The Downe House Global Internships Programme gives Sixth Form students an early introduction to work life in a global context. By gaining professional experience before university, students develop confidence, clarity about career paths, and a competitive edge. Placements are supported by the school, allowing students to experience real industries overseas while exploring different cultures. 

Daisy and Sage at GeTeCe 

This August 2025, Daisy and Sage spent the summer with GeTeCe, a leading Thai company specialising in flavours, fragrances, and cosmetic chemistry. The internship offered them hands-on experience across multiple departments, including finance, marketing, flavour formulation, and fragrance profiling. 

One of the highlights was a fragrance profiling session, where Daisy and Sage identified scent families and key ingredients, then smelt these within finished perfumes to understand how components combine in the final product. 

We discovered which ingredients were part of which families and could see how they worked in the finished product, it was fascinating!

– Daisy 

Another creative challenge involved recreating fizzy drinks: purchasing commercial drinks, tasting them, and adjusting flavourings to match the originals. This taught them precision, experimentation, and attention to detail. 

For Sage, one of the most memorable moments was a lab session making cosmetic eye masks. 

It was our first lab experience at GeTeCe and particularly special as we got to take home the products we made. 

– Sage

Beyond technical skills, both students gained insight into business operations and marketing strategy. 

I had assumed B2B companies didn’t need marketing, but we learnt how it differs from consumer marketing — it was eye-opening. 

– Daisy

From day one, the hospitality and warmth of everyone at GeTeCe made it easy to explore different departments and try new things. We left having insight into areas we never expected to enjoy.

– Sage

A Summer to Remember 

Through this internship, Daisy and Sage not only developed practical skills in science, chemistry, and product formulation but also experienced cultural immersion in Thailand, strengthened their independence, and expanded their understanding of global business. 

I had the best time at GeTeCe — learning so much about the business while experiencing the culture of Thailand. I am so grateful for this experience.

– Daisy

This placement exemplifies the purpose of the Downe House Global Internships Programme: giving students an international, hands-on opportunity to explore industries, gain professional insight, and develop personally in a supportive environment.