to publication.
  • Outreach and Visual Content
    • Designed accompanying infographics and visual content using Canva for WRIPA's social media and website.
    • Improved the visibility of case studies across WRIPA's digital platforms, helping drive student engagement and attract contributors for future content and events.

Result

The number of case studies in the WRIPA hub increased significantly during my internship periods. The content became more consistent, searchable, and representative of the wide range of career paths available to physics students.

  • Case study coverage expanded to include a broader mix of employers, sectors, and job roles.
  • Students reported that the case studies helped them feel more confident in exploring careers they hadn't previously considered.
  • WRIPA's employability team now has a full set of tools, templates, and editorial guidance to continue publishing high-quality content after my departure.
  • Social media engagement with WRIPA's employability content increased, helping drive traffic to the case study hub and attract contributors for future events.

Below are some of my live case studies: