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Graduate Internship Scheme

Our Graduate Internship Scheme can provide regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a cost-effective approach to recruiting graduate talent for a 12-month period.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Graduate Internship team work closely with organisations to ensure the recruitment process runs smoothly. The team can support role development, sourcing the graduate, the recruitment and selection process, as well as being a point of contact for the organisation.

The ERDF Graduate Internship Scheme is now closed for new applications. If you'd like to find out other ways the University can support you with your recruitment needs, please contact Donna Bainbridge on 07976199512.

Access support to find graduate talent for your business

The project will place 244 graduates into regional SMEs. Following assessment, if eligible and accepted onto the scheme, the organisation will receive funding towards the graduate’s salary.

The company will pay a minimum salary of £18,000 per annum to their successful graduate and the scheme will offer £500 a month in subsidy. The proportion of the salary funded will be dependent upon the date the graduate commences employment. Salary subsidy cannot continue beyond the graduate’s April 2023 salary.

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Eligibility

As the Graduate Internship Scheme is funded via ERDF, there's a rigorous process and compliance procedures which we have to follow in terms of the eligibility check and recruitment.

We're currently only able to support SMEs that are registered (and operating or trading) in the following areas:

  • Sunderland
  • Newcastle upon Tyne
  • Gateshead
  • South Tyneside
  • North Tyneside
  • Northumberland.


We're currently unable to support organisations in County Durham.

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In addition businesses must:

  • Be based in the NE LEP area (excluding County Durham)
  • Be part of the private sector
  • Be a small or medium-sized enterprise
  • Have received less than €200,000 in De Minimis funding in the last three years
  • Have a trading arm or generate an income.

 

At the time of applying for the scheme, and at the point of the recruitment process, the graduate must also not be an existing employee of the organisation

If you're unsure as to whether your business is eligible to access support, please contact the team at internships@sunderland.ac.uk. 

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The process

  • Completion of the registration form to check eligibility
  • Once confirmed, the company completes the business proposal document outlining in detail the main skills and competencies of the role
  • The team use the details to write the advert and role profile, approved by the company
  • The position is advertised via all university channels
  • All applications are sent to the organisation to shortlist
  • The team can arrange interviews and manage the recruitment process
  • The successful candidate is offered the internship and completes the equality and diversity form
  • The company completes the jobs created form along with a financial commitment form confirming their bank details. A signed copy of the contract is to be provided to the team.
  • Copies of the graduate’s payslip and a bank statement are submitted to the University on a monthly basis
  • Completion of additional forms including the new product/process review form and the employment increase form are towards the end of the contract.

Funding from ERDF

The Internships and Enterprise project is receiving up to £3,326,399 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.

Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation and businesses, create jobs, and boost local community regenerations. 

For more information visit the gov.uk website.