Columnist

Newcastle University's "try before you buy" internship scheme

North East based small and medium sized companies are being encouraged to leap ahead in business with Newcastle University’s ‘try before you buy’ ERDF funded postgraduate internship scheme. When North East SMEs need to realise a business improvement project to move ahead in business, but do not have the required expertise or resource, the companies could take advantage of this subsidised initiative recruiting a Newcastle University postgraduate student to undertake their in-house project. At the culmination of the internship, should the company have a staff resource requirement, the tried and tested student could be offered a permanent contract thereby avoiding up to £5000 in recruitment costs.

The University offers postgraduate placement students from the Faculty of Science and Engineering Faculty following programmes in the Environment, Renewable Energy, Marine, Transportation, Engineering, Civil Engineering and Geosciences amongst others. In addition, internships are being sought for highly qualified MBA student and medical students.

The Newcastle University masters and doctoral students undertake in-house projects for North East SMEs lasting between 2-6 months. The student will be guided by a Newcastle University academic who will bring an extra layer of support to the project. Projects could include an energy audit, redesign of new products and processes for energy efficiency or new markets, improved procedures for disease diagnosis, feasibility studies, and introduction of business planning systems or market research.

Due to the University’s successful bid to the Department of Communities and Local Government for funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the University is able to subsidise the student’s £250 a week salary by 50% thus leaving a salary of £125 from the employer. In addition, the business can take advantage of a project grant to contribute towards the cost of project consumables.

Bryn Jones, project director, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for a small or medium sized company to take advantage of the high level skills of our postgraduate students at a subsidised rate, with the students tackling a problem or concept that they may not have the resource to deal with themselves. We have now extended the project to include students from other faculties including a number of medical students looking for industry experience before completing their doctoral studies as well as MBA students.”

Any interested companies are encouraged to contact the project team on 0191 222 5259 or email postgraduates4business@ncl.ac.uk

The project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government. The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

For more info contact melanie.dunnett@ncl.ac.uk, call 0191 222 5259 or visit www.ncl.ac.uk/business/knowledge/NSC_SupportPartnerships.htm

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Newcastle University .