The University of Bristol has launched an internship fund for companies hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
The Covid-19 SME Internship Fund will help businesses in Bristol, including charities, social enterprises and start-ups, and students looking for work experience.
The fund totals more than £100,000 and will be able to finance around 100 internships.
The money will be given to SMEs which can demonstrate their response to coronavirus-related challenges, how the company’s core activity will benefit, and intentions to retain interns on a permanent basis.
The scheme is open to current students and those who graduated from the University of Bristol in the past 12 months.
Guy Orpen, deputy vice chancellor of new campus development at the University of Bristol, said: “I am delighted that the university is able to give our students these opportunities through the Covid-19 internship fund, and at the same time help local organisations to play their crucial roles in supporting Bristol and its people at this time of need.”
The scheme is open to SMEs across Bristol, including those part of the SETsquared Bristol group.
Paul Forster, community manager at SETsquared Bristol, said: “Small organisations are significantly more likely to be affected by the myriad of challenges presented by the global pandemic and lockdown.
“SETsquared is really thrilled that the University of Bristol has announced the opportunity for SMEs to access fully-funded intern support from their students and graduates.
"This is the kind of backing our start-ups need to survive and thrive during these continually uncertain times.”
For more information on the internship scheme, visit https://bit.ly/COVID-internship-fund
