The Grad Soc
The Grad Soc is a UK-based managed internship and career services platform founded in 2020, connecting a 50,000+ student network with enterprise employers through paid remote internships, virtual programmes, coaching, and document services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLeamington Spa, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Grad Soc does
The Grad Soc is a UK-based managed internship and career services platform founded in 2020 and headquartered in Leamington Spa, operating a two-sided marketplace that connects students and recent graduates with employers offering paid remote internships. The company runs an end-to-end placement and management service: it sources candidates, vets them, matches them to employer briefs, manages the engagement, and charges employers on outcome-linked terms. Core products include Paid Remote Internships (the flagship offering), Virtual Internship Programmes (VIPs, launched in 2025 as a cohort-based variant), a monthly student membership, one-to-one career coaching, document reviews (CV, cover letter), and ancillary services such as LinkedIn profile optimisation. Distribution is built on direct university partnerships and a stated 50,000+ student network, with employer customers spanning consumer/retail (Ralph Lauren, Nike, Aldi, Lidl, Gymshark), finance and professional services (Goldman Sachs, KPMG, EY), and technology/telco (Apple, LinkedIn, Monzo, Virgin Media, O2, Bosch).
The business model is multi-stream. On the employer side, Grad Soc charges £799 per intern per month plus a 12.5% success fee on conversions to permanent roles, with the intern's wages absorbed in the delivery cost. On the student side, revenue comes from a £24.99/month membership, £34.99/30-minute coaching sessions, £24.99 document reviews, LinkedIn services priced £7.99–£22.99, and cover letter services from £10.99. The platform is CPD accredited and holds a 5/5 Trustpilot rating on its LinkedIn services (683 reviews), both of which serve as procurement credibility signals for enterprise buyers. The company is bootstrapped (no funding rounds disclosed), operates with approximately 20 employees, and is UK-only, which together indicate an early-stage operational scale.
The Grad Soc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Grad Soc
- Legal name
- The Grad Soc
- Website
- https://thegradsoc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Grad Soc is a UK-based managed internship and career services platform founded in 2020, connecting a 50,000+ student network with enterprise employers through paid remote internships, virtual programmes, coaching, and document services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Grad Soc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Internship & Career Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms (EDAFAMAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Experiential Learning & Internships/Co-ops (EDALABAG), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO)
Keywords
Where The Grad Soc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leamington Spa
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Grad Soc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Employer Internship Placement Fees: The primary revenue stream comes from charging employers £799 per intern per month, which includes student wages and full support services (recruitment, pre-internship training, ongoing mentorship, weekly check-ins). Minimum commitment is 40 hours/month (10 hours/week). The company also charges a 12.5% success fee on any full-time hiring of a Grad Soc Intern.
- Student Membership Subscription: Monthly membership at £24.99 providing unlimited virtual reviews of CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, unlimited email support, access to training resources library, and up to seven 1-1 coaching calls per month.
- Individual Career Coaching Sessions: One-off employability coaching sessions at £34.99 for 30 minutes via Zoom, covering CVs, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, interview preparation, applications, and career guidance.
- Virtual Document Reviews: Document review services priced at £24.99 per document (CV, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, application questions, or portfolio review). Feedback delivered within 7 working days.
- LinkedIn Profile Services: Virtual LinkedIn Review at £7.99 (written feedback within 48 hours) and Online 1-1 LinkedIn Review & Tailoring at £22.99 (real-time Zoom session with personalized strategy).
