The 2020 Scheme has been redesigned to offer even greater support to SMEs, start-ups and charities during this challenging time. You can now employ one of UWE Bristol's students with full-funding provided; boosting your business, helping to aid economy recovery and providing essential work experience.

The Scheme provides funding of £2,960 for an eight-week, remote-working internship (full-time option), which will bring vital, up to date and relevant skills into your organisation while giving you the opportunity to talent spot future leaders. The salary provided has been informed by guidance from the Living Wage Foundation in respect to national living costs and appropriate pay.

All eligible organisations can advertise remote-working internship opportunities on CareerHub (login required) that all our student have access to.

How the scheme works and funding arrangements

Overview and eligibility

SMEs*, start-ups and charities are eligible for the scheme. To take part, advertise your internship opportunity to students on CareerHub (login required), then recruit using your current company remote recruitment methods. To confirm funding for your internship, you must follow our step-by-step process below.

Internships must be carried out remotely and be project-based to add value to the student's CV, incorporating an element of training or mentoring.

*SMEs with 250 employees or less with an annual turnover of less than 50 million.

Intern eligibility

  • Open to UK and EU domicile students.
  • Students must be in year 1, 2, placement, or their final year graduating in 2020.
  • Masters', postgraduate and PhD students are not eligible.
  • Students completing UWE Bristol-accredited foundation degrees in partner further education colleges will be eligible providing there is evidence that they are continuing their studies with UWE Bristol in September 2020.
  • You can nominate an eligible undergraduate who has contacted you speculatively.
  • You cannot recruit an undergraduate who has previously worked for you in any paid capacity.

Scheme criteria and funding arrangements

Payment and working hours
  • The subsidy to businesses is £2,960 (VAT exempt) per intern. Funding is limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • You need to be able to pay your intern £370 a week via PAYE before you receive the subsidy from UWE Bristol.
  • Internships will be for a total of 296 hours which equates to eight weeks if full time (or flexible if part time). You can choose to employ the intern for longer if you wish, but this will be at your own expense.
  • Your intern’s working week must remain at a maximum of 37 hours as denoted in the internship agreement. If they are working more than 37 hours per week, their salary must be adjusted accordingly.

Internship recruitment

  • All internships must be completed by the end of September 2020.
  • The intern must be employed by the business, not self-employed.
  • If you are a private sector organisation, the intern must not have previously worked for you in any paid or unpaid capacity.
  • If you are a third-sector organisation, interns that have previously volunteered with you are able to participate in the scheme.
  • If you are related to your intern, you must disclose it on the registration form.
  • Each organisation may only recruit one intern to participate in the scheme. If you have a further opportunity that you’d like to advertise, please email the UWE Bristol Internships Team directly at [email protected].
  • For further help in creating a suitable opportunity, recruitment and managing a remote internship, view their employer resource document.

Funding arrangements

From UWE Bristol:

  • "At the beginning of the internship, we will send you the PO number for you to claim the subsidy providing we have received all finance information in advance.
  • The payment terms are a minimum of 30 days from the date of invoice.
  • We will not process invoices until we have received all the documentation.
  • Failure to notify us of your internship starting, late return of your internship agreement and/or relevant financial documentation will delay the payment of your salary subsidy –and may result in the subsidy not being allocated or paid for your intern.
  • If, for any reason, the internship ends prematurely, we will require the subsidy to be reimbursed (as a proportion relating to the time actually worked). You must inform the UWE Bristol Internships team immediately of any such developments. We expect you and your intern to try to come to a resolution, however, we are here to assist you with any grievances should they arise."

For any further information on the matter or the steps to take to get involved, please head to the UWE Bristol website.