Hosting a trainee from Europe:
How does it all work?
As a UK employer, you could be eligible to host a European trainee as part of the Leonardo Programme. We’re sure you’ll have plenty of questions about this opportunity, and we hope you’ll find the answers you’re looking for in this section.
What is the Leonardo Programme?
Leonardo is part of the EU’s ‘Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-2013’. The programme’s aim is to support the development of a skilled workforce in the EU by bringing employers and trainees together for mutual benefit.
Although placements are short term, trainees will often make a significant and lasting impact on their host company’s business.
Each work placement is funded, so employers don’t pay salaries to their temporary staff – and crucially, trainees are covered by our insurance, both in and out of the workplace.
Who are the trainees?
Trainees are typically students or graduates from other EU states. Naturally they all have individual talents, but anyone placed with you will have the language skills, knowledge and experience needed for your particular post.
Trainees face stiff competition for space on the programme, so only the highest calibre applicants make it through the selection process. Every trainee is vetted in their home country by one of our partner organisations, then goes through a second interview with ETS before their placement begins.
What happens during the placement?
That’s mainly up to you. The trainee is there to fill a need in your business – either to ease the burden of admin or to support a project such as a marketing drive, a new business process or even product development.
Placements last between 5 and 13 weeks. During this time, trainees are given accommodation with host families who live within one hour’s commute.
During the placement, we monitor the trainee via a series of follow-up calls and an online questionnaire. We also ask you to grade their performance and to keep in regular contact with us to make sure things are running smoothly.
What if the trainee is unsuitable?
Trainees are carefully vetted, so this doesn’t happen often - but if either you or the trainee should be unhappy with the arrangement, we will step in immediately. If the situation can’t be resolved, the trainee will be moved as soon as possible.
What happens after the placement?
The trainee will return home, armed with their new language and vocational skills. At the same time, we’ll review your feedback on the placement and discuss further opportunities.
And of course, we hope your business will be all the more productive: not just during the placement, but in the months – even years – that follow.
Hosted Work Placements
Our most popular placements include:
- Administration
- Computer programming
- Software development
- Graphic design
- Web design
- Import & Export
- Logistics
- Marketing, Events & Communications
- Tourism & Hospitality (hotels, restaurants, attractions, catering)
- Environmental research
- Cultural organisations (including museums and festivals)
- NGOs
- Charities