Canterbury Christ Church University and Unitemps are inviting regional businesses to take advantage of a unique opportunity to access skilled student and graduate talent at significantly reduced cost.

The Unitemps Micro-Internship programme offers match-funded placements designed to help organisations enhance capacity, tackle short-term projects, and develop future talent pipelines. With £1,260 in funding available per internship, businesses can secure support for up to half of the wage cost.

Strategic resourcing

In a competitive business landscape, Unitemps recognise that optimising resources while maintaining quality is essential. The Unitemps Micro-Internship Programme provides employers with a strategic opportunity to:

•  Secure £1,260 in match funding per intern
  Covering 50% of the salary for a full-time placement over four weeks (or the equivalent part-time), the funding offers a substantial saving on temporary staffing costs.
• Access motivated, work-ready students and graduates
  Interns come from a wide range of disciplines at the University, bringing fresh insight, digital agility, and up-to-date knowledge.
• Tackle business-critical projects with smaller overheads
  Whether you need to progress a marketing campaign, audit internal processes, develop content, or support operational delivery, micro internships offer a flexible and cost-efficient staffing solution.
• Streamline recruitment through Unitemps
  All administrative aspects, from advertising and shortlisting to payroll, are managed through Unitemps, saving your business time.
• Develop your future talent pipeline
  Internships offer an excellent way to assess potential employees in a low risk setting, while supporting your organisation’s commitment to skills development and community engagement.

Programme details

• Internships must be set up by July 2025
• Funding covers 50% of staff costs, £1,260 per project

Each internship must provide meaningful, project-based work that supports student development while delivering tangible business outcomes.

Who should apply?

This initiative is particularly suited to:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking affordable, skilled support
• Start-ups requiring flexible resourcing to deliver time-bound projects
• Regional employers looking to build relationships with the university and shape future graduate talent

Next steps

To discuss potential internship projects or to request the programme leaflet, please contact Toby Lucas-Smith: toby.lucas-smith@canterbury.ac.uk

We also encourage you to share this opportunity with fellow businesses in your network who could benefit from skilled support and co-funded placements.