Santander Employability Scheme

Benefits

• Receive a Bursary while on the project
• Gain workplace experience
• Demonstrate your skills and creativity
• Input to projects and business development
• Enhance your employability, CV and work readiness

Eligibility

The scheme is open to all current matriculated Abertay University undergraduate students in their third and fourth years, and those who have graduated within the last two years. (Subject to change, please check suitability criteria before applying).

Applications are invited from students who fall into one or more of the widening participation groups. If you're not sure whether this is you, please check the widening access section for more details.

Details

·       Successful individuals will receive a donation of up to £1,000, depending on the type and duration of the project.

·       Projects can be either full-time or part-time, based on the organisation’s requirements. The total number of hours will vary, as it must align with the Living Wage and will be subject to change each year.

• Successful individuals will receive a donation of up to £1000 depending on the type and length of the project
• Projects can be either full-time or part-time, based on the organisation’s requirements. The total number of hours will vary, as it must align with the Living Wage and will be subject to change each year. 
• You must consider your eligibility to work in the UK to undertake a work project. Details regarding work eligibility and visas can be found at ukcisa.org.uk.
• The organisation offering the project will work directly with the student/graduate and make explicit arrangements with them concerning expectations, hours of work, responsibilities, and overall goals described in this agreement.
• The organisation will provide the student/graduate with a full induction to the organisation, including Health & Safety procedures, and outlining any statutory legislation covering, for example, the need for client confidentiality, intellectual property rights and data protection.
• If you are offered a project through the scheme, you will be required to sign an agreement document.
• Abertay University will pay a Bursary directly to you on the last working day of each calendar month for the duration of the project.
• Projects usually start in early summer, but can have a flexible start date.
• Students are required to see a Careers Adviser or Programme Coordinator before making an application to any project, to check for suitability.
• Applications will usually be in the form of a covering letter and CV. These will be collated by the Careers Service. Applications will then be forwarded to the organisation for selection.
• Project offers are made by the host SME.
• You are required to complete a short, online Santander feedback form at the end of the internship.
• You can only undertake one Santander work project with an SME in each year.

How to get involved

Keep an eye out for the communications emails from the Careers Team, which will feature the scheme. Alternatively, please email careers@abertay.ac.uk, and a member of our team will be happy to help.

Eligibility

• Your company is registered and based in the UK.
• You must be an organisation with 250 employees or less.
• Annual turnover of £50 million or less.
• You are a company, start-up, sole trader or partnership.

If you’re eligible, funding of up to £1,000 (No VAT) is available to fully fund the student or graduate through the work project – depending on the type of project you choose.

What types of work projects can I offer?

Work projects from all employment areas are encouraged, including: Business and Marketing, Human Resources, Life Sciences, Computer Science/IT, Cybersecurity, Food & Drink, Social Sciences, and much more. 

The projects are a great way to bring innovative ideas to existing projects, address skills or workforce gaps, or head up dedicated projects and campaigns. The Programme is particularly suited to SMEs wishing to employ students or graduates with a view to offering a permanent role post-project.

When considering participating in the scheme, it is essential to have a clear defined project or set of objectives with clearly defined timelines and deadlines which will benefit the SME and also create a valuable learning experience for the student/graduate.

If you wish to discuss flexible part-time projects through the Scheme, please get in touch.

Funding

• All monies from the Santander Fund will be handled by Abertay University.
• Abertay University will pay the student a bursary at the end of each calendar month.
• Students/graduates will be paid a bursary which is fully funded by Santander up to a maximum of £1,000 for their work on a project. The total number of hours must align with the Living Wage and will be subject to change each year.
• Any additional costs, such as holiday and sick pay, must be met by the organisation as appropriate.
• You cannot apply for further Santander Funding to:
  • Extend an existing work project (if the full £1,000 of funding has been exhausted).
  • Employ the same student or graduate after the project has completed. If the SME wishes to offer the intern a paid position after the project has ended, this will be at the SME’s discretion and be remunerated by the SME.
• The student/graduate will be a participant of the scheme and therefore no contract of employment is required to be offered by the SME to the student.

How to get started?

1. Check you meet the eligibility criteria as outlined above.
2. Request and complete a Proposal Form and send to careers@abertay.ac.uk.
3. Once we’ve approved your application, we’ll start advertising your internship at an agreed timeframe and collect all applications until the deadline date.
4. We’ll send all applications to you after the deadline date, so you can carry out interviews.
   • The SME will inform both successful and unsuccessful candidates at all stages of the recruitment process.
5. You will need to sign the Agreement Form before the project starts.

If you would like to discuss the Scheme, or need more information, please email careers@abertay.ac.uk.