Graduate placements
Recent graduates work on live innovation projects inside businesses, with academic support from partner universities.
How graduate placements work
A graduate placement places a recent graduate within a business for a fixed period to work on a defined innovation project. The business gains capacity and fresh thinking, while the graduate gains practical experience of developing a new idea from concept to test.
Nottingham Trent University, the University of Derby and the University of Nottingham coordinate placements together, with EU funding helping to make them affordable for smaller firms.
Shaping the project with the business
Before a placement begins, the business and the university agree the project scope, the outcomes expected and how progress will be reviewed. This keeps the work focused on a real problem rather than general tasks.
Throughout the placement, the graduate has regular check-ins with a university supervisor and with a named person in the host business.
Support during the placement
Placements are supported at each stage, so that the project continues to move forward even when the host team is busy with other work.
From enquiry to placement
- An initial conversation about the innovation challenge
- Agreement on the project scope, timescale and outcomes
- Matching with a suitable graduate and supervisor
- Review meetings and a final report on results
Placement availability and eligibility depend on the project, so contact the team early in your planning.