A2i Student Widening Participation (WP) Funding

New to the 24-25 academic year, eligible students now have the option to apply for either 80 or 140 hours worth of funding. Please see the subsidy amounts below for each subsidy type. Students can only apply for one employer subsidy per academic year. 

*The amount is intended to fully cover your intern's pay plus your employer National Insurance contributions for either 80 or 140 hours. 

National Insurance (NI) contributions will be effective once the intern earns over the NI threshold per month. For the latest information about NI contributions you can visit gov.uk/national-insurance-rates.  For general employment information, you can visit gov.uk/employing-staff.

If you offer your intern the opportunity to join a pension scheme, this will not be covered by the subsidy. 

If you are a University of Exeter employer, the subsidy will also cover Apprenticeship Levy costs. 

The funding can fully cover an interns wage for either 80 or 140 hours with a UK: Micro, SME, Not for profit, registered Charity or Statutory Organisation. The subsidy that A2i is able to provide your organisation will cover your interns wages for either 80 or 140 hours based on a rate of £12.60 per hour, plus any National Insurance contributions that you may have to pay, if the intern is working full-time. Please see the full funding eligibility below.

Employer Eligibility

Employers must:

• Be based in the UK
• Classed as a Micro, SME, Not for profit, registered Charity or Statutory Organisation
• An organisation of good reputation
• A supportive employer
• Able to pay the student through their own payroll system. If an organisation is unable to do this, the university will not be able to provide funding
• Have employers liability insurance
• Provide a contract of employment. You must employ the student, they cannot be self-employed.
• Pay the intern a minimum of £12.60 per hour.
• Pay the agreed wage on a set monthly payday once the internship has commenced. The University payments terms are 30 days from receipt of invoice. Where the organisation has not invoiced for or received the agreed employer subsidy from the University by the intern’s payday, the organisation will need to pay the intern’s salary.

For further information visit gov.uk/employed-or-self-employed and gov.uk/employing-staff.

The Internship

• The minimum duration of the internship must be 80 or 140 hours overall (depending on the funding package applied for). These hours can be worked full-time (based on a 35 hour week), or can be part-time spread over a longer period.
• The internship should be based in the UK
• The tasks and responsibilities should be in line with an undergraduate or graduate level position to aid the intern’s career development. You can contact the team if you need guidance with this.
• During term-time, the intern should not exceed 15 hours of work per week. Full time hours can be offered during the holiday period.
• If the intern is in their final year, they must start the internship before the date of their graduation.

Intern Eligibility

• Interns must be a current University of Exeter undergraduate student
• Students must meet the Widening Participation Criteria.
  
• Students should have permission to work in the UK for the duration of the internship and have (or be in the process of applying for) a National Insurance Number*

Appointing your Intern and Applying for Funding

Once an Exeter student has confirmed an internship position with you, they will need to complete the WP student application form*. Once received, the A2i team will be in contact via email, to confirm the funding and ask you and your intern to action the following:

1. Sign and return an A2i Internship Agreement confirming the terms and conditions.
2. Complete an ‘New Supplier External Form’ in preparation for paying your invoice.
3. Invoice the University, once you have been provided with a Purchase Order (PO) number to quote on your invoice.
4. Once the internship begins, pay the student for any hours worked through your own payroll system using the funding provided. 

*Please note, all funding is issued on a first-come-first-serve basis and applications will close once all funds are allocated. If you have any questions about the funding, please contact the A2i team (a2i@exeter.ac.uk). 

• The funding can fully cover an intern's wage for either 80 or 140 hours (depending on the funding package applied for).
• For 2024-25, the funding subsidies will cover either a 80 or 140 hour internship paid at £14.12 per hour (including holiday pay), plus National Insurance contributions and Apprenticeship Levy costs (see above for the subsidy amounts). 

The Internship

• The minimum duration of the internship must be 80 or 140 hours overall (depending on the funding package applied for). These hours can be worked full-time (based on a 35 hour week), or can be part-time spread over a longer period.
• The internship must be based in the UK
• The tasks and responsibilities must be in line with an undergraduate level position to aid career development.
• During term-time, the student should not exceed 15 hours of work per week.  Full time hours can be worked during the holiday period
• The internship role should not start before the intern has applied and funding has been confirmed. Hours of work cannot be backdated.

Intern Eligibility

• The student must be a current University of Exeter undergraduate
• The student must meet the Widening Participation Criteria.
  
• The student must have permission to work in the UK for the duration of the internship and have (or be in the process of applying for) a National Insurance Number.

Appointing your Intern and Applying for Funding

Once you have confirmed the internship opportunity, the student will need to complete the WP student application form*.

Once received, the A2i team will be in contact via email, to confirm the funding and ask you and your intern to action the following:

1. Sign and return an A2i Internship Agreement
2. Follow the steps to set up and pay your intern on Paid Time, details of which will be sent to you as soon as possible once your intern has applied for funding - guidance will be provided.
3. Approve your intern's timesheets on Paid Time on a monthly basis once they start their internship (you will be sent notifications when your intern has submitted their timesheets). 

*Please note, all funding is issued on a first-come-first-serve basis and applications will close once all funds are allocated. If you have any questions about the funding, please contact the A2i team (a2i@exeter.ac.uk). 

You should provide your new intern with an induction when they start working for you.  You should also set clear objectives for the internship, and plan to review and evaluate the intern's progress at regular intervals. You are welcome to complete your own induction and performance indicators or you are welcome to use the guides below:

• Internship Induction Checklist
• Internship Performance Development Review

If you are hosting a remote internship then you may also find the following resources helpful:

• Guidance for interviews via video call
• Virtual Internships: 10 Top Tips for Remote Working, for your intern.

The intern should meet with their line manager regularly. Daily meetings are recommended in the first week, then once every 2 weeks after this.

You can refer to the Making the Most of Your Intern guide for further advice and guidance.

Working Options Testimonial

If you have any queries, you can contact the team at A2i@exeter.ac.uk.

• Employers must allow us to share details of the company, the selected intern and the internship with the funders, Employment Services.
• All parties must agree to the A2I Terms and Conditions as outlined in the A2I Internship Agreement (to request a copy of these T&Cs please email a2i@exeter.ac.uk). 
• Employers can receive more than one subsidy, to a maximum of two subsidies per year across all/any A2I funding sources available.
• Employers cannot combine or apply for more than one A2I subsidy; South West Funded, or Widening Participation funding, for the same internship.
• Employers are unable to apply for further funding to either extend an intern's contract or employ the same student or graduate once the internship has completed.
• Employer subsidies will be paid upon the successful placement of an Exeter intern into the approved internship and once an A2I Internship Agreement has been signed and returned.

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