Partner Article

SMEs call for graduate internships

Small businesses have reportedly hailed the graduate internship scheme as a huge success.

Small businesses are calling on ministers to extend a graduate paid internship scheme in England following the rise in youth unemployment.

The Federation of Small Businesses said the costs of the programme would be outweighed by the benefits of less benefit payments and more tax revenue.

The scheme, which is part-funded by the government, is set to end next month.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said no final decision had been made on its future.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said the scheme had supported 8,500 paid internships since it was launched in February 2010.

A further 5,000 internship placements would cost the government about £8m.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .