The University of Warwick is working in partnership with the University of Birmingham to offer 60 graduates from the West Midlands a head start in the jobs market.

Warwick and Birmingham have been given £96,000 from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to set up work experience opportunities in a wide range of local small businesses. 

The programme – IN-Place – The Graduate Internship Programme, aims to target all graduates from across the West Midlands region and assist them in securing suitable Internship placements.

The money that HEFCE is providing will be used to fund the cost of the graduate internships for small businesses. Graduates will also receive practical help before, during and after their internship, including mentoring, interview training and CV and Work Readiness workshops.

HEFCE has handed out £13.6 million to 50 universities across the UK to set up these graduate internships as part of the government’s Backing Young Britain campaign.

The funding will be used to pay the graduate over the four week placement and provide the administrative and strategic support required to ensure that both employers and graduates alike benefit significantly from scheme.

Stephen Ward, Head of External Relations at the Careers and Skills centre at the University of Warwick, said: “We are targeting specific sectors for the internships, including low carbon industry, digital industry, life science and pharmaceutical, and professional and financial services.

"This project will really open up the benefits of employing a graduate to businesses who, for many reasons, may not have considered such an option before. It also seeks to retain Graduate talent within the West Midlands which is beneficial for all.”

The first internships are expected to begin in March with applications being considered through the University Careers website.

Notes to editors

For more information, please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Communications Officer, University of Warwick, 02476 150483, 07824 540863, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk