GRADUATES and staff have been celebrating the success of the University of Bolton's first intern programme.

The scheme, introduced this academic year, is designed to help those who have graduated to move into the world of work — and those accepted onto the scheme are paid.

Nationally it was found that graduates struggling to support themselves financially while trying to further their careers are facing a job market that favours those who have the financial backing to go without an income.

With many graduates having to choose between earning money and bolstering their CV, national campaign Intern Aware said extended unpaid internships lead to employers excluding "those with talent, ambition and drive who cannot afford to work for free".

But the University of Bolton bosses say their intern scheme is in line with the university's long tradition and commitment to access and widening participation.

The university's internships ran for six months with 18 graduate interns gaining experience employed as staff in a variety of departments.

Having worked across the campus, ranging from marketing and student participation to event management and research, the alumni will now move on to pastures new.

University registrar Sue Duncan said: "The graduate intern progress has been successful beyond our expectations.

"We appreciate the effort and the difference the interns have made to the university.

"We hope they feel they have gained in their skills and they can use their time with us as a springboard for their future employment."

Sian Mulryan, aged 23, who lives in Oldham, is a business management (marketing) graduate, and worked on a new module evaluation questionnaire and the annual Health Mela hosted at the university.

She said: "During my time on the internship I gained confidence and experience in event management, marketing, communications and in IT systems."

Steven Hood spent his period of employment at Bolton One — the state-of-the-art multi-million pound health, leisure and research centre — promoting health and fitness and aiming to increase student participation in sport.

Research by British Universities and Colleges Sport has shown that sport enhances graduate employability, teaching them skills such as teamwork, leadership and decision making.

Mr Hood, aged 22, from Bolton, successfully started a weekly five-a-side football league on Thursday evenings for students as well as created a variety of events including bubble football, ski lessons and co-ordinating staff participation in the workplace games.

Sabina Ostman, aged 23, from Stockport, who worked in the marketing and communications department, said the internship was invaluable in making industry connections and building on her skills as a writer.

She said: "I was given a lot of responsibility early on, which has enabled me to grow, but I always felt safe because of the nature of the internship.

"I’ve held shared responsibility for writing the university’s press releases, the new prospectus, The Bolt magazine, and much more.

"I’ve also been part of interview and publishing processes and learned so much."

Katie Bamford, aged 23, from Littleborough, was based in the university’s Bolton school of the arts, worked on a student handbook and attended the Première Vision event in Paris on behalf of the university.

The graduates are now beginning to search for jobs, with one already in full-time employment.

After the success of the initial scheme, the university says it will repeat it in the next academic year, aiming to recruit in 20 positions, starting in October.