FAQ

Student & Graduate Placements

For Businesses

FOR EMPLOYERS

As an employer, how will my business or organisation benefit?

All our placements are low risk, flexible and are an excellent way to engage with prospective employees. It is an opportunity to bring in new skills, a fresh outlook and limitless enthusiasm to help your business succeed. We support you throughout the recruitment process and take care of payroll.

How much does it cost?

The costs vary depending on the programme and the size of your business. For more information about costs please email us at bright@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk 

What programmes do you have to offer?

We offer two programmes which are both aimed at helping advance any project which you may not have had the time to do, but that is important to your business. The types of projects could range from implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) or engaging with other staff members about recycling or active travel to helping with research or administration.

How does it work?

Once you have decided on the programme, we will help you pull together a project specification and then source the students and graduates to carry it out for you. The best bit is you get to choose the person who works with you. We will send a shortlist four or five candidates who we believe fit the profile, we then hand it over to you to interview and select your candidate.

Which programme is right for my business?

Environmental Placement Programme (EPP)

Placed students and graduates undertake projects with an environmental focus in businesses and organisations across Scotland.

Early Career Programme

Placed students and graduates carry out project-based work experience for the host company in a number of different disciplines.

Procedure for Adverse Weather Conditions ‘ Snow Days’

There is case law to the effect that if an employee’s failure to return to work is unavoidable then they may still be entitled to be paid. Further, if the employee is ready and willing to perform work, but is stopped by the employer through the closure of the premises, then the matter becomes more complex.

Bearing in mind the “do not travel” advice, The Business Partnership has put in place measures to ensure that we are not putting excess pressure on employees. Flexibility is the key. There are alternatives which TBP, in discussion with employees, may consider, these are:

Paying employees in return for their agreement that they will make up the time on their return
agreeing with the employee that they will take the time off as paid holiday
where facilities exist, allowing the employee to work from home.
In short, we should pay student on placement but host company can adopt the strategies outlined 1.e work from home, make time up etc

Hours of work/Holidays Changes

If the student wants to make any changes (ie take unpaid leave, reduce hours, work different days etc) then providing it’s cleared by the host company/supervisor then its fine to do so. All changes of hours and any agreements between the host and the intern regarding Hours worked per week, annual leave booking and agreeing unpaid leave, must be recorded on the timesheet and notified to Bright Green Business. Unpaid and exam leave should be for no more that 1 week or 5 days.

Extensions  should be for a minimum of 8 weeks and no longer than 1 year.

Pension

1. During the initial 12 week EPP Placement Interns are not in employment and receive an allowance rather than wage and do not pay tax or NI. The intern’s employment starts when they go onto extension on week 13.

2. Interns, under their employment contract (Extension), are employed by Bright Green Business and eligible to join our pension scheme after 3 months service during the extension period.

3. We, as employers have, under pension legislation, a further 3 months to ’postpone’ interns from joining the scheme for a further 3 months.

4.After a 3 month postponement interns will receive a letter from The Business Partnership/Bright Green Business with enrolment details.
Note that interns can opt out at this stage. We will pay the minimum legislated contribution. From 6 April 2019 contributions will be 3% for employer but 5% for employees.  Note that once the intern has chosen to pay into the pension and the contribution rate they wish to pay, they cannot access these contributions until they are eligible to retire, but they should be able to move the fund to another pension scheme when they move jobs.

5. Few interns undertake the 12 weeks EPP placement and then more than 24 weeks extension. BGB actively would discourage more than that as at that stage the Company themselves should be employing them.

Monitoring Visit

This is undertaken by Bright Green Business staff during the 12 week placement, the aim being to ensure that the internship is working well for the intern and for the host business. The staff member visiting the intern may also wish to talk to the supervisor and seek information on the progress of the intern and to discuss issues should they arise.

This is not a mentoring visit as this is really the role of the intern’s supervisor, ensuring that the intern is supported during their placement and clear about their project deliverables.

Invoicing

Once an internship has been agreed with a host business then BGB will invoice the business for the whole cost of the EPP 12 week Internship. This allows us to have the full funds available to pay the intern each week.  If an extension is also agreed at the initial discussion regarding EPP then we will also invoice for this extension period.  However, we do recognise that this may be an issue for some organisations and we are willing to discuss this further. Invoices are expected to be paid promptly in order that we can pay the intern.

 

Extensions

Should be for a minimum of 8 weeks and no longer than 1 year.

Snow Days

Right to work - Eligibility

Current EU citizens are eligible to work in the UK without a visa.

For non-EU individuals. There are various restrictions on the number of hours these students can work; tier 4 visas allow students to work '20 hours during term time', they are allowed to work full-time out with term times. A Tier 4 also permits work placements as long as they are part of the course the candidates is in the UK to study for. If you have concerns, please contact Bright Green Business for further clarification. 


 

 

How does it work?

Bright Green Application Infographic

Advertise

Decide on your placement and submit it to us.

Bright Green Shortlist Infographic

Shortlist

We will advertise and pass on the applicants to you.

Bright Green Interview Infographic

Interview

We will facilitate interviews between yourself and the applicant.

Bright Green Job Offer Infographic

Job Offer

You choose your preferred applicant and we will produce a contract and formally offer the position.

For Businesses Image

Contact us about Business Placements

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