FOR Cardiff and Cardiff University have launched the 2025 edition of their successful Paid Internship Scheme, offering local employers the opportunity to host Cardiff University interns with 50% funding support — while ensuring all placements pay the Real Living Wage of £12.60 per hour.
FOR Cardiff members can access funding toward the cost of employing a student on a placement for between four and six weeks. Now in its fourth successful year, the scheme continues to support both students and the local business community. In 2025, a total funding pot of £12,600 will enable aid internships across a diverse range of Cardiff employers, from creative agencies and banks and charities.
Iesha Meah, Member Relations Manager at FOR Cardiff explained, “Students make up a significant proportion of Cardiff’s population and make an enormous contribution to the economy. Working in partnership with the Student Futures team at Cardiff University our internship programme strengthens links between the university and local employers, helping to showcase the employment opportunities available in the city centre.”
FOR Cardiff is the Business Improvement District (BID) of Cardiff city centre – a private, not-for-profit membership organisation voted for by the businesses of Cardiff city centre in June 2016. Since 2016, FOR Cardiff has invested over £1.5million annually to deliver award-winning projects, campaigns and events that enhance the city centre and represent the needs of over eight hundred businesses.
Each of the Cardiff University FOR Cardiff internship placements run for either 4 or 6 weeks (140 or 210 hours) and interns must be paid as employees and receive standard entitlements such as holiday and sick pay.
The scheme is open to undergraduate students, postgraduates and recent graduates from Cardiff University and provides a genuine opportunity to gain skills, insights and connections in the workplace.
Senior Team Manager at Student Futures, Ffiona Griffiths, said “It’s fantastic to be building on our partnership with FOR Cardiff to deliver the internship scheme again this year. Work experience opportunities are crucial in enhancing students’ prospects when entering a competitive graduate job market, as well as enabling local employers to talent spot for future roles.”
Placements are being delivered across a broad mix of sectors — from finance to film — reflecting the diverse economy of Cardiff city centre, and the wide-ranging interests of the student community.
The FOR Cardiff Scheme is now closed for this year, but to find out more about partnering with the Student Futures Work Experience team about support available for recruiting Cardiff University students and graduates, please email workexperience@cardiff.ac.uk .
