We gather essential information to tailor the experience to your needs and to check eligibility requirements. Completion and submission of this form will allow you to claim your Interested in Internships digital badge and gain access to our innovative internship recruitment site “Talent Hive” where you can apply for internship roles and network with local employers seeking talented interns.

Internships are open to all individuals that:

live in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
are not in education, employment, or training
have the right to work in the UK
are aged 18+ (with no upper age limit)
have a barrier they feel is either stopping or disadvantaging them from gaining work

1.1 Eligible Participants

Submitting the EOI form successfully will issue you with the Interested in Internships badge.

You will receive an email with your next steps, including accepting the badge, creating a My Skills Pass account, and joining the Talent Hive Starter Space.

1.2 Ineligible Participants

If you cannot answer “Yes” to each eligibility question, you are not eligible for an internship at this time.

Further support to gain meaningful employment can be found through our partners Reed in Partnership, they can be contacted on either: 01733 666 979 / 01223 654 440 to book a free information session.

We also warmly invite you to join our open Space, Talent Hive Connect (Go to step 4)

2. Join Starter Space

“Talent Hive Starter” is a dedicated Space within the My Skills Pass digital badge passport. It is here that you will build a profile and digital CV, view available internship opportunities, and network with internship providers to find a placement.

2.1 Confirmation email

Upon successful submission of the EOI form, you will have received an email containing your next steps, including the invitation link to join the space.

For an overview of completing the EOI and joining the Talent Hive Starter space including all of the steps you will need to take, please see this video.

2.2 Prepare for your internship

When you have joined the space, it’s time to access everything it has to offer and ensure you are ready to find an internship.

Please watch these videos and complete each task:

First Steps
This video explores the essential settings you will need to get the most out of this space.

Space Tour
This video will show you around the space and help you get your bearings.

Create your Profile
This video explains how to create your profile and apply for a badge.

Create a Digital CV
This video explores what makes a great digital CV, how to create one using My Skills Pass, and how to apply for a badge.

Monthly “Profile Power Up” live sessions
Profile Power Ups are available to book if you’d prefer to complete your profile and CV with guidance. A session will help you build a digital profile that shows off your real skills, interests, and potential, enabling you to effectively connect with internship opportunities.

When you are finished, you are ready to start looking for an internship and network with employers!

2.3 Available Badge Mini Maps

A “mini map” is a pathway of badges.There are two mini maps available in this space.

2.31 Essential: Get Started

You must complete these badges to prepare for, and then start, an internship.

	Interested in Internships This badge is issued on successful submission of the Participant Expression of Interest Form.
	Profile Creator Create a profile to show Talent Hive who you are. When your profile is finished and you have made it sharable, use it to apply for this badge*.
	Digital CV Creator Create a CV to show your relevant skills and experience and help match you to an internship. When your CV is finished and you have made it sharable, apply for this badge*.
	Week 1 Survey Completer In the first week of your internship, you must complete the Week 1 survey. Completing the survey will provide you with a code to claim this badge.

*We will carry out a review on your application to ensure your profile has met the earning criteria in the badge. If your application is successful, you will receive an email with more information on claiming your badge and how you can share it. If it is not successful, you will receive an email with next steps.

2.32 Optional: Enhance Your Employability

These badges are not essential to complete, but are available to apply for if you feel you meet the earning criteria before, during, or after your engagement with CPCA Skills. Having these badges on your profile or CV could help you stand out to employers.

Volunteering Experience

Volunteering for a project or organisation is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your values.

If you feel you meet the earning criteria, you can apply for this badge*.

Experience of Work

Seeking and completing a workplace experience is a great way to show you are ready for more.

If you feel you meet the earning criteria, you can apply for this badge*.

Entrepreneurship

Whether it was a success or not, having an enterprising attitude to a new venture says a lot about you.

If you feel you meet the earning criteria, you can apply for this badge*.

3. Find an Internship

Now that you have a profile and CV, you are ready to find an internship.

3.1 Looking for an internship

Keep an eye on the “News” section of the Space to see information about vacancies that employers are currently looking to fill.

3.2 Networking and Notifications

Employers can view your profile and CV using the community features within the space. They may look through profiles before advertising a new vacancy and reach out to you if they think you could be a good fit for the role.

