DRIVEN programme

European Social Fund and Department for Work and Pensions logos

The GRADS for D2N2 project is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and is part of the ESF High Level Skills programme. ESF supports activities to extend employment opportunities and develop a skilled workforce. The GRADS for D2N2 project is delivered by the University of Derby as part of the High Level Skills consortium which also includes Nottingham Trent University, Derby College, Nottingham College, and Nottingham City Council.

The Driven programme is to support SMEs to access and retain our student and graduate talent. It's been running since 2018 and has been extended until the end of 2023.

230+organisations supported**Since 2018

300+internships provided**Since 2018

£160kawarded for graduate recruitment**Since 2018

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.

What's on offer?

Part-funding for graduate roles — 400 hours

Employ a graduate for at least 400 hours over three months and we will pay £1000 towards the cost. It can be a one-off temporary role or the subsidy can be put towards a full-time, permanent graduate role. You can use this offer multiple times and are welcome to apply for the fully-funded 80 hour internships too.

We also offer a full recruitment service for free, which includes advertising the role, reviewing applications and shortlisting, as well as supporting with interviews, if required.

We will pay your company the subsidy once the 400 hours have been completed.

Is my business eligible? Enquire now More about internships

Two young professionals talking in foreground; colleagues in the background

Fully-funded internships — 80 hours

Under this scheme, your business could receive 80 hours' work experience from a student or graduate of the University, at no cost to you. Again, we provide free recruitment support including advertising the role, reviewing applications and shortlisting, as well as supporting with interviews, if required.

You can use this offer once but you are welcome to apply for the part-funded 400-hour internships too.

Enquire now More about internships

Is your business eligible?

To qualify for the Driven programme, your organisation must:

have fewer than 250 employees
be based in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire (D2N2 area)
have not received more than €200,000 in aid over the last three years (we can provide further information)
not be more than 25% owned by an enterprise that in itself is not an SME
not have an annual turnover that exceeds €50 million or an annual balance sheet that exceeds €43 million.

Employer stories

Hear how employers have benefitted from student and graduate talent.

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.

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.

Student and graduate stories

Hear the other side — read how some of our students and graduates have benefitted from internships.

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.

Find out more

To find out more about the Driven programme and see if it could benefit your business, contact our Employer Engagement team today:

T: +44 (0) 1332 592939
E: driven@derby.ac.uk