Funding for industry internships
Scottish businesses considering offering internships to science graduates are being invited to bid for partial funding of the placements from the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC).
The initiative aims to connect promising graduates and post-graduates with businesses operating within the wider aquaculture sector, in a move that should support the Scottish Aquaculture 2030 Vision for Growth and help shape the industry leaders of the future.
SAIC will contribute £5,000 towards the cost of up to five 12-18 month graduate internships, as well as providing two one-day workshops: one delivering training on CV writing and interview techniques; the other an entrepreneurship and innovation day.
As SAIC’s CEO, Heather Jones, explains: “SAIC is working closely with the Scottish aquaculture industry to identify what more we can do to help ensure that businesses have access to the skills they need to thrive, now and in the future. These new co-funded internships will connect emerging talent with innovative industry projects, delivering real value to the companies involved, the sector as a whole and graduates looking to advance their careers. This, in turn, will help forge even stronger links between businesses and academia in Scotland.”
While it is anticipated that each internship will be as individual as the company applying, all must include full-time work for 12-18 months; a defined project that will deliver real value for the company and equip graduates with essential business skills; and an assigned mentor or supervisor within the company. Funding will then be awarded on the potential value of the industry project to the company and the quality of training experience likely to be gained by the intern.
And, because a more diverse workforce will ensure that the industry has its pick of the best talent available, it is hoped that several of the co-funded internships will be taken up by female graduates from science, technology or engineering.
Heather adds: “Nurturing emerging talent is essential for the long-term growth of the industry. It is why the SAIC Scholars Connect Plus supports 20 funded MSc places and why we hire interns to work for us on innovation each year. This new initiative is a great opportunity for companies – particularly the many SMEs working across the Scottish aquaculture sector – to gain additional funding and support to help host a graduate internship. Equally, it will lead to great opportunities for graduates, female and male, to secure employment in the Scottish aquaculture industry.”
Companies interested in applying can find out more and download an application form at http://scottishaquaculture.com/saic-to-co-fund-industry-internships-and-help-add-to-skills-bank/
