RIS for employers | University of Reading

What is the Reading Internship Scheme?

The Reading Internship Scheme offers University of Reading undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake 4 – 8 week paid internships with professionals. It allows organisations to connect with students who are motivated, proactive, and keen to experience the working-world.

By hiring one of our talented students, they will be able to assist you in a project that you may be looking to gain some extra resource in, or some work that could do with a fresh perspective, for up to 280 hours (8 week full time equivalent).

Support towards your intern’s salary whilst on their internship is available through the scheme. We provide profit earning organisations with a 50% contribution (with the employer matching the other 50%), and charities with 100% contribution to their intern’s salary.

How is the 2020/21 programme operating?

Our preference for the 2020/21 programme is for internships to take place remotely, however we do understand that some internships may need to take place in the office or perhaps a mixture of both, providing the work place is COVID secure.

Working remotely has meant we have been able to support a wider range of employers and that you have access to a wider talent pool. Find out more about remote working.

The scheme will operate throughout the academic year within with part time and full-time internships available.

Part-time internships in term time (up to 20 hours per week):

28th September – 11th December 2020 (Autumn term)
11th January – 26th March 2021 (Spring term)
19th April – 11th June 2021 (Summer term)

Full-time internships (35 hour per week) in vacation periods:

14th December - 8th January
29th March - 16th April
4th June - 24th September

2020/21 Employer Handbook
The Reading Internship Scheme 2020/21 employer handbook includes all information on this academic year’s programme. Including; how the funding works, how to advertise your vacancy on our jobs portal and more. Please read through the handbook before registering your interest in the scheme, as you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions referenced in the handbook.

You can also view a short screencast which runs through the handbook below.

What employers say

"Having participated in this scheme over several years now, I'm incredibility happy with our experience of Reading's interns. They have consistently performed well and made a significant impact to the performance of our small team. Already planning the next set of tasks and activities for the next bunch!"

– KYMIRA Ltd.

"Dealing with the University was easy and efficient. The range of candidates we interviewed for the internship was impressive. The one we hired was a student just finishing her first year. We made a superb choice. Her upbeat, can-do attitude and conscientious work-ethic delighted everyone in our organisation. She did a lot of very useful work and enabled us to achieve far more in the 6 weeks she was with us than we have achieved in any other 6-week period. So thank you VERY much!"

– Ethical Reading

"Both Interns were able to grasp the requirements and work as a team to achieve good results. All this was done remotely too. Excellent. – Berkshire Community Foundation
The intern scheme has been a very positive experience - both from working with the UoR team and the student who became our intern. I have been very impressed with our intern's performance, attitude and approach."

– Tax Automation

Frequently Asked Questions

How are internships advertised?

Employers will be uploading their own internship vacancies this year, following the guidance within the updated employer handbook.

How do I receive the grant towards my intern’s salary?

On your intern’s first day you will need to send your invoice via email to invoices@reading.ac.uk (copying in careers@reading.ac.uk). This must include your individual purchase order number given to you by the RIS Coordinator, please invoice on your intern’s first day as it can take up to 30 days for the funds to reach you.

Please note, if an invoice is sent to us late and this then delays a student receiving their salary, we expect the employer to pay the intern’s salary and then use the grant as a reimbursement.

I am a small company and do not have a payroll system, can my intern invoice me to retrieve their salary?

Employers must be able to pay their intern via PAYE. Your intern is an employee of yours for the duration of their internship and must be paid through your payroll system. This is requirement when taking part in the scheme.

RIS Coffee Catch-up podcasts

We caught up with a range of employers who have recruited interns through the Reading Internship Scheme, to find out about their experience and how valuable they found RIS. Have a listen!

RIS catch-up with KYMIRA

RIS catch-up with GotDis

RIS catch-up with Smart Works

RIS catch up with Holy Brook Associates

Interested? Apply here.