At Cardtrend UK, we support the next generation of talent by engaging with local universities and offering students and graduates meaningful opportunities to gain valuable industry experience. This summer, we proudly welcomed our newest cohort of interns through collaborations with the University of Birmingham, Aston University and Birmingham City University. Through their dedicated internship and placement programmes, these students are gaining valuable industry exposure that bridges the gap between academia and the professional world, while driving innovation and fresh perspectives within our teams. These partnerships not only help us grow as a business but also reinforce our commitment to creating an environment where people can thrive and make a difference.
University of Birmingham: The B-Experienced Internship Programme
We are proud of our partnership with the University of Birmingham through its B-Experienced Internship Programme, a flagship work experience scheme offered by the Careers Network. This initiative helps students and graduates overcome barriers, enhance their employability skills, and prepare for fulfilling careers. By taking part in this programme, students and graduates benefit from structured development opportunities and exposure to real-world business challenges, while we at Cardtrend UK gain enthusiastic team members who are eager to apply their academic learning in meaningful ways. Our interns have already made a tangible impact: created mock-up for ideation of our flagship product, widely used in the fuel retail industry, while another have contributed new perspectives and tools to enhance our software security.
Aston University: Postgraduate Placements with Real Impact
Through Aston University’s Employer Engagement team, we’ve benefited from structured postgraduate placement opportunities. Working directly with Nita and Liv in the postgraduate team has been especially valuable, who have supported us across different stages of the recruitment process. This has significantly reduced our workload while ensuring we are matched with capable, motivated students ready to contribute. The result is a truly collaborative experience where students gain hands-on exposure, and we gain innovative ideas and perspectives. Since joining us, our Aston University interns have been actively building business reports exploring new market opportunities and supporting our digital presence through SEO strategy to optimize and enhance the performance of our newly revamped website.
Birmingham City University (BCU): Practical Experience Through Micro-Placements
Our collaboration with Birmingham City University (BCU) has allowed us to host talented students and graduates through placements coordinated by the university’s Careers and Student Opportunities team. This initiative provides businesses with the opportunity to work with students or graduates free of charge for up to 80 hours, with the university handling the matching process. What makes this programme especially impactful is its accessibility. Students are paid the National Living Wage, administered through BCU’s partner agency, ensuring fair compensation and reducing financial barriers. For us, it means we can focus on nurturing student skills while BCU handles the administration, making the process seamless for both parties. Our BCU interns have already made meaningful contributions: one student developed a detailed mock-up for a new mobile app concept, which will feature in an upcoming fintech accelerator programme, while another advises us on finance compliance as we expand into the European market, helping us navigate new regulatory requirements with confidence.
Building Futures: Collaboration, Creativity, and Community
Across these three partnerships, we are currently working with seven talented interns who are making their mark at Cardtrend UK. Each one brings fresh energy, curiosity and creativity to our projects, while gaining the confidence and skills they will carry into their future careers. For Cardtrend UK, this is more than an internship initiative, it is a cornerstone of our belief in investing in people. By collaborating with academic institutions, we are not only helping shape the career journeys of tomorrow’s professionals but also enriching our own organisation with new perspectives that drive innovation.
As we look to the future, we remain focused on creating an environment where talent can thrive, innovation can flourish, and ideas can be turned into lasting impact. These university partnerships marked a key chapter in that journey, by helping us build stronger foundations and deeper connections within our local community. We’re always open to new collaborations that align with our values and forward-looking mindset. Whether you’re a university, a student or a partner organisation, we’d love to explore how we can work together to create opportunities that matter.
