HR Graduate Intern
Join Skills Development Scotland on a Graduate Internship Programme
If you require this advert in another format, please contact recruitment@sds.co.uk or call 0300 013 5119.
We are recruiting for a full time HR Graduate Intern on a 12-month Fixed Term contract. If you are a motivated and enthusiastic graduate looking to kick-start your career in HR, we would love to hear from you.
About the Role
Join our dynamic Human Resources team at SDS, where we are committed to being an employer of choice and an exemplar of fair work. Our ambition is to create a positive, future-focused approach to employee relations, ensuring high levels of employee engagement, performance, and productivity.
As an HR Graduate Intern, you will support the Employee Relations (ER) team in developing an evidence base for a strategic review of SDS Pay and Reward arrangements. Your contributions will help realign our terms and conditions and associated policies to motivate and reward the ways of working we need now and in the future.
About You
It is essential that you hold a degree (SCQF level 9) in a relevant subject (Human Resource Management, business related degree including HRM content, or a relevant social science degree).
With a keen eye for research and utilising data, you'll have experience crafting clear, insightful reports and developing and delivering presentations. Your strong written and visual communication skills will help translate complex information into engaging, accessible messages. An understanding of employment law and HR best practices rounds out your skill set, ensuring you're ready to contribute with both knowledge and impact.
We’d love for you to join us and make an impact you can be proud of!
Eligibility:
To be eligible for this role, you must be aged 24 or younger on 06 October 2025, in line with the Scottish Government’s initiative on youth employment. However, SDS will be flexible on age criteria for applicants who identify as care experienced or disabled in which case candidates must be 29 or younger on 06 October 2025.
About SDS
Skills Development Scotland is the national skills agency. Our ambition is to drive productivity and inclusive growth through investment in skills, enabling businesses and people to achieve their potential. Through the sharing of expertise, intelligence, and extensive partnership working, we enable the development and delivery of innovative solutions to Scotland’s skills and labour market challenges.
This is even more important given the current economic climate and recessionary outlook. Find out more about SDS here
Values
Our organisational values are created by our colleagues and are the compass that guide our behaviours and actions with our customers and each other. We need our future colleagues to share these values and help us to continue to deliver our bold ambitions for the future;
- We put the needs of our customers at the heart of all we do
- We make use of our combined strengths and expertise to deliver the best outcomes
- We demonstrate self-motivation, personal responsibility, and respect
- We continually improve to achieve excellence
Benefits
SDS is an award-winning equal opportunities and fair work employer. Our values and culture are owned and driven by our colleagues and show our commitment to our customers - the people of Scotland. Our employees enjoy a wide variety of progressive benefits and working practices. We prioritise employee engagement, wellbeing, and development, making us a great place to work.
Click here to see the full range of our Benefits
Where you’d be based
SDS embraces agile working, therefore, location is flexible. However, there will be a requirement for regular travel to Glasgow where the team is based for training, mentoring and team collaboration.
SDS as an Inclusive Workplace
At SDS we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. If you've got the right skills for the job, we want to hear from you. We encourage applications from the right candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. To support our ambitions our application process is anonymised. Therefore, while we want to know about your relevant skills and experience, please avoid disclosing any identifying characteristics.
Our Application Process
The closing date to submit your application Sunday 13th July.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 21st July and 28th July.
We are piloting a new approach to recruitment for this role, if your application is successful and you are invited to interview, you will be issued with the interview questions in advance to help you prepare and do your best at interview. More information will be made available if you are invited to interview.
The anticipated start date for successful candidates is 22nd September.
More information on the interview format will be made available if you are invited to interview. To find out more about working at SDS and our application process please visit us at https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/work-with-us/