Our Careers and Enterprise Team are working in partnership with Durham County Council to launch a new Internship Programme, aimed specifically at small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in County Durham. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the initiative offers Durham based SMEs the opportunity to take on Durham students and graduates as Interns, benefitting from their skills and knowledge to fill skills gaps, and ease workloads.
The initiative provides 50:50 match funding for three-month internships, making it more affordable for businesses to engage high-calibre candidates. Building on the success of the award winning Durham Internships and Collaborative Enterprise Project (DICE), this programme aims to drive innovation and business growth in County Durham.
By providing access to skilled students and graduates and supporting graduate-level work, the initiative encourages the development of high-growth businesses, promotes the retention of Durham University talent in the region and supports the local economy.
The programme offers several benefits for participating SMEs, including:access to advanced skills and knowledge, comprehensive recruitment support and the ability to trial potential longer-term hires with reduced financial risk, helping to develop their talent pipeline.
This is also a positive opportunity for students, who can undertake Internships to contribute fresh ideas, support project completion and stimulate innovation, as well as developing valuable work experience and employability skills.
An independent report on a similar project, (DICE) highlighted significant positive impacts of having an intern with 75% of participating SMEs experiencing growth and 55% developing new products or services, proving the benefits to both business development and economic growth in the region.
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