Severn Trent is set to welcome over 40 paid interns this Summer, as it supports the 10,000 Black internship programme for a second year.

Creating opportunities for underrepresented talent and offering transformative opportunities, the programme works with companies like Severn Trent to create access to a wide range of work experience opportunities across a range of sectors and professions.

This Summer, the FTSE 100 company is welcoming 43 interns in a range of roles across the business as it’s set to help interns kick start their careers, getting paid work experience and developing their employability skills.

Last year, 38% of the 61 interns went on to find permanent work, with 25% securing a role at Severn Trent and building their careers here, such as Emmanuel Okoye (pictured).

Emmanuel from Coventry, completed studying at Cranfield University, then applied to the 10,000 Black interns programme and secured his internship at Severn Trent.

He’s since gone to secure another internship with the company, and is set to start on the Severn Trent Graduate programme this September.

Emmanuel said of his internships “The past ten months at Severn Trent have been simply life changing! I applied to the #10000BlackInterns programme as I didn’t have a lot of work experience. The scheme offered me the opportunity to get my foot in the door while building future skills. I’ve had the opportunity to be part of key projects that align with the Company’s environmental commitments, and then I secured a twelve month internship and in the waste side of the business. In September I’m excited to be joining the Graduate Programme, and I can’t wait to continue my career with Severn Trent.”

The 10,000 black interns programme supports Severn Trent’s ongoing commitment to help people living in the Midlands and providing work opportunities.

This includes the recently announced creation of 1,000 new jobs, it’s ever growing apprentice and graduate programme, and it’s commitment to help 100,000 living in the Midlands with finding work and out of water poverty.

Jade Pearson, New Talent Lead at Severn Trent adds: “We’re really excited to welcome the new interns to the company, and help support them with experiencing a real-life working environment, while developing professionally and personally, and building skills for life.

“We’re proud that we’re able to support with such an amazing programme, and we’re looking forward to the skills and fresh thinking they will bring to the company. We hope their time with us gives them the critical experience and skills they need to further their careers.”