Northumbria Enterprise and Business Support (NEBS) Internship Scheme

Northumbria Enterprise & Business Support (NEBS2) Internships Programme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and provides the opportunity for you to work in small and medium sized businesses (SME) in Tyne & Wear or Northumberland on a minimum salary of 18k pro-rata with the potential to secure a permanent role. 

As well as a professional salary, an internship can provide an excellent opportunity to gain practical  experience, develop your skills, enhance your employability, learn if a role is right for you.

66% of graduates on our internship programmes to date were recruited into full-time posts at the end of the internship!

Internships are full-time for up to 6 months and are open to Northumbria students graduating in 2022, or who have graduated within the last three years. You will be employed directly by the business.

The Scheme is now also open to students looking for 2022 Summer internships.

What is an SME?

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent the fastest growing sector of the economy and are an important growth area for graduate recruitment. An SME is defined as employing fewer than 250 people. New and upcoming businesses tend to be SMEs and they cover almost all business sectors.

Benefits of working for an SME

Working for an SME can be extremely rewarding and comes with many benefits including:

• Fewer staff means exposure to all parts of the business meaning you are more likely to have more variety in your role, which can be a great way to accelerate your learning and build your confidence, and enable you to see real impact in your role

• You will work more closely with staff at different levels including senior colleagues such as business founders, directors, CEOs and managers. an intimate team of staff. This means access to their unique experiences, insights, and support, and an opportunity to create networks

• Small and medium businesses are often flexible in how they work, and with less staff and a more focused workforce, they can respond to change more quickly than larger businesses. New ideas and innovation can easily occur and you can bring or develop innovative ways of thinking and feel more valued as an employee.

• SMEs can provide faster career progression and quicker increase in earning potential

• Open to new ideas and change

• Things move fast in SMEs - business growth followed by internal promotion is a typical pattern within the SME industry, especially here in the Northeast

"Because I’m working for a smaller company you get a lot more responsibility in the role and lot of trust is put in you so you get to do things you might not necessarily get to do in a bigger company." Luke - Junior Web Developer

How do I apply?

To register your interest in the Scheme and receive exclusive early access alerts when new opportunities are added click here. You can also view all current internships being advertised.

All NEBS internships are advertised on JobsOnline. If you are graduating in 2022, please login and make sure your contact information, including your personal email address and phone number are up to date on the system. If you graduated in 2021 or before and have not done this, you can re-register here.

The method of application will be stated on each individual internship (usually a CV and covering letter, which should be tailored to the role). Your application will go directly to the business who will shortlist, interview and recruit via their usual methods.

If you are interested in getting some work experience with a particular small to medium sized businesses, feel free to tell them about Northumbria Enterprise and Business Support.

Application Support

If you would like some help with your CV or advice and guidance on any aspect of the recruitment process see the Graduate Futures Website or email nucareers@northumbria.ac.uk. You can also access online resources in CareersOnline.