Let's be honest. Now is not the best time to be a graduate. The UK economy continues its slow and sluggish recovery, and although the Scottish economy appears to be faring better labour markets continue to be exceptionally tough places for graduates.

Across the world youth unemployment is on the rise. In the UK, recent data shows the unemployment rate exceeding 20% whilst graduate unemployment has reached its highest level since 1995. And recently, a HESA Longitudinal Survey into graduate destinations from 06/07 found 28% of graduates were still looking for full time work.

The possibility of yet another "lost generation" plagued by the psychological scars of long term unemployment remains very real despite government intervention north and south of the border. In November 2009 we felt compelled to act. It was an ethical and economic imperative.

Fast forward to November 2011 and we have placed 114 paid internships with the assistance of Scottish Government funding and employer contributions across the public, private and third sectors. It has been a huge success:

• 61% of graduates who used the service gained a full-time job soon afterwards.
• 44% of these graduates are employed by the same organisation they did the internship with.
• All tracked interns believed their internship helped gain them further employment. One intern said the programme was a ‘tremendous opportunity’ for graduates while another called it a ‘terrific scheme’ for those beginning their career.

Recently, the Scottish Government awarded us a grant to establish a graduate intern exchange between Lower Saxony, Germany and Scotland. For more information see “German exchange”.

If you are a company or an organisation interested in taking on a paid intern or would like more information about a funded intern or wish to donate to this venture, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .