Access to the Workplace for Employers
How does it work?
- Organisations that support access scholarships can participate in DCU Access to the Workplace if they can employ a student for 4-12 weeks between May and August, providing at least 30 hours work per week at the minimum wage or above.
- All students participate in a pre-internship Work Readiness Programme covering topics such as CV writing, interview preparation and workplace etiquette.
- Internships may be virtual, hybrid, or on-site.
- Organisations are offered a student match based on the job description they provide.
What are the benefits for students & employers?
Since 2019, two independent evaluations have shown the programme's benefit for participating students and organisations. The second evaluation is an ongoing Social Return on Investment (SROI) by Quality Matters which will be completed in 2023.
Employers:
- ATTW experience: 91% of employers who participated in 2023 rated their programme experience as positive or very positive.
- Diversity and inclusion: 97% of employers who participated in 2023 reported that the programme helped to enhance their diversity and inclusion policies and/or practices.
- Strengthen relationship with DCU: 89% of employers who participated in 2023 plan to take part in ATTW again in 2024.
- Programme value: 97% of employers who participated in 2023 said that they would recommend the programme to others in their professional network.
Students:
- Opens doors: 90% of 2023 students felt the programme offered better internship opportunities than they could secure themselves.
- Earn and learn: On average, Access to the Workplace interns received €4,221 in wages for their work in 2023.
- Work readiness: All students participate in a pre-placement Work Readiness Programme. In 2023, 98% felt better prepared for the internship following the completion of this.
- Valuable experience: Students apply university learning in a real work setting and gain experience that enhances their CVs for INTRA placements or graduate roles.
- Mentoring: Opportunity to be mentored by experienced staff members in their chosen field.
- Employability: 98% of 2023 students feel better prepared to apply for future job opportunities.
Timeline & how to get involved
Before February 2024: Make a commitment to support Access scholarships at DCU and host an Access to the Workplace internship in summer 2024.
February 2024: Complete an online Employer Requirements Form, providing details of the internship role and the skills you would like your student intern to have.
March/April 2024: Notification of student match, and an opportunity to meet your student.
May 2024: Student and employer preparatory event.
May - August 2024: Internships take place.
September 2024: Invitation to provide feedback for programme evaluation.
Please contact john.moriarty@dcu.ie or kyela.fanagan@dcu.ie to find out more.
Impact
"...it's really aligned to our purpose around connecting people for a better future"
Lauren & Vodafone
"When we got an opportunity to take a student on board with a fresh pair of eyes, a fresh mind...it was a no-brainer for us"
Maitiú & Matthews Coach Hire
Participating Employers
A&L Goodbody
AbbVie
Accenture
Allied Irish Banks p.l.c.
Alltech
Aon Ireland
Arachas
Arthur Cox
B.C. McGettigan Limited
Bank of Ireland
BDO Ireland
Boldyn Networks
Bonnington Hotel
Britvic International and Ireland
Bristol Myers Squibb
BT Ireland
CAE Parc Aviation
Carne Global Financial Services
Chartered Accountants Ireland
Citrix Systems Inc
Codex Office Solutions
Colgate Palmolive
Collen Construction
County Monaghan Fund
CRH plc
daa
Datalex
Deloitte
DWF
eBay Europe Services Ltd.
eDesk
Eirgrid
Elavon
Elgin Energy
Employment and Recruitment Federation
Ergo
Equinix
ESW
Fidelity Investments Ireland
Fingal County Council
Gaelite
General Paints
GMC Utilities Group
Hayes Solicitors
Healy Group
Goodbody
Highfield Hospital Group
Ipsen
Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard
Irish Life
Jacobs Engineering
Jenkinson Logistics
Jones Engineering
Kennedy Wilson Europe
Kestrel
KPMG
LIDL (Ireland) Ltd.
Linesight
Maples and Calder, Law firm of the Maples Group in Dublin
Mason Hayes & Curran
Matheson
Matthews Coach Hire
McCann Fitzgerald LLP
McGarrell Reilly Group
McKeon Group
Mergon
Milliman
Mondelez Ireland
MSD Carlow
MSD Dublin
MUFG Investor Services
National Standards Authority of Ireland
National Treasury Management Agency
Neogen
Nitro
Oracle
Ornua
Permanent TSB
Pinsent Masons
PwC
Rethink Ireland
Taoglas
Trane Technologies
Ulster Bank Ireland
West Pharma
William Fry LLP
Willis Towers Watson
yahoo!
Zurich
Employer Resources
Employer Engagement Programme
Short Introductory
Video For Staff
Virtual & Hybrid
Internships Toolkit
Employer Requirements Form
DCU's Access to the Workplace programme has been supported by LinkedIn and Rethink Ireland's Scaling Education fund since 2022, and this will continue until 2026. This support is enabling us to further develop and scale the programme.
