New internship programme launched in Hull to boost Covid recovery

Students and graduates across the Humber region will benefit from a new internships programme which aims to support SMEs in the economic recovery from Covid-19.

The Humber Internships Programme (HIP), delivered by the University of Hull, will offer supported 12-week internships with small and medium-sized businesses across the region.

A dedicated HIP team works together with interns to provide opportunities to gain invaluable industry experience, while delivering real benefit to SMEs, offering access to the best of the region’s talent.

Pauline Mitchell, Programme Manager at the HIP, said: “One aim of HIP is to enhance the competitiveness and growth of SMEs in the Humber region.

“Small businesses who are looking at ways to get back on track after the challenges of COVID-19, and recruit highly talented and motivated graduate interns are encouraged to apply.

“Many companies are only now able to contemplate opening their doors again and within a short time of the programme being live, the team are speaking to almost 30 businesses who are keen to explore the benefits of internships.”

SMEs will employ and support the intern and the HIP programme will provide a 40 per cent subsidy toward the costs, whist also working alongside the SME and the intern throughout the 12-weeks to make sure everyone benefits and grows from the experience.

The annual Student Development Survey by the Institute of Student Employers (ISE) has found that the UK's leading graduate employers have either stabilised or increased their recruitment in 2021.

John Duffy, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Hull, said: “Life has shifted amid the COVID-19 pandemic – and for recent graduates and the class of 2020, career prospects look very different to previous years.

“Our Humber Internships Programme is being offered to the graduate class of 2020, with the double benefit of supporting their employment prospects whilst helping businesses get back on their feet following the COVID-19 lockdown.

“Our students who are graduating this summer, as well as recent graduates, are entering a new and largely unknown job market.

“The Humber Internships Programme will help match those graduates with skilled roles and respected employers across the region.”

To be eligible for the programme, SMEs must be based in one of the Humber’s four local authority areas (Hull, East Riding, North or North East Lincolnshire) with students also living in the region and due to graduate in 2021 or 2022.

HIP can also support 2020 graduates depending on their current employment status.

Running until June 2023, HIP is supported by grant funding from the England European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

Find out how the Humber Internships Programme can help here.

HIP’s expert team will be available for one-to-one sessions with SMEs at this year’s Humber Business Week.