Student Business Partnerships (SBPs)

The Benefits of SBP Roles

• Gain paid employment that offers flexible hours around your studies with supportive employers

• Develop and enhance important employability skills that can make you stand out in the jobs market and even count towards your Exeter Award.

• SBP roles are available throughout the year.

• Part-time roles are available during term-time as well as full-time roles during the holidays.

• The Internships Team work with a variety of employers, from large organisations such as Councils and the NHS, to small and medium sized companies, and start-ups.

• There are roles available in many occupational areas: Administration, Archaeology, Charity, Consulting, Data, Digital, Drama, Ecology, Education, Events, Film, Finance, Heritage, IT, Law, Marketing, Project Management, Psychology, Publishing, Quality Assurance, Sales, Science, Social Enterprise, Sustainability, Trading Standards... the list could go on!

• Our current vacancies can be viewed on Handshake by searching for SBP in the job search.

• To receive our weekly student internship vacancy e-bulletin please sign up here.

• To apply for SBP roles, you must be a current student at the University of Exeter.
• Incoming students can apply for SBP roles once their offer has been confirmed.
• You must have student status for the duration of the internship.
• You must be located in the UK while you are working.

Further eligibility details can be found on every internship job advert.

• All SBP opportunities are advertised on Handshake and can be found by searching 'SBP' in the jobs section.
• You can download and complete the application form attached to each advert.
• When you have written your application, you can upload it to the job on Handshake.

Full instructions can be found on every SBP advert.

Further Support

• Job application and interview resources can be found on My Career Zone Digital.
• For 1:1 support you can request an appointment with a Career Zone Adviser by emailing careers@exeter.ac.uk
• If you have any questions, you can contact the Internships Team at internships@exeter.ac.uk. 

How much will you get paid?

The university recommends that employers pay you at least £12.00 per hour which is the National Living Wage (London rate). Some employers will offer more depending on the nature of the role and the skills and experience they need.

How will you get paid?

You will be employed by the company and added to their payroll system. Your wages will be paid into your bank account so make sure you have shared your bank details.  You can ask your employer how often you will be paid - this can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

If you have any queries about your pay, you can speak to your line manager or contact the Internships Team at internships@exeter.ac.uk

• To help you get started, the team will send you a guide - Making the Most of your Internship

• W‌hen you begin your internship, you will recieve an induction so you can learn about the company's procedures, processes, and health & safety.‌‌

• Your manager or supervisor will meet with you at regular intervals to review your progress and offer any support.

• Remember, you can use the university's Career Mentor Scheme to apply for an experienced professional to help you navigate your new job, support you to apply for your next one, and for general careers advice. The scheme runs for 6-months twice a year.

• The Internships Team are available for support and advice throughout your internship.  Contact the team at internships@exeter.ac.uk or call 01392 722617.

If you need accommodation in Exeter while you complete your internship, the University can offer en-suite accommodation over the summer. For more information, take a look at the Accommodation website.

You can also find rooms or apartments to rent on Zoopla, Spare Rooms,StuRents,Rightmove and Gumtree.

Your feedback is really important to us and helps to shape our service. We want it to be the best!

Eat your heart out!

As your internship comes to an end, the team will send you a survey which takes about 6 minutes to complete.  To thank you for completing it, you can opt in to enter our quarterley prize draw to win a £50 Just Eat voucher. Yum!

Blog all about it

Did you know we have a student blog where you can learn about the experience others have had on their internships - check them out here.

If you want to submit a blog, you can contact Jenny Woolacott-Scarr in the Career Zone.

Learn about the experience of other students who have secured internships through the SBP scheme... take a look at our case studies.

Amanda Searle | Student Employment Support Officer

Amanda has been at the university for 7 years and coordinates the advertising and account management for the Internships Team. Amanda is extremely knowledgeable about all the internship schemes which means she can provide a brilliant service to students, graduates, academics, and employers and is always happy to help with any queries.

Kitty Ashfield | Student Employment Administrator

Kitty joined the Internships Team in February 2023 and is working towards a Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship at Exeter College.  Kitty supports the team with advertising, promotional activity, and communications. With a talent for design, Kitty creates engaging content for our social media channels to raise awareness of the employment opportunities available to Exeter's student community.

Olivia Osborne | Internships Assistant

The team wouldn't be complete without our very own intern!  Olivia is a second year Business Management & Marketing student at Exeter and a member of the Business & Finance Society (BFS).  Olivia helps us to provide ongoing support to students during their internships and manages student feedback.  She is also a keen networker in the local area - look out for Olivia's new vlog about the best networking events in Exeter. 'Olivia Recommends' is coming soon...

Andrea Hodges | Employment Schemes Manager

Andrea oversees student employment at the university including internships, graduate recruitment, funding schemes (A2i), and career mentoring. Andrea works with academics, professional services, and external employers to create employment opportunities for all students and graduates.  As an experienced education professional, Andrea is passionate about the ongoing development of the service and is always looking at new initiatives and opportunities to collaborate.

Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn

To view our SBP Terms & Conditions, please click SBP T&C's.

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