Ensure that you have enabled the settings “Use instant messaging” and “Receive notifications of events and messages sent by this space”.

Please note: Instant messaging does not create notifications on your device. If you are actively seeking an internship, it is recommended to check into the space regularly to ensure you have not missed any direct communications.

3.3 Top Tips

Let your personality shine through!

A person’s suitability for a role is not just about qualifications and experience - you might have skills, attitudes, values, or interests that employers find appealing. When building your profile and CV make sure to show who you are, what you’re interested in, and that you’re willing to learn.

Don’t be afraid to make the first move!

Starting a conversation is a great way to show your interest and make new connections! If you see a role or employer that you are interested in hearing more about, you are welcome to reach out to them with any questions you may have. They might not have what you’re looking for right away, but they may keep you in mind for a future opportunity.

3.4 Starting an Internship

In the first week of your internship, you must complete the Week 1 survey. Completing the survey will provide you with a code to claim the Week 1 Survey badge.

Congratulations, claiming this badge completes the Get Started mini map!

At this stage, you are no longer eligible to be a member of the Starter space and must join the Connect space.

4. Join Connect Space

“Talent Hive Connect” is a dedicated Space within the My Skills Pass digital badge passport for anyone in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) region who is looking to boost their professional credentials and connect with trusted employers.

This is an open space for advertising live jobs and networking between individuals and employers.

4.1 Join Talent Hive Connect

Click here to gain access.

4.2 Networking and Notifications

Same as in the Starter space, ensure that you have enabled the settings “Use instant messaging” and “Receive notifications of events and messages sent by this space”.

4.3 Internship Badges Mini Map

If you have joined the Connect space after starting an internship and completing the Week 1 Survey badge, this is where you gain access to the “Internship Badges” mini map. It is recommended that you add this mini map to your objectives so you can chart your progress through the available badges.

There are 3 "To do" badges charting essential milestones in your internship journey, and another 7 badges up for grabs for demonstrating skills while on placement.

“To do”
	Week 1 Survey Completer In the first week of your internship, you must complete the Week 1 survey. Completing the survey will provide you with a code to claim this badge.
	Internship Completer At the end of your internship, CPCA will issue you with this badge, or, you’ll be invited to claim it.
	Exit Survey Completer At the end of your internship, you’ll be asked to complete the Exit Survey to see how you got on. Completing the survey will provide you with a code to claim this badge.
Up for Grabs These badges are available to earn during placement should your employer confirm that you have achieved the earning criteria by providing you with a claim code.
	Communications Your employer would confirm your competency in this skill by providing you with a code to claim this badge.
	Self-Motivation Your employer would confirm your competency in this skill by providing you with a code to claim this badge.
	Innovation Your employer would confirm your competency in this skill by providing you with a code to claim this badge.
	Problem Solving Your employer would confirm your competency in this skill by providing you with a code to claim this badge.
	Digital Skills Your employer would confirm your competency in this skill by providing you with a code to claim this badge.
	Completion of Skills This badge is issued automatically after you earn the previous five skills badges.
	Customer Service Excellence Your employer would confirm your competency in this skill by providing you with a code to claim this badge.

4.4 After your Internship

Congratulations for completing your internship!

Whether you earned all of the skills badges or just one, you’ve taken an incredible step forward in your employability journey, and being a member of the Connect space, you’re already in the right place to plan your next move! You are encouraged to continue using it to browse for upcoming opportunities and networking with employers.

4.41 Top Tips

Refresh your Profile / CV

Through your digital badges, you have gained verifiable evidence of your skills and experience - don’t let them go to waste! Now is the perfect time to edit your My Skills Pass profile to reflect your new badges and bring your information up to date.

Create a new Digital CV

With your My Skills Pass account, you can create as many pages as you like - why not make a new digital CV specific to your internship role or your favourite skills?

Share badges on socials
Not just for My Skills Pass! Your badges are yours to share far and wide, such as adding to the licenses and certifications section of your LinkedIn profile, or embedding into a cover letter on your next job application.

View your share options by visiting your badges:

Click on a badge, then select “Share”

Setting your badge visibility to “Public” enables you to share to X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, WordPress, or anywhere else via Link. You can also download a QR code to place in business cards or presentations.