- Cover Letter Services: Virtual Cover Letter Review at £10.99 (written feedback within 48 hours) and Online 1-1 CL Review & Strategy at varying rates for Zoom session with role-specific strategy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Employer Internship Service - £799/intern/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Student Monthly Membership - £24.99/month |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | 1-1 Coaching Session - £34.99/30 minutes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Document Review - £24.99/document |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | CV Analysis & Targeted Re-build - £22.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual LinkedIn Review - £7.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Online 1-1 LinkedIn Review & Tailoring - £22.99 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Cover Letter Review - £10.99 |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Intern Pay Rate - £12/hour |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Grad Soc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Grad Soc operates a fully managed internship service for employers and a career support platform for students. For employers, the company recruits, vets, pre-trains, and supports paid remote interns at £799/intern/month (including intern wages at £12/hour), plus a 12.5% success fee on full-time conversions. For students and graduates, it offers paid remote internships (6–12 months), 3-week Virtual Internship Programmes (VIPs), a £24.99/month membership with unlimited CV/cover letter/LinkedIn reviews and coaching calls, one-off 1-1 coaching sessions (£34.99/30 min), and individual virtual document reviews. The platform is supported by a 50,000+ student network and co-funded university partnerships.
Product overview
The Grad Soc operates as a multi-service internship and career support platform connecting students and graduates with paid, flexible, and remote internship opportunities. The core offering comprises two main internship programs: Paid Remote Internships (6-12 months with partner companies at £12/hour) and Virtual Internship Programmes (VIPs) - 3-week virtual experiences. The platform complements these with career support services including a Monthly Membership subscription (£24.99/month) providing unlimited virtual reviews and coaching calls, individual 1-1 Employability Coaching Sessions (£34.99), Virtual Reviews for CVs/cover letters/LinkedIn (£24.99 each), and free downloadable resources. For educational institutions, they offer University Internships with a co-funded placement model and Virtual Internship Programmes for Educators. The company primarily serves UK-based students, graduates, and career-changers with no prior experience required, while also supporting employers and universities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Paid Remote Internships Part-time paid remote internships lasting 6–12 months with UK partner companies, paid at £12/hour above UK Living Wage. Includes 2–4 weeks of pre-internship training, weekly mentorship, and ongoing career guidance. Targeted at UK students and graduates seeking flexible work experience around studies.
- Virtual Internship Programmes (VIPs) 3-week virtual internship experience providing young people (18+) in the UK with remote access to top companies for real-world tasks, expert training, and a certificate of completion. No previous experience required.
- University Co-Funded Internships Partnership programme enabling UK universities to offer scalable, paid internships through a co-funding model where universities and employers split costs. Designed to improve graduate employability outcomes and meet institutional targets.
- Virtual Internship Programmes for Educators Programme for universities and educational institutions to provide students with virtual internships at big-name companies, industry mentorship, and progress analysis with 3 weeks of in-depth student progress data.
- Student Monthly Membership Subscription service at £24.99/month providing unlimited virtual reviews of CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles, unlimited email support, access to a training resources library, and up to seven 1-1 coaching calls per month. Cancellable any time.
- 1-1 Employability Coaching Sessions 30-minute Zoom coaching sessions with expert coaches covering CV support, cover letter help, LinkedIn optimisation, interview preparation, application process guidance, and broader career advice. Priced at £34.99 per session.
- Virtual Document Reviews Comprehensive evaluation of CVs, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, application questions, and portfolios with detailed written feedback and actionable recommendations delivered within 7 working days. Priced at £24.99 per document.
- CV Analysis & Targeted Re-build Session 30-minute session covering personal profile crafting, job spec tailoring, SAR method, ATS compliance, and 1-page format mastery. Priced at £22.99.
- Online 1-1 LinkedIn Review & Tailoring 30-minute in-depth Zoom discussion with real-time profile analysis and personalised strategy for employer visibility, networking with potential employers, and content posting. Priced at £22.99. Virtual LinkedIn Review (written feedback within 48 hours) available at £7.99.
- Online 1-1 Cover Letter Review & Strategy 30-minute in-depth Zoom discussion covering cover letter strategy, research, role-specific content writing, and real-time analysis with improvement suggestions. Written virtual cover letter review available at £10.99 with feedback within 48 hours.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90%+ of internships lead to permanent positions with host companies
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Grad Soc
Customer profileNamed customers21 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Grad Soc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
The Grad Soc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- UK Universities (Multiple)coreThe Grad Soc partners with UK universities to deliver co-funded internship programmes. Universities provide funding (matched by employers) and student referrals, while The Grad Soc handles employer engagement, recruitment, training, and mentorship. This enables universities to scale internship offerings without additional administrative burden while improving graduate employability outcomes.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Grad Soc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LinkedIn (Talent Solutions / Career Services): Dominant professional network and a major graduate recruitment channel in its own right, offering job listings, learning, and profile services. Acts both as a channel (The Grad Soc already places interns with LinkedIn) and as a broad incumbent competitor in the career services space.
