STEM Graduates into Business

Recruit a skilled graduate now
STEM Graduates into Business

Incentive payments of up to £3,600

Small & medium enterprises (SMEs) in Devon can now recruit skilled, recent graduates within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields and receive an incentive payment of up to £3,600.

The STEM Graduates into Business project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), supports SMEs to recruit recent graduates with fresh, innovative ideas and the drive to develop professionally. Employed as a paid-intern for either six or 12 months, STEM Graduates into Business can offer flexibility to small and medium businesses looking to meet current market demands.

Return on your investment

Utilising the extensive channels of the University and its partners, the project unlocks opportunities to raise the visibility of your business to graduates whilst advocating the benefits of employment within an SME. 

The right people with the right skills in your team will energise your business. The project provides access to determined graduates with fresh, innovative ideas and the drive to develop professionally.

Ultimately through this project, more talented graduates will be retained in Devon which in turn will help strengthen the wider local economy.

Recruitment with a difference

  • Incentive payments of between £1,800–£3,600, for internships six–12 months.
  • Free advertising of your internships on regional and national graduate platforms.
  • Promotion of your vacancies through exclusive University of Plymouth and strategic partner channels.
  • Supported creation of an eye-catching advert.
  • Coordination of the application process.
  • No recruitment fee.
Get in touch with our team to find out more.

Employers we work with...

Meet the team

For STEM graduates

Benefits of working for an SME

There are over 5,000 SMEs across Devon that bring much to the local economy in terms of business output and employment. Graduates can overlook them in favour of large, well-known companies and miss out on the unique experience that working with an SME can provide. Working for an SME has many benefits including:
  • opportunities to work on key projects from the start
  • a varied workload in a more personable working environment
  • the potential of being given responsibility from an early stage
  • exposure to cutting-edge innovations and new-to-market products
  • a better chance to get noticed for your achievements by management
  • gaining exposure across the wider business, providing you with a more rounded experience.

Register your interest now and search job opportunities.

Our partners

Project funding

STEM Graduates into Business is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Utilising this funding, the project aims to:

  • address SME innovation challenges through graduate internships focused on transformational business projects
  • raise leadership and management capability levels in SMEs, particularly regarding recruitment and employment
  • create a growing network of graduate employing SMEs across the area, leading to longer-term opportunities for graduates and their retention in the local economy.

The funding for this project is secure until 30 March 2021, regardless of the outcome of Britain’s departure from the European Union.

More information about University of Plymouth projects funded by the European Development Fund