Internships: A Beginner’s Guide Stephen Isherwood AGR Chief Executive Marc Lintern Director, Newcastle University Careers Service & AGCAS Board Member

The Business Case for Internships Students with relevant work experience are more likely to get a job Internship students are more likely to accept and offer, stay in your business longer and outperform peers Student demand for internships and placements is higher than ever Builds your brand on campus

Proportion of previous hires

Programme types Work experience Summer internship ‘Spring week’ Gap year Sandwich placement Year in industry

Structure “The one thing worse than not having an internship programme is running a bad internship programme” Professional services recruiter Target effectively Recruit the right person Structured induction Ensure colleagues will provide time for interns Provide meaningful work Pay them

Benefits for universities and our students Develops employability skills Improves academic performance Creates new employer links for universities Can be a course requirement Students increasingly expect placements Assists students and graduates into permanent work Many students want to stay local when they graduate

Internships and Placements 1–3 months to 6 months to 1 year Part or full time Term time or summer vacations Paid or unpaid* Undergraduate or postgraduate students or recent graduates May be linked to a students’ course Some placements may only be possible at certain times of year * Depending on whether the placement contributes towards a students’ course or is part of an award

Salary subsidies Usually linked to external funding; May be targeted e.g. growth sectors, locations, etc. May have specific employer requirements e.g. retention targets, small businesses

What is required of employers Willingness to provide evidence if needed by external funding bodies e.g. timesheets Willingness to provide paperwork if needed by universities or colleges e.g. H&S forms, evidence of insurance, placements assessment Clear brief for your student or graduate

How University Careers Services can help Direct or indirect access to set up placements and internships Careers Service Academic Departments Business Engagement Departments Recruitment advice and practical support

Getting in touch University home page – ‘Services for Business’ Careers Service – ‘Are you an employer’ Careers Service web address Employer contact details