Warwick Internship Programme (WIP)

The Warwick Internships Programme (WIP) replaces the Warwick Summer Internships programme (WSI) and brings together UK-based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), charities and Warwick undergraduates (including finalists) with the opportunity to benefit from the many advantages afforded by a high-quality full or part-time internship (or a combination of the two). Our ongoing conversation with SME partners has kept us informed of the continuing challenges presented by the UK's current economic circumstances - we know that this might not be the right time to host an intern. We continue to listen, to support the needs of SMEs, and we look forward to working with you when the time is right.

As of 2021, all internships should be possible to undertake remotely; in the current situation, students may only be able to commit to part-time and remote-working roles due to challenging new accommodation, financial or health issues, or caring responsibilities. In addition, please be aware that the summer term comprises a great deal of revision and exam activity.

WIP takes place flexibly over 222 hours (formerly a 6-week block), in a pattern and overall duration decided by the employer and their intern, thanks to generous donations from Warwick alumni and friends. This maximises the opportunity for both parties to overcome the challenges of Covid-19 and collaborate on meaningful, value-added work regardless of geographical location within the UK.

Grants are fixed (at £2100, £2500 in Greater London), but are based on covering WIP minimum wages of £9 per hour (£10.55 in London, local Unitemps rates at Warwick) plus employer payroll costs. Internal Warwick departments share the cost of the internship with Student Opportunity, paying for the latter 73 hours (2 weeks) of the internship, including any part of the internship that falls within the new financial year. Internships take place around students’ individual studies, exams and caring commitments and may exceed 222 hours at additional cost to the host organisation. Access to grants is competitive, subject to successful recruitment of a Warwick undergraduate student, and terms and conditions apply.

The overarching aims of the Warwick Internship Programme:

  • Employers to resource a project or idea with an enthusiastic and capable student, at little financial cost. Benefit from fresh ideas and a new perspective, with the possibility of future student employment in the medium and longer term.
  • Students to overcome barriers to accessing valuable work experience, a learning opportunity, to develop their knowledge of the work place (in particular, remote working), and to develop transferable skills that will help them with career decisions.

Key elements of support for host organisations:

  • Support with defining an attractive internship opportunity, quality assurance process for vacancies, including detailed feedback and editing
  • Targeted, free student marketing for your internship across an anticipated 2000+ undergraduates from all faculties
  • Good practice-informed resources and support around recruiting and hosting a student, with an emphasis on remote working
  • Supporting appointed interns with preparatory and on-internship resources during the programme

Considerations before you commit

External internship hosts must satisfy the eligibility criteria - see the WIP 2021 Programme details

Your responsibilities as a Warwick internship host are:

Before recruitment

  • Decide on the purpose/content of your internship opportunity in line with business needs, and consider how this role would be carried out remotely. . Think about how it will provide professional experience/development, and check it's not just a substitute for low-level temp work
  • Develop a job description/person specification on our Word template (using the mandatory programme wording where provided) and upload to our myAdvantage jobs platform by the programme deadline (online and 1:1 support provided)
  • Carry out your usual selection process, within the window set by the programme (two weeks from vacancy closing date)
  • Recognise normal recruitment risks: your role may not attract a suitable candidate; your chosen candidate may select another opportunity. In the current situation, applicants may only be able to commit to part-time and remote-working roles due to challenging new accommodation, financial or health issues, or caring responsibilities. We ask that you extend flexibility wherever possible.
  • Recognise programme risks: you may lose grant eligibility if you do not follow programme actions and deadlines; funding is limited to around 80 internships and will be allocated to the first internships confirmed by both host organisation and student. There is a risk that you will not secure funding. Information on the remaining number of available grants will be updated daily on the External and Internal programme pages.
  • Recognise funding risks: Make an advance decision about how you will proceed if not allocated a grant. Ensure that you are able to pay the intern yourself if making firm offer, or that you are clear with candidates that your offer relies on being awarded a programme grant. University of Warwick departments seeking an intern should be aware when setting start dates and work pattern that Unitemps wages can only be covered by Student Opportunity to the end of the financial year 2020/21, and will not cover the final 73 hours in any case.

If you successfully recruit

  • Begin your internship within the programme's start date window (mid-April to the start of July), with a work pattern that ensures 148 hours will have been undertaken by 30th July. Use our calculator to work out a timeline for your individual internship dates.
  • Directly employ the intern at or above programme minimum (£9/h or £10.55 in London, Unitemps scale for internal Warwick departments) for at least 222 hours, full-time or part-time, on your payroll, with appropriate PAYE contributions, provision for holiday and sick pay, as per any other employee. NB The grant is intended to cover 6 weeks at 37 hours (36.5 hours at Warwick), with a small buffer for your employer payroll costs.
  • Line manage them as you would your other employees, with the acknowledgement that this is a learning experience and that they may need additional support
  • Provide training and reviews for the intern, who may have little prior experience.
  • Pay the intern’s salary on time, then claim back any grant (available in arrears, via valid invoice).
  • Provide a professional, Covid-secure place of work and/or apply your Working from Home policy in line with other team members – it is your responsibility to discuss the use of suitable equipment, undertake appropriate Health & Safety considerations, and ensure that insurance and any confidentiality protocols are in place.

If you do not secure funding

Subject to your commitment to pay the intern the wage in your vacancy advert, you can still benefit from the key elements that the programme has to offer, including feedback on your advert and internships plans, access to Warwick student talent and employer support throughout.

If you are interested in finding out about WIP 2021, please visit WIP 2021 info for external hosts or WIP 2021 info for Warwick departments

To read more and register an interest click here