Herbert Loebl Export Academy Internship
This internship was created with the aim of leaving a lasting legacy to North East-based SMEs. It provides resources to help the business community take products and services to a global market.
About Herbert Loebl OBE
Herbert Loebl arrived in the North East of England as a refugee from Nazi Germany. He studied electrical engineering at King’s College, Newcastle (the predecessor to Newcastle University). He went on to found Joyce, Loebl & Company.
Joyce, Loebl & Company specialised in the production of high-tech scientific equipment. It focussed mainly on the medical laboratory analysis market. The local company employed more than 500 people and exported 70% of its products. This made Loebl an important industrialist and a major employer in the region.
In 1973, Herbert Loebl set up Enterprise North. This was the UK's first voluntary business support agency, supporting 200 business start-ups. It became the prototype for government-funded business support agencies around the UK. Loebl later became a pioneer of technology transfer. He worked with local universities on research.
Herbert Loebl was widely decorated at home and abroad for his commitment to industrial development and to the education of his employees. Joyce Lobel & Co was awarded the Queens Award for Industry in 1967, while Herbert was awarded an OBE in 1973. Both awards were for services to export. Herbert gained an MPhil in 1978 and PhD in 1985. His research involved the economic contribution of refugees in the North. In 2003, Herbert received an honorary Doctorate of Science from Newcastle University.
The Herbert Loebl Export Academy at Newcastle University
In 2010, Loebl held a series of four workshops in partnership with:
- UK Trade and Investment
- RTC North
- Newcastle University Business School
- nine regional SMEs
The workshops focused on the basics of:
- exporting
- market selection
- distribution strategy
- managing export risk
A mapping tool was introduced to enable participants to develop a forward-looking action plan. Mentors from existing exporting businesses supported the participants.
The Herbert Loebl Export Academy at Newcastle University was launched the following year. Its goal was to promote regional exports. The internship scheme was created shortly afterwards.
In 2023, MBA student Tarun Jindal was the successful candidate for the Herbert Loebl Export Academy Internship. He spent ten weeks working alongside the team at CrowdHouse Energy. They are a renewable energy innovation company based on the Newcastle Helix.
“This internship really helped me utilise all the MBA learning in practical business development.” Tarun explained.
“During the internship, I worked on a wide range of tasks, from market research, developing a marketing strategy, and supporting global expansion to applying segmentation, targeting, and position strategies to effectively reach the company’s target audience.”
Herbert’s daughter, Miriam Grabiner, works with the Business School every year to agree and support the next internship. She meets with both the business and intern to understand what experience and benefits they have gained from the experience.
“My father established this internship many years ago, so it's great to hear it has enabled such a successful project over recent months,” reflected Miriam. “What CrowdHouse Energy is continuing to develop sounds incredibly dynamic and exciting. Tarun’s contribution to the future expansion of CrowdHouse Energy is to be commended.”
“Herbert would be immensely proud of his continuing impact on business development in this region.”
Supporting business growth
CEO Richard Blackwell explained how the Herbert Loebl Export Academy Internship supported CrowdHouse Energy:
“The Herbert Loebl Export Academy Internship has given us the opportunity of having Tarun join us from the Business School and carry out a research project. This has been an extremely positive experience for us,” said Richard.
“We are using some of the research he carried out in our presentations to potential investors for our next phase of development.”
During the internship recruitment process, Richard met with several Business School students who were applying for the programme. Two of the students who applied for the internship were later offered full-time roles at CrowdHouse Energy instead. Richard was extremely impressed by their talent. He identified how they could help the company achieve its long-term growth ambitions.
"Newcastle University is counted as being one of the best universities in the north of England. So it was no surprise to us that the North East connection and extremely talented group of students would be of massive benefit to us as a business,” Richard reflected.
Work with us
Working with Newcastle University Business School can help you:
- solve a business challenge
- attract talent
- raise your profile, or
- develop existing talent
If you would like to work with us, please email external.engagement@newcastle.ac.uk