Graduate Intern – Business Incubation job at NFT Consult

About the Client

Our client is a specialized export financing institution established to support Uganda’s exporters through accessible, innovative, affordable, and sustainable financial solutions. The institution bridges financing gaps faced by exporters, particularly within the agro-export, manufacturing, and energy sectors, driving Uganda’s economic transformation through trade.

Job Summary

The Graduate Intern – Business Incubation will support the implementation of the organization’s SME and export incubation programs. The intern will work closely with the Incubation Lead to assist in identifying high-potential enterprises, supporting business assessments, coordinating training activities, and monitoring the performance of incubated businesses. This role provides hands-on exposure to SME development, export readiness, and business growth support.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• The Graduate Intern will support incubation and SME development activities by assisting in identifying and profiling SMEs and export-oriented businesses for incubation and financing programs. The role involves supporting the assessment of businesses to understand their operational, financial, and market readiness gaps.
• Help in organizing and coordinating training sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs aimed at improving business capacity, financial literacy, and export readiness of participating enterprises.
• Assist in preparing training materials, attendance reports, and follow-up documentation.
• Supporting the development of basic business improvement plans under guidance, including record-keeping practices, financial organization, and market access preparation.
• Assist in tracking the progress of incubated businesses by collecting data, updating monitoring tools, and preparing summary performance reports.
• Support engagement with internal teams such as credit, risk, and marketing by sharing relevant business information and ensuring documentation is up to date.
• Organizing networking events and stakeholder meetings that connect SMEs with financiers, suppliers, and market partners.
• Additionally, the intern will support the identification of common challenges faced by SMEs in the incubation program and escalate issues to supervisors for action.

Experience, Skills, and Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, or a related field (recent graduate within the last 1–2 years).
• Basic understanding of SMEs, entrepreneurship, or export trade is an added advantage.
• Strong interest in business development, SME support, and enterprise growth.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze business information.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Basic report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to work in a team and learn under supervision.
• Proactive attitude, willingness to learn, and strong work ethic.
• Good organizational and time management skills.

• Assisting in identifying and profiling SMEs and export-oriented businesses for incubation and financing programs.
• Supporting the assessment of businesses to understand their operational, financial, and market readiness gaps.
• Organizing and coordinating training sessions, workshops, and mentorship programs.
• Preparing training materials, attendance reports, and follow-up documentation.
• Supporting the development of basic business improvement plans.
• Tracking the progress of incubated businesses by collecting data, updating monitoring tools, and preparing summary performance reports.
• Supporting engagement with internal teams such as credit, risk, and marketing.
• Organizing networking events and stakeholder meetings.
• Identifying common challenges faced by SMEs in the incubation program and escalating issues to supervisors.

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze business information.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Basic report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to work in a team and learn under supervision.
• Proactive attitude, willingness to learn, and strong work ethic.
• Good organizational and time management skills.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Entrepreneurship, or a related field (recent graduate within the last 1–2 years).
• Basic understanding of SMEs, entrepreneurship, or export trade is an added advantage.
• Strong interest in business development, SME support, and enterprise growth.