Recruitment specialist Hobsons will act as managing agent of a high-profile government project for a further two years, following the success of the project’s first year.

The UK-China Graduate Work Experience Programme – an initiative from the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills – aims to foster cultural links between the UK and China through its young people, giving Chinese university students the opportunity to experience life in the UK through 12- to 52-week salaried internships.

Hobsons was appointed managing agent in May last year. Since then, 85 Chinese students have been accepted onto internships with organisations including Accenture, Somerset County Council, Tesco, Halcrow Group and JP Morgan.

UK companies have been keen to get involved in the Programme. Paula Quinton-Jones, graduate resourcing and development manager for Europe at Standard Chartered Bank, who has taken on four interns, comments: "We’re delighted with the calibre of our interns – they are already making a fantastic contribution to our business. The interns have delivered a very high quality of work and have developed strong relationships in their teams that have contributed to a better understanding of life in present-day China among their colleagues."

Paul Clark, director at Hobsons, says: "We have found the project fascinating – the quality of the candidates has been outstanding. We are currently securing internships for the next intake of students, and would like to hear from companies – from small businesses to blue-chips – who are interested in getting involved."