University students and recent graduates who want to further their career prospects can apply for paid work placements with local businesses.

Ashfield and Mansfield District Councils are looking for undergraduates for the Aim Higher scheme, which matches students to local businesses for eight weeks in the summer holidays, and recent graduates for the Graduates into Enterprise scheme, which arranges six-month placements.

Placements are available in a range of subject areas including marketing, IT, design, web/e-commerce, research and development and energy efficiency.

Students are paid a weekly training allowance of £267, of which 80% is paid for by the Aim Higher scheme and 50% for Graduates into Enterprise.

Businesses benefit from the completion of projects that they would not otherwise have had the time or resources to do at a greatly subsidised cost.

Cllr Kate Allsop, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration at Mansfield District Council, said: “These placement schemes are an excellent way for our talented graduates and undergraduates to gain paid experience, while at the same time helping to improve the performance and productivity of local businesses.”

Cllr Jim Aspinall, Portfolio Holder for Prosperity, Ashfield District Council, added: “It is becoming increasingly hard for young people to find work in the area in which they have studied but this scheme gives them that essential head start.”

The programmes are delivered by the Ashfield and Mansfield Regeneration Shared Service and supported by European Regional Development Funding.

To apply for a placement, call 01623 463 165 or email [email protected] or [email protected]

If you are a business that that would be interested in providing a placement, visit www.mansfield.gov.uk/aimhigher or www.mansfield.gov.uk/graduatesintoenterprise or call 01623 463 165.