We support a range of work experience opportunities in dynamic smaller businesses across the UK.
These include undergraduate summer placements and graduate internships which generally last between eight and twelve weeks, and sandwich placements up to twelve months . All Step opportunities have a genuine development focus, are structured and often project based and importantly, are all paid!
Can I get a student or graduate to work for free?
Not from us! Think about it: you have an important piece of work to be looked at, or potentially a full time position to fill. Don’t you want the very best possible person? I guess there may be some independently wealthy kids out there or some that might be able to rely on the bank of mum and dad but in truth it’s not our demographic. Our students and grads are used to working hard, have bags of initiative, enthusiasm and enterprise and are actively seeking opportunities in smaller businesses. They do however, need to be paid.
Do I have to pay you guys too?
Afraid so. We provide a full, professional 360 degree placement service: from taking your brief, sourcing and shortlisting candidates to dealing with all the admin including paying the candidates and supporting you and them throughout, but you only pay us when we have successfully sourced the right person for you.
Isn’t there funding for placements and internships, like apprenticeships?
Sometimes. And if we can access funding on your behalf we’d be delighted to do so. But public funding is generally ring-fenced for what is called ‘market failure’ -where something isn’t working very well and the government thinks it should intervene. Step isn’t about failure –we have too many, thousands, of fantastic stories where we have helped smaller businesses attract really talented graduates.
What exactly can graduates do?
Have a browse through some of our case studies and business blogs here
What if things do work out – can I keep them on?
Yes of course (assuming they’ve finished their studies). Around 85% of our graduate internships end up with a formal offer to the candidate -a record we’re really proud of. Our placement fee is designed to spread the cost across the initial placement with a balance to pay if you offer a full-time position only when you are completely satisfied that you want to keep the candidate on.
Very few placements end prematurely, but both you and the candidate have the right to end a placement at any stage, giving just one week’s notice. And you only pay for the number of weeks worked.