The Vodafone Foundation has announced a partnership deal with the UK’s paid internships website Intern Avenue.

The partnership will see an expansion of Intern Avenue matching young people with employers across Europe, effectively connecting thousands of students and graduates with suitable employers.

The Vodafone Foundation-Intern Avenue partnership will be announced  at the Vodafone Foundation and Vodafone Institute's Digitising Europe event in Berlin, with a keynote speech from Angela Merkel, German Chancellor.

To date, Intern Avenue has recorded 2,000 employer and 40,000 intern applicants registered for the service and matches candidates with employers using a data-based scoring system.

Vodafone Group Foundation Director Andrew Dunnett said: "The next generation in the European workplace was born digital and thinks mobile, with smartphones and apps at the centre of daily life. Finding the right work opportunity is tough. Intern Avenue can really make a difference, and we're delighted to help them expand across Europe and into mobile."

Intern Avenue Founder and CEO Dupsy Abiola said: "We believe that the support from the Vodafone Foundation will allow us to make significant strides towards creating a unique and scalable mobile solution to help young people find work. Our organisations share a passion for technology, innovation and tackling the problem of youth unemployment. We are truly delighted to be working closely with such a major player in this space."