Graduate internships available to boost local businesses

University of Staffordshire is offering local businesses the chance to recruit a part-funded graduate intern.

For the second year running, the University’s careers team has won Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) to deliver 50 local graduate internships through its Graduate Accelerator Internship Programme.

Staffordshire and West Midlands employers will a receive a bursary for each graduate that they recruit from any course and only need to cover 30% of the cost (approximately £950 + VAT). Companies can then hire the graduates afterwards with no extra recruitment costs.

Career Liaison Officer Claire Bashford explained: “This is a fantastic opportunity for graduates to get hands on industry experience and for businesses to access the wealth of expertise that they can offer.

“Whether it’s general support, administration, accounting and finance, events, marketing, digital, cybersecurity, engineering or arts, we have skilled graduates who can help!”

The Graduate Accelerator Internship Programme is designed for 2024 graduates looking to gain valuable experience, develop industry-relevant skills, and fast-track their career growth.

The internships cover 160 hours and will be delivered between March and July, with a recommended 20 hours per week for eight weeks. The programme successfully ran for the first time last year, with several graduate interns going on to secure full-time employment.

Events Management graduate Charlotte Perry completed an internship with Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID. She is now a full-time Marketing Assistant with the BID team, supporting content for its social media and website, along with events and activities promotion.

Charlotte said: “The Graduate Accelerator Internship Programme and its dedicated team have been an incredible support system. With their guidance, I was able to seize a career-changing opportunity, leading to my current role – now made permanent. Their regular communication, interview follow-ups, and ongoing check-ins were invaluable. To any recent graduates or students approaching graduation, who have no idea where to start in looking for the next step, I highly recommend making use of this service – you won’t regret it!”

Claire added: “This is a unique opportunity for businesses to try out graduate talent before they buy and we hope to repeat the success of last year.

“The internships are available on a first come, first served basis. So, if you need an extra pair of hands to support your business and projects across any sector and industry then please get in touch.”

Interested businesses can find out more by emailing graduatehub@staffs.ac.uk 

University of Staffordshire’s mission is to connect talent with opportunity. With 62% of its students being the first in their family to go to university, it is recognised nationally for its work on social mobility.

There are campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and London, offering a wide range of modern, career-focused courses. Students have access to next-level teaching, digital innovation, real-world learning and connections into industry.

The University is ranked 2nd in the UK for quality education (Sustainable Development Goal 4, THE Impact Rankings 2024).

As a catalyst for change, it is helping to transform communities and wider society and powering an eco-system of enterprise and regional growth.

In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 68% of its research was classed as world-leading or internationally excellent, with 87% of its ‘research impact’ judged to be very considerable or outstanding.