- Handshake: Largest US early-career network connecting students, universities, and employers; recently expanded into the UK and EMEA. Comparable business model (three-sided marketplace) with substantially more scale, capital, and university integrations than The Grad Soc.
Direct peers
- RateMyPlacement: UK-focused platform for paid student internships, placement years, and graduate jobs, with an emphasis on reviews and quality assurance. Directly comparable in targeting UK students seeking paid internships and SME/enterprise employer clients.
- targetjobs: UK graduate careers site providing internship and graduate job listings, employer directories, and career advice. Overlaps with The Grad Soc on graduate recruitment and career content, though The Grad Soc differentiates via managed placements and coaching.
- Debut: App-based early-career platform connecting students and graduates with internships, graduate roles, and employer branding, with a focus on diversity. Comparable in student-first design, internship focus, and diversity-led employer value proposition.
- Forage: Global provider of free virtual work experience programmes (job simulations) with leading employers, increasingly expanding into university partnerships. The closest peer to The Grad Soc's new VIP (Virtual Internship Programmes) product, with materially deeper employer relationships and a tech-led delivery model.
- Milkround: One of the UK's leading graduate careers platforms, offering job listings, internship opportunities, employer profiles, and career advice content. Comparable as a UK-focused graduate recruitment and employability content destination.
- Bright Network: UK-based graduate recruitment and career services platform connecting students and recent graduates with employers through events, job listings, and membership programmes. Directly comparable to The Grad Soc in serving UK students/graduates and major UK employers with career and internship opportunities.
Emerging players
- Internshala: India-headquartered but globally accessible internship and online training platform for students and recent graduates. Comparable in operating a two-sided marketplace for internships with added training/coaching services.
- RippleMatch: US-based early-talent recruitment platform that uses automation to match students and recent graduates with internships and graduate roles. Comparable target customer (employers seeking diverse early talent) but with a tech-led approach versus The Grad Soc's service-led model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Grad Soc social profiles
Digital presenceThe Grad Soc compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Grad Soc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Grad Soc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Grad Soc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Grad Soc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Grad Soc
What does The Grad Soc do?
The Grad Soc operates a fully managed internship service for employers and a career support platform for students. For employers, the company recruits, vets, pre-trains, and supports paid remote interns at £799/intern/month (including intern wages at £12/hour), plus a 12.5% success fee on full-time conversions. For students and graduates, it offers paid remote internships (6–12 months), 3-week Virtual Internship Programmes (VIPs), a £24.99/month membership with unlimited CV/cover letter/LinkedIn reviews and coaching calls, one-off 1-1 coaching sessions (£34.99/30 min), and individual virtual document reviews. The platform is supported by a 50,000+ student network and co-funded university partnerships.
Is The Grad Soc a public or private company?
The Grad Soc is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Grad Soc founded?
The Grad Soc was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Grad Soc based?
The Grad Soc is headquartered in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Grad Soc make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Employer Internship Placement Fees are the primary driver. The others are student Membership Subscription, individual Career Coaching Sessions, virtual Document Reviews, linkedIn Profile Services and cover Letter Services.
Who are The Grad Soc's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LinkedIn (Talent Solutions / Career Services) and Handshake. Direct peers are RateMyPlacement, targetjobs, Debut, Forage, Milkround and Bright Network. Emerging players are Internshala and RippleMatch.
Does The Grad Soc have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Grad Soc.
What industry is The Grad Soc in?
The Grad Soc's product category is Internship & Career Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAMAL, Internship/Apprenticeship Matching & Work-Based Learning Platforms, with a secondary code of BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 61171 and its SIC code is 8200.