Join BIMA’s Next Generation Digital Leaders Programme 2024

Seeking to build a talent pipeline?

Join BIMA’s Next Generation Digital Leaders Programme 2024

BIMA is inviting local employers to provide internships as part of our 2024 programme. 

It is open to diverse local talent 18+ seeking to gain valuable experience in the digital technology, marketing, and creative industry. 

What’s the deal? 

You provide the supervised paid placement, based on the living wage, and we’ll find the talent and support you throughout the process. You will provide a single one month placement or a series of one month placements if you would like to host multiple interns. 

We’ll lead on recruitment plus provide the contracts and handle the administration of the payroll; we’ll also provide pastoral support to the interns. 

In addition to the intern salary, you will pay a small fee to cover the tailored programme costs. You will join a group of forward thinking employers supporting future talent.

Meet your future talent

We have developed relationships with the local skills and employment sector in Brighton and Hove including: 

  • Brighton Metropolitan College
  • Varndean College 
  • Bhasvic
  • Creative Process
  • Spear Brighton
  • University of Sussex
  • Brighton University
  • Brighton Job Centre and many more 

We have discovered a wealth of local talent to develop. Our interns are willing and able to deliver client projects with your support. We select interns with the right mindsets as well as technical skills. Some of them are just starting out on their careers whilst others are making a switch. 

Previous interns have already received specialist training and are well equipped to start their careers in the digital and tech industry. What they are lacking is digital industry employment experience. 

Are you ready to support fresh talent?

We’ll guide you to provide an effective internship experience based on our unique recruitment process and Digital Learning Framework. 

The internship programme typically runs from July – October but it will vary depending on participating employer needs including the number of one month placements they are able to offer.  deally we are seeking employers to provide multiple placements so more interns benefit.

Multiple placements give the interns valuable experience across several companies enabling them to expand their industry knowledge, portfolios, and network of support. 

Employers have the chance to get to know multiple interns. 

Employer testimonials

Previous employers have included digital creative and marketing agencies and a digital transformation consultancy. 

Here is what they had to say about the programme.

“Being involved in BIMA’s internship programme helped us improve our onboarding process for all new employees”.

“The interns brought new energy and fresh perspectives into our agency.”

“We were delighted to provide a fixed term contract to a candidate from the intern talent pool. They are now permanently employed.” 

Working with Silicon Brighton

We’re excited to launch in partnership with Silicon Brighton to expand the programme in 2024 and bring in more tech focused employers.

  • Are you ready to support incoming talent ideally with scope to hire at the end of the programme?  
  • Would you like to collaborate with other local employers and receive support from BIMA on the journey. 

If so, please read on to find out in detail how it works.

Timeline and activities

  1. BIMA organises an employer kick off meeting in April for everyone involved to get to know each other and to ensure everyone is aligned around the programme format, timings, resource requirements and processes.
  2. BIMA and its educational sector partners perform the candidate outreach from April – May 2024.
  3. Candidates complete an application form which assesses their skills, interests and mindsets. BIMA reviews the applications and creates a long-list of suitable candidates.
  4. Candidates are invited to an interactive Digital Day in late May facilitated by BIMA. Employers introduce themselves and provide a short pitch about their business and employee experience. We’ll brief you on what information to provide.
  5. On the Digital Day, interns working in groups participate in a rapid prototyping activity based on a client brief. This gives everyone the chance to meet each other with a view to short-listing candidates. This industry experience is something all candidates can add to their CVs. BIMA, the employers and prospective interns all have a role to play on the day.
  6. BIMA coordinates the candidate shortlisting and creates the interview schedule. Interviews are then held with most outstanding candidates and internship offers are made in June.
  7. Placements commence in July (tbc with employers). BIMA provides all the Human Resource Service including offer letters, contracts, annual leave monitoring, and payroll administration.
  8. Employers reimburse BIMA for the payroll costs and also pay a programme fee. The programme fee is £100 / month for  businesses with a turnover of up to £1M and £185 / month for £1.5M turnover.
  9. Employers plan their placements and identify someone suitable to line manage their interns. BIMA provides support to help you plan you internship experience.
  10. To provide continuity and support intern development between placements, BIMA provides a goal setting form which interns and their line managers use throughout their placements.
  11. BIMA meets with the interns on a fortnightly basis to provide ongoing pastoral support and care.
  12. BIMA organises a celebration for all participants at the end of the programme. The interns and employers share their experiences.

Please enquire to change someone’s life today:

This internship is invaluable for experience in digital media, and insight into agency work life. It offers the opportunity to learn new skills, use relevant industry tools, and gain qualifications via online courses across each placement. This programme is a fantastic first step to explore a career in digital.” 

BIMA Intern, 2023 Cohort


Interested and want to find out more? Contact: annlongley@bima.co.uk