We are pleased to let you know about a new opportunity for businesses and organisations in the Tay Cities Region to access up to £3,000 in funding to host a technology focused student work placement.
Since the COVID19 pandemic, and with the rapid rise of AI, students have found it increasingly difficult to secure meaningful, real world experience. At the same time, businesses across the region are reporting challenges in recruiting local talent with the right digital skills.
To help address this, DigiTay is piloting a new work experience programme in partnership with the local colleges and universities
- Abertay University
- University of Dundee
- University of St Andrews
- Dundee & Angus College
- Fife College
- Perth UHI
What the programme offers
Businesses based in Angus, Dundee, North East Fife, or Perth & Kinross can apply for up to £3,000 to support the salary costs of a new 6–8 week student placement (16–36 hours per week). Funding is paid in arrears.
This programme aims to
- Strengthen students’ employability and career prospects
- Help employers complete a project or piece of work and build a sustainable talent pipeline for future recruitment
- Strengthen the relationships between local organisations and the colleges and universities
- Provide employers with access to fresh thinking and digital skills
Who can take part?
Students must be
- HNC/HND college students or
- 1st or 2nd year university students
- Studying a digital or technology related subject such as:
- Computing / Computer Science
- Software Development / Engineering
- Web & Mobile Development
- Data Science / AI
- Cybersecurity / Ethical Hacking
- Networking / Cloud Computing
- Digital Forensics
- Games Development / Animation
- UX/UI Design
- Information Systems / Digital Business
Businesses must
- Be based in the Tay Cities Region
- Offer a placement that supports the development of the student’s technical skills
- Provide a supervisor or mentor
- Hold relevant insurances (Employers Liability and Public Liability Insurance)
- Use the funding solely for placement salary costs
Placement model
- 6–8 week paid placement
- Typically 16–36 hours per week
- Available all year round (with higher availability June–September)
- Support will be provided to both employers and students before placements begin
Recruitment
The placement will be advertised to students through DigiTay and the university and college student networks. Students will apply directly to the employer who will manage the full recruitment and interview process. Once a successful candidate has been appointed, the employer will notify DigiTay and we will reimburse salary costs in arrears, following receipt of evidence confirming payment to the student.
Register your interest
If you’d like to host a student and apply for funding, please complete the short survey and form below.
Register here: Employer Survey: Work Experience Programme for Technology Students – Fill in form
This is a fantastic opportunity to support local talent, strengthen your workforce, and play a key role in developing the region’s digital capability.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, feel free to get in touch with Digitay on digitay@fife.gov.uk
Abertay University
A modern university with a long history and a clear sense of our distinctive mission, highly regarded for our academic performance in areas with genuine relevance and impact on society and the economy, and with a community of talented students and academics who make us the success we are.
University of Dundee
Nobel Prize winning poet and honorary graduate Seamus Heaney has described the University of Dundee as ‘having its head in the clouds and its feet firmly on the ground.’ The ability to be both aspirational and down-to earth and to blend ground-breaking intellectual achievement with practical applications, has given the University its distinctive character.
Dundee & Angus College
Dundee and Angus College is moving away from traditional thinking and focussing much more on careers not courses. It wants the people of the Dundee and Angus region to be better informed and prepared for the career options available to them, no matter what stage they are at.
