Derby Talent Programme

The Derby Talent Programme is a scheme that provides funding for student and graduate internships. The programme funding has now all been allocated for this year and we are working on new opportunities to begin in September 2025.

If you are interested in recruiting University of Derby students or graduates, our Student Employment Agency (SEA) can help you find candidates with high-level skills and huge potential. Get in touch with the SEA to discuss recruitment options at: sea@derby.ac.uk.

Develop your talent pipeline

Our students and graduates have high-level skills, fresh thinking, and huge potential. By offering them work opportunities, you can bring new skills into your business, help them develop, and build your talent pipeline.

In particular, Derby students and graduates will:

have good digital skills and experience of using a wide range of technology
be capable of using their knowledge to solve real business issues and problems, because we build this 'real world learning' into our courses
be curious, passionate about learning, and be able to adapt to change
have the latest subject-specific knowledge
add diversity to your workforce.

Find out more

To find out more about the recruitment support available, please contact our dedicated Business Enquiries team.

Hear from employers

We spoke to some employers on video to find out how they benefitted from student internships.

Think Ocean - Hugo expresses his passion for having student interns working at Think Ocean and the impact they have on his organisation.

Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance - Paul shares how having an intern at Derby Food 4 Though Alliance has helped the charity to achieve goals and complete tasks which would otherwise be on hold because they are so busy helping the local community.

More employer stories

Just-Ice Directors, Sally and Gavin Murray

Graduate skills for Just-Ice

Ethical ice cream company, Just-Ice, took on a funded graduate intern to help them develop a delivery strategy to support their new e-commerce app.

Head and shoulders shot of Richard Beevers from Customer Plus

Interns for Customer Plus

Watch an interview with Richard Beevers from Customer Plus about how Derby interns have benefitted his company.

Citizens Advice recruit Derby interns

Citizens Advice Mid Mercia has recently recruited two new Derby interns to help with its digital marketing, thanks to support and funding from the Productivity through Innovation programme.

Accounting intern for Derby Museums

Derby Museums recently hosted one of our Accounting students for an internship. Find out about their experience of employing student talent.

Head and shoulders shot of Rebecca Erskine

Interns work remotely for Yellow Bird Marketing

Rebecca from Yellow Bird Marketing and Communications talks about her experience of employing a student and graduate, who worked remotely because of the pandemic.

Hear from our students and graduates

We spoke to some of our students on video about their experiences and what they gained from doing an internship.

Research and Development Intern - Thomas did an internship through the Derby Talent Programme at Think Ocean, where he researched ways to prevent plastic pollution in our oceans.

Marketing Assistant - Mthabisi talks about how his marketing internship with Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance helped him gain workplace skills and knowledge in a field he wants to pursue as a career.

Student and graduate stories

Internship helped build my portfolio - and my confidence

An internship through the University's DRIVEN programme took student Kayleigh Ayriss to the heart of Westminster.

Close up of Thomas Berrington, Marketing and Media student

Why my internship was a real eye-opener

Thomas Berrington's internship at marketing agency Crocstar added practical knowledge to his academic theory. But, first, it shocked him.

Head and shoulders shot of graduate Maciej Rus

Maciej's remote working graduate internship

Graduate Maciej talks about his remote working internship during the pandemic.