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Santander Universities Employability Scheme

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Santander Employability Scheme.

Do you need an extra hand on board? Are you thinking of creating an internship or work project for a student? Would a grant of up to £1,000 towards their salary be helpful?

The Entrepreneurship Centre, in collaboration with Santander Universities, is making grants available to assist SMEs with the cost of hiring a University of Cambridge student or recent graduate for an internship or work project.

This grant of up to £1,000 can be used to fully or partly fund the placement.

Participants on the Accelerate Cambridge programme are eligible to apply for funding of £1,260.

Internships or work project placements

  • Minimum duration of 70 hours (55 hours if located within the boroughs of Greater London).
  • Pay rate must be in line with the National Minimum Wage (or the National Living Wage, if located within the boroughs of Greater London).
  • No more than 35 hours per week.
  • Working hours, if mutually agreed, can be distributed across the year but must always be in line with the stipulated pay rates.
  • Work can be completed remotely, on location or in a hybrid format by mutual agreement.
  • Students/graduates who have completed a funded placement cannot be funded for a second or extended placement with the same business.
  • SMEs must operate the placement in accordance with all employment laws and regulations.
  • Any salary expenditure above £1,000 (or £1260 for Accelerate ventures) must be funded by the SME in line with the stipulated hourly pay rate.

Eligibility criteria

  • Must be a for-profit company registered and based in the UK.
  • Placement must be offered to a University of Cambridge student (undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD) or recent graduate.

Application and recruitment process

Applications consist of a two-step process.

  1. The SME must apply for interim approval of funding prior to recruitment of a student or recent graduate from the University of Cambridge. Once this application is approved, funds will be set aside for the internship or work project placement.
  2. When the recruitment process has been finalised, the student/graduate must register on the Santander Becas website and complete the Employability Scheme at Cambridge University application form. Once their details have been verified, funding can be released to the SME.

SMEs are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment process including advertising, interviewing and selection.

The University of Cambridge Careers Service offers a recruiting service where vacancies can be posted. There is also help and advice available from their Employer Engagement team at [email protected].

Should you wish to take on a student from Cambridge Judge Business School, you can register and post your vacancy on the School’s job board – the prime source of internships and projects for 500+ experienced postgraduate business students of Cambridge University.

For more information, email [email protected]