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Careers, Employability and Enterprise
The bustling Careers and Enterprise Centre entrance in the Palatine Centre

Welcome to the SME Information Hub

Thank you for visiting the SME Information Hub, where you can find tailored information and guidance on how Durham University's Careers Service can help you engage with students and harness the best talent to take your business forward.
Explore the hub
Staff from Careers and Enterprise walking into the Office

Supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

We understand that SMEs can face a range of difficulties when recruiting university students and graduates.

However, we firmly believe that SMEs can offer an unrivalled graduate and work experience, and we have developed this hub to help your business navigate recruitment from Durham University. With the SME Information Hub, you will be able to find information and support relating to all aspects of student and graduate recruitment, from starting your recruitment to onboarding support. There is also information on support available from the Careers & Enterprise team, as well as the wider University. If you would like to receive further support from Careers & Enterprise and discuss anything in further detail, please visit ‘The Employer Services Team’ page below. If you would like to share any feedback or request any additional content to be featured as part of the hub, please get in touch using the feedback form below.

Support from Durham University

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Targeted Recruitment Support for SMEs

The Employer Services team offer bespoke support for SMEs to recruitment our students, offering a platform for them to boost their campus image. In this video, we look at one of the ways in which this is achieved, through our 'Think Big, Choose Small' - SME Careers Fair, and how businesses and students find the experience.

Learn more about Careers Events

Offering a Position

Want information on another topic? Got some feedbacks for the hub?

We would be delighted to hear your thoughts on the SME Information Hub! If you have any suggestions for topics to include, or would like to give any general feedback, use the link on the right to let us know!

Access the Feedback Form Here

Starting Your Recruitment

Staff from Careers and Enterprise team in the Palatine Building

Interviewing Candidates

This section covers everything you need to know regarding what kind of interview questions to ask, adaptable based on your role specification. We also provide some clarification on your duty as an employer to provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Devising Interview Questions

   

University student
The intern has completed around 90 hours’ worth of work which involves rebuilding one of the Android applications from scratch... they are performing at a very high level to our company’s delight.
Coltraco Ultrasonics
Employer
2 People working together, one of them is writing on a notebook and the other one is using her computer

Onboarding and Support

Having successfully recruited a candidate, this section covers the last part of the recruitment journey - onboarding. The linked page below discusses advice on planning out the induction process, and includes a checklist to help you create a smooth experience for any new employee.

Induction Support

Get in Touch

The Careers & Enterprise Centre is located on the ground floor of the Palatine Centre. Opening Hours: Monday - Friday (9:00am - 5:00pm).

Careers & Enterprise Centre

The Palatine Centre

Durham University

Stockton Road

Durham

DH1 3LE, UK

 

Tel: +44 (0)191 3341437

Logo of the European Regional Development Fund and Northern Powerhouse Logo of Durham University Careers and Enterprise