Innovation Managers Program at Smithswork Limited

The Innovation Managers Program (IMP) is Smithswork Limited’s response to the growing youth unemployment and the shortfall of talents available to Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The Innovation Managers Program is three months paid internship program designed to help refine talents specifically prepared to meet the need for advancing the growth of small businesses in Nigeria.

The program is borne out of the need to help small businesses scale effectively through the injection of refined talents who are trained and exposed to a combination of data, strategy, marketing, finance and project management. The output of the internship program are trained Innovation managers who will primarily be the catalyst of change within small businesses.

Small businesses constitute 96% of businesses existing in Nigeria and contribute 48% and 84% to GDP and employment (PWC) respectively. We believe that injecting talents into small businesses will increase productivity and expansion, creating more job opportunities for the growing young population which the country is characterized by.

Requirements

Applicants for the program must meet the following requirements for their applications to be reviewed:

• College Graduate (Polytechnic & University).
• Aged 22 – 28 years old.
• NYSC Completion.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Understanding of research methods.
• Interest in problem solving and in working with small businesses.
• Must possess a laptop.

Program Activities

• Application and screening.
• Interviews and selection.
• Two weeks onboarding.
• Team assignment.
• Weekly class sessions.
• Team activities and projects.
• Bi-weekly feedback sessions.
• Monthly evaluation.
• Interviews with prospective employers.
• Final evaluation.
• Placement with Employers.
• Quarterly follow-ups.