Funding for student and graduate talent

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.

Subsidies for student and graduate talent

We currently have subsidies available which could help your company with the financial costs of employing a student or graduate. These subsidies can usually be put towards permanent or temporary roles. We can also provide free recruitment support to help you find the right candidate.

The funding comes from several sources and usually requires you to meet certain eligibility criteria, so it's easier if you contact our dedicated Business Enquiries team and they will signpost you to the relevant fund for your business.

Enquire about funding

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.

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.

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 funding we currently have available and whether your business is eligible, please contact our dedicated Business Enquiries team.