DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE U-MATCH INTERNSHIP FAIR AT LAS ROZAS NEXT HUB
An event that connects university and vocational training students with large companies and startups, facilitating access to internships and bringing young talent into the Las Rozas innovation ecosystem.
Title: U-Match, the Internship Fair that Connects Young Talent with Companies and Startups at Las Rozas Next startups en Las Rozas Next
Category: Internship and Talent Fair
Client: Las Rozas Town Hall
Project duration: 2022 – 2023 (Annual edition)
Web: U-Match – Las Rozas Next
DESCRIPTION
U-Match is an internship fair driven by the Las Rozas Town Hall through Las Rozas Next, el hub de emprendimiento e innovación del municipio, y diseñada y desarrollada por Cink Venturing,, consultora especializada en emprendimiento e innovación.
The event's primary objective is to bring university students, vocational training students, and recent graduates closer to the labour market by facilitating their access to curricular and extracurricular internships in large companies and startups within the local and regional ecosystem.
With a dynamic and participatory format, U-Match creates a unique meeting point where companies access young, diverse talent, and students find opportunities to start their professional journey in sectors linked to innovation and the digital economy.
OPPORTUNITY
Las Rozas Next identified a strategic need: to create effective bridges between education and business, addressing the challenge of youth employment while also responding to companies' need to attract and incorporate qualified talent in high-demand areas.
U-Match was born as a response to this challenge, integrating into the broader strategy of the Hub to position Las Rozas as a benchmark for innovation, digital entrepreneurship, and the generation of professional opportunities in the Madrid-West area.
METHODOLOGY
The design of U-Match combines the logic of a professional fair with interactive dynamics between students and companies. It is structured in several phases:
1. Talent Outreach and Attraction
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- Communication campaigns targeting universities, vocational training centres, and organisations related to youth employability.
- Open registration for students and recent graduates interested in professional internships.
2. Company Invitation
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- Inviting large companies, startups, and entities from the Las Rozas entrepreneurial ecosystem and surrounding areas.
- Selection of internship profiles aligned with current market demands: engineering, backend and frontend programming, graphic and 3D design, communication, marketing, customer service, financial consultancy, legal, among others.
3. In-person Event at Hub 232
- Stand spaces for over 40 participating companies.
- Presentation of the U-Challenge competition, which broadens opportunities for students with an innovative vocation.
- Direct meetings between students and company representatives.
- Networking dynamics and informative sessions about the services of Las Rozas Next.
- Interventions by institutional representatives from Las Rozas Town Hall and the Community of Madrid.
INNOVACIÓN
This is the first event of its kind in the Madrid-West area, creating a direct connection space between students and businesses.
A practical, results-oriented approach: real internships in established companies and innovative startups. startups innovadoras.
Integration into the global strategy of Las Rozas Next to support talent and digital entrepreneurship.
IMPACT
After two editions, U-Match has become a benchmark event for connecting young talent with companies within the Las Rozas ecosystem.
Key achievements include:
Over 400 students registered in the 2nd edition, doubling participation compared to the first year.
42 companies offering over 250 internship opportunities.
A wide range of professional profiles covered, from engineering and programming to communication, legal, and design
Direct involvement of major companies like Telefónica, Carrefour, and Grupo Día, alongside local startups and SMEs.
Active participation of municipal and regional authorities, reinforcing the event's institutional profile.
U-Match is thus integrated into the suite of programmes at Las Rozas Next aimed at driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development, creating a real impact on youth employability and the competitiveness of the business ecosystem.
