FOR Cardiff Internship Scheme Delivers Lasting Impact in Fourth Year
FOR Cardiff Internship Scheme Delivers Lasting Impact in Fourth Year
Subscribe to the Businessin Wales daily newsletter for FREE here.
Ten Cardiff University students have gained valuable workplace experience with city centre employers through the fourth year of the FOR Cardiff and Cardiff University Paid Internship Scheme.
Delivered in partnership with the university’s Student Futures Work Experience Team and supported by £12,600 of funding in 2025, the initiative connects FOR Cardiff levy-paying businesses with emerging talent. It provides students with fairly paid, Real Living Wage employment and meaningful industry experience.
Placements were offered across a wide range of sectors including finance, marketing, education, and the third sector. Interns were placed with organisations such as Hodge Bank, Welsh Power, The Wallich, Celtic English Academy, and Freshwater, with roles tailored to meet each organisation’s needs.
Iesha Meah, Member Relations Manager at FOR Cardiff, said: “This scheme continues to deliver value for businesses and life-changing experiences for students. It’s a tangible example of what’s possible when business and education come together to support the city’s future workforce.”
Each internship ran for approximately four to six weeks, designed to be flexible, accessible, and impactful. Students were paid a minimum of £12.60 per hour and treated as employees, gaining hands-on experience while building confidence in a supportive environment.
For Cara Wright, a third-year law student, the experience proved pivotal. After completing her internship at Hodge Bank, she was offered a permanent role.
“The team genuinely cared about my input, and I felt my work made a difference,” Cara said. “The internship helped me grow technically and personally, and it led directly to a job offer. I’m so grateful.”
Her employer, Liam Wharmby, added: “Cara actively contributed to real projects and influenced improvements to our onboarding experience. Placements like this bring fresh ideas and foster a culture of learning and inclusivity.”
At The Wallich, intern Ishita Kataria supported the people team on HR projects and data analysis, benchmarking organisational benefits and policies against the wider sector.
“Ishita did far more than we expected,” said Amanda Canterbury of The Wallich. “Work experience helps organisations understand younger generations and gives students the insight to discover the workplace that suits them.”
“I learnt so much, from data handling to office collaboration,” Ishita added. “As my first full-time office placement, it’s helped me grow in confidence and confirmed my passion for working in purpose-driven organisations.”
At TACP, William Sussex gained practical experience as a GIS Technician and even secured a place at an upcoming industry conference.
“It confirmed I want to work in the environmental sector,” he said. “I even got to do water monitoring on site; it was brilliant!”
Ffiona Griffiths, Senior Team Manager at Cardiff University’s Work Experience Team, said the partnership continues to deliver clear benefits.
“Partnering with FOR Cardiff to deliver the internship scheme over the past four years has had numerous benefits, not only for participating organisations and interns, but also for our team’s engagement with the local community more widely. We look forward to building on this valuable partnership and supporting the city’s business ecosystem in the years to come.”
More information about the 2026 Internship Scheme will be released early next year.
Want more from Businessin Wales? Why not follow us on our socials
Listen to the Businessin Wales podcast
