Benefits for host institutions

• Gain a talented new team member, committed to developing and learning.
• Raise the profile of the advancement profession, inspiring those seeking new opportunities to see it as a rewarding career path.
• Support CASE to open up the advancement profession to people of diverse lived experiences.
• Offer mentoring and line management opportunities for existing staff.

Graduate Trainees will have a unique opportunity to attend a range of CASE programmes, enabling them to learn from practitioners across the sector, while also benefitting from tailored coaching to support them in their next career step.

Benefits for trainees

• Hands-on experience working in an education institution, focused on fundraising, alumni relations, communications or marketing, or gaining experience across these disciplines.
• A programme of training and networking opportunities delivered by CASE.
• Compensation for the duration of the programme.
• CASE membership for one year, offering access to CASE resources including CASE webinars, the CASE Library, and  The ARC: Advancement Resources Catalogue, (E)-mentoring, Communities, Career Central.
• Regular communication on entry-level job postings and career opportunities.
• Invitations to connect with Multi-Cultural Network members, in line with CASE’s Diversity Mission, and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Two programme calls with Sue Cunningham, CASE President and CEO, and high-profile professionals as guests to share their experience and insights on the advancement sector.
• One year LinkedIn Learning licence upon availability.

The programme is open to individuals who:

• have recently graduated or are about to graduate (any degree subject is accepted), or
• are new to advancement profession (less than six months in role), or
• hold experience in another sector and wish to transition into a career in advancement.

Please contact Maeva Ofranc for more information. 

Please use the 2024/25 schedule as indicative information.

7 October : Applications open

26 January : Applications close

27-31 January : Candidate shortlisting

17-28 February 2025: First round interview with CASE

10-21 March 2025: Final round interview with organisations

April-May 2025: Offer and contract signing

2 June 2025: CASE training programme starts

By the latest Monday 1 September 2025: Trainees start their 52-week placement at host institutions

CASE and programme participants are committed to:

• creating equitable pathways in advancement whilst addressing the shortage of diverse talent within Higher Education, and
• providing a collaborative environment that is free of discrimination based on the grounds of race, religion, or political beliefs, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexuality, disability, and any other legally protected status.

The programme is endorsed and supported by CASE's Multi-Cultural Network and Opportunity Inclusion Centre.

Recruiting your trainee

Option 1: External recruitment with CASE

• Step 1: Share your job description with us as well as details on how you will select your trainee (interview guidelines, internal hiring process and timeframe).
• Step 2: You will be provided with an application link where candidates will be redirected.
• Step 3: CASE shortlists and conducts the first-round interviews.
• Step 4: CASE will arrange the second (and final) interviews of selected applicants with you.
• Step 5: You place an offer, sign contract(s), and confirm your trainee(s).

Option 2: Internal recruitment at your organisation

• Invite students from your organisation and network to apply and recruit your trainee according to your recruitment and hiring processes.
• We provide you with the trainee application form, and the application review guidelines along with standard interview questions for reference.

Important notes

• The programme is open to individuals who:
  • have recently graduated or are about to graduate
  • or are new to the advancement profession (less than 6 months in role)
  • or hold experience in another sector and wish to transition into a career in advancement
• Graduates who have completed the CASE Advancement Internship will be offered a place in the final round interview.

Hosting types

Single hosting

• The trainee is assigned to a single host where they will be employed on a full-time basis on a fixed term contract of 12 months.
• The host ensures the trainee receives a comprehensive job description.
• The host releases the trainee to attend CASE training events and discuss key takeaways when they return to work.
• The host undertakes regular reviews with the trainee and provides them with guidance and feedback.
• The host undertakes regular meetings with CASE.

Shared hosting

• The trainee undertakes their work placement across two institutions (co-hosts) where they will be employed on either:

1. a part-time basis with each institution over a 12-month fixed term contract (3 days/2 days)
2. or a full-time basis over 6 months at each institution.

• The co-hosts must both be within a reasonable commuting distance.
• The co-hosts share the same responsibilities as a single host.
• Institutions are responsible for identifying a co-host and agreeing on a shared hosting plan.
• CASE is keen to facilitate communication between institutions interested in co-hosting.

Secondment

• The trainee is assigned to a secondment for a one-month placement designed to widen their experience and provide them with exposure to an institution which is different in nature and scale.
• The host agrees to cover the salary of the trainee during the one-month placement at a different institution.
• The secondment is optional and flexible, taking place between May and July.
• The host and the secondment institutions are both within a reasonable commuting distance.
• CASE provides support with identifying secondment institutions and facilitating the secondment arrangement.

Important notes

All hosts provide their trainee(s) with on-the-job training giving them experience of key activities which make up the work of advancement teams.

They appoint a line manager as a first point of contact with CASE who will:

• identify the objectives of the placement with the trainee.
• agree a plan of the activities that the trainee will undertake.
• oversee the day-to-day management of the trainee.
• provide guidance and technical expertise.
• identify knowledge gaps, arrange training, and monitor learning progress.
• provide ongoing feedback to the trainee and review their performance at the end of the placement.

Hosts can choose to upskill and reskill their trainee(s) using two different approaches ensuring a valuable and rewarding learning on-site experience. Both are complemented by CASE training which provides an overview of the advancement sector.

The Rotation Approach

• The trainee will work across different teams throughout the year, rotating every three months, to gain experience in a wide range of fundraising, alumni relations, marketing, and communications roles.
• The trainee will have the opportunity to develop a rounded understanding of all the activities within the Advancement profession and how they work together.

The Focused Approach

• The trainee will join the team in one department and focus on a specific advancement function.

The host agrees to cover the trainee's salary, along with costs related to the programme management.

Trainee salary

• The salary depends on each institution’s own pay and grading structure.
• The host institutions are asked to provide a salary of at least the minimum wage to trainees for the duration of the programme on a full-time basis.

Programme management

• Covers project management, advertising and recruitment, training and participation in conferences expenses and course materials for the trainees.
• Member £5,340.00 + VAT (£6,408.00) / Non-member £5,846.40 + VAT (£7,308.00)
• This cost is re-evaluated should the host organisation choose to conduct their own recruitment.

Member £4,384.32 + VAT (£5,480.40)
Non-member £5,104.32 + VAT (£6,380.40)