Graduate Internships Scheme

Business boost for start of 2014 offered by graduate internships scheme

A new graduate internships scheme to help businesses and other organisations get off to the best possible start in 2014 has been launched by the University of Essex (UK) in partnership with Santander Universities.

The Essex Graduate Internship Project is looking to support up to 60 three-month placements at local, regional and national companies with subsidies available of up to £1,500 for each one established.

The placements will be coordinated by Essex Interns – the University’s in-house internships team – and will offer employers the chance to complete projects they would not normally have the resources to undertake.

Possible internship roles can include project officer, market researcher, social media manager and competitor analyst.

Susan Stedman, Employer Engagement Manager, said: “This is building on our incredibly successful internship programme.

Getting involved in the project is an ideal opportunity for businesses, charities and other organisations both large and small, to secure a high calibre graduate to work on a project or piece of work that might have been put on hold or would not otherwise be completed due to budget or time restrictions. Taking part in the project also gives graduates the perfect opportunity to enhance their experience.”

With many economic indicators predicting a continuing upturn in the UK economy and growing optimism underlined by increasing consumer spending, the University is hopeful these new internships can support economic growth in the region and beyond.

The scheme gives employers the chance to access extra support, expertise and support in an affordable way by providing a £1,500 subsidy towards the wages of interns.

The benefits to employers include affordable access to high quality graduates, support to get key projects off the ground, an injection of new skills and fresh perspective. Internships can also serve as a trial period for potential recruitment to a permanent post to test the value of the role.

Alongside financial support the University of Essex offers a free vacancy handling service to promote opportunities to skilled graduates. The Essex Interns team will also collate the applications for employers to make the process easier although the final decision on any appointment will remain with the employer.

The programme is open to any organisation that can offer a three month, full-time graduate level placement opportunity for a 2013 graduate, but the graduate must have started work on their placement by Monday 13 January 2014.

Interns must also be paid a minimum of £1,000 per month for the first three months or at least National Minimum Wage, whichever is greatest, for the duration of the internship. However Essex Interns encourages employers to offer a rate suitable for the calibre of candidate and the level of work undertaken.

Full eligibility details and an application form are available on the University of Essex’s website at: http://www.essex.ac.uk/careers/employers/funding.aspx

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