Forty-five of our 2012 graduates are gaining invaluable paid work experience and enhancing their employability thanks to the new Warwick Graduate Internships (WGI) programme. The 8 and 13 week internships include roles at charities, law firms, IT companies, arts organisations, media, retail, the University and even a local MP’s constituency office. Two graduates are interning at a London-based video journalism company run by one of our 2010 Theatre Studies graduates, Catherine Allen.

German Studies graduate Elizabeth Hamilton’s internship is as an Assistant Financial Accountant with Home Retail Group:

The internship is going really, really well. I am really enjoying it and am learning heaps. Everyone here is lovely and willing to help me gain as much experience as I can in many areas, and they're happy to help me in any way - answering questions, giving valuable feedback.

The WGI programme is SUCH a great idea! It is amazing to get this experience in a field that I have been trying to get work in and not succeeding because I was lacking in experience. It's also great for making contacts and looking for future employment, hopefully with Home Retail Group. But I'll end up having some work references now too for my CV, unlike previously. A big thank you to the Placement Learning Unit for arranging all of this, and also to Warwick for sponsoring me through this internship!”

The Warwick Graduate Internships programme is funded by the Academic Registrar’s Office, DARO (Development & Alumni Relations), and our Santander Universities partnership, the ‘Santander Universities Internship’ scheme which has funded 50% of the salaries for 13 of the graduate internships.

Sue Bennett, Warwick’s Director of Student Careers and Skills, says:

We know that if students leave higher education without the four pieces of the employment jigsaw they can be disadvantaged in what is the toughest labour market for many years. The pieces are: a good degree from a good university; work experience; a record of achievement; and being able to present these experiences well during recruitment. This year we tackled the work experience challenge head-on by offering paid internships to our 2012 graduates who were not in work. We had a fantastic response from employers and are delighted to have placed 45 graduates, of whom 28 come from a widening participation background.”

The Warwick Graduate Internships programme forms part of a new suite of programmes delivered by the Placement Learning Unit, including Warwick Summer Internships, the internal Warwick Undergraduate Internship Programme (in partnership with the Deputy Registrar’s Office)and the Green Steps sustainability internship programme (in partnership with Monash University). Find out more about our internship programmes.