Graduate Internship Scheme

The FSB is supporting the Higher Education Funding Council for England's (HEFCE) Graduate Internship Scheme which aims to bring graduates and small and medium sized companies together to deliver graduate level work experience. The internships offer companies up to 6 months project based internships. The potential benefit to your business includes:

• Improving existing products and services
• Creating new products and services
• Increasing market performance and new marketing opportunities
• Gaining useful skills

To find out more about the graduate internships available in your area please click on the relevant link.

Buckinghamshire New University

Number of Places Offered: 40

Bucks New University will work with employers to facilitate the employment of graduates, and will handle the recruitment administration on behalf of the employers. This will streamline the process and minimise the workload for employers. For employers paying the minimum wage or above, the University will provide a salary subsidy of £1,200 from the HEFCE grant to each intern as a contribution to wages and training, and employers are required to match-fund the subsidy in order to provide the graduate with a 12-week internship opportunity.

For further information contact the Open 4 Business team on 01494 605 244.

Dowload: Flyer

Canterbury Christ Church University

Number of Places Offered: 35

The University will contribute up to £1500 to employers towards the cost of paying minimum wage to an eligible graduate who takes up a 13 week internship in your business, providing low-cost extra help for your business and valuable experience for a qualified person.

For further information contact Samia Abdiche, tel: 01227 782093

Download: Flyer & Case Study

Oxford Brookes University

Number of Places Offered: 60

Make a difference to your business by taking part in an innovative new project offered through Oxford Brookes University Careers & Employment Service to employers in Oxfordshire and the surrounding area. Under the scheme employers are offered £1,000 in financial assistance towards the costs of employing graduates for a minimum of 3 months. Employers have to agree to pay the graduate a minimum of £7 per hour or above.

For further information contact Sue Holton, tel: 01865 484670

Download: Flyer

Graduate Jobs South

Number of Places Offered: 80

The universities of Southampton Solent, Southampton and Winchester are working with Graduate Jobs South to offer businesses the opportunity to take on a graduate intern for a minimum of 12 weeks, however the internship can be extended for as long as 12 months. A grant payment is available of £1,350 to employers after week 9 as a contribution to wage costs.

For further information contact Meredith Smith, tel:023 8031 9734

Download: Application Form and Employer Guidelines 

University of Brighton

Number of Places Offered: 35

The University of Brighton offers employers the opportunity to recruit a graduate at a minimal wage cost for a period of 37 hours per week for up to six weeks. Other time schedules can be negotiated as long as it doesn't exceed the total number of hours. Business owners will rececieve a grant of £6 per hour towards wage and employer costs.

For further information contact Sam Rhodes, tel: 01273 642855

Download: Flyer (deadline date listed does not apply)

University for the Creative Arts

Number of Places Offered: 75

The University for the Creative Arts has been awarded Government funding to help unemployed graduates gain valuable industry experience in the economic downturn. They are offering 75 graduate placements within businesses lasting for 10 weeks.

For further information and to request an application form, please email: ucainternships@ucreative.ac.uk

University of Kent

Number of Places Offered: 100

The University of Kent internships are being organised and supervised by Kent Innovation & Enterprise at the University. The scheme offers employers a grant of £500 per month, for up to three months towards the cost of employing a graduate. The company must then contribute the remainder of the salary to at least the national minimum wage. The graduate role can be full time or part time, and is managed on an hourly basis - 35 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent. There will be an agreement between the University of Kent and the company, with the company issuing a contract of employment as per any employee.

For further information contact the Open 4 Business Team, Tel: 01494 605 244

Download: Flyer; Application Form; Guidance Notes

University of Portsmouth

Number of Places Offered: 90

The University of Portsmouth has received funding for 90 paid graduate internships and is looking to place graduates with local businesses. Employers will receive £1,200 towards the graduates salary for the duration of the internship which should last for a minimum of 12 weeks. The scheme offers business a way to access talent and a flexible way to take on a graduate who could make a valuable contribution to the firm.

For further information contact Alice Hickman, tel: 02392 842703

Download: Introduction to Internships 

University of Reading

Number of Places Offered: 45

The University of Reading invites employers to take advantage of a new scheme, GradSEED, which will pay employers £1,000 to employ a graduate for up to 13 weeks. During that time employers will get to see a graduate and although there is no commitment at the end of the scheme they would hope that the graduate is employed. The employers main commitment is  to pay the national adult minimum wage during the 13 weeks. All recruitment fees are paid for by the scheme. Help and support is provided by the University Careers Advisory Service before selecting an intern and during the time of the placement.

For further information contact Carey Widdows, tel: 0118 378 8350 

University of Sussex

Number of Places Offered: 175

The Sussex Internship Programme is run as a partnership between Wired Sussex and the University of Sussex. The programme has been piloted for 3 years and now substantially expanded as a result of HEFCE funding delivering valuable experience to participating interns and real benefits for companies across Sussex.  Placements last up to 30 days and employers have to commit to pay the national minimum wage and the employer's NI costs.

All places on the scheme have now been filled. Employers can still register and their details will be kept should any of the companies participating in the scheme withdraw. Register online today