Graduate scheme helps jobless find work

WITH graduate unemployment at its highest for 12 years, an innovative scheme at the University of Gloucestershire is offering fresh hope for job hunters.

And now more graduates are being given the chance to take part in a successful work-placement programme.

One in four young people aged from 18 to 24 is out of work and according to research by the Higher Education Careers Services Unit graduate unemployment increased by 44 per cent in 2009, the highest level since 1995/6.

Under the Graduate Challenge programme, 64 Gloucestershire graduates have already been placed with 50 local companies and the University of Gloucestershire is aiming to support a total of 120 graduates by the scheme's completion in December this year.

Laura Crabb, head of the Centre for Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Gloucestershire, said: "We have been delighted with the success of this programme so far, in particular seeing so many participants securing employment at the end of their placement.

"We are keen to ensure that many more eligible graduates in the county have an opportunity to take advantage of this unique project."

Graduates are invited to apply for the programme which pays a training allowance of £100 a week while they undertake a four-month work placement.

Successful applicants will be matched with a local business that will benefit from their skills, while the graduates gain valuable work experience as well as credits towards a masters degree.

The organisations involved in the programme not only enjoy the benefits of a cost-free way to add new skills to their work force, but also help to retain valuable talent within the county.

And for some graduates like Sean Robinson, 22, the hands-on experience has led to a permanent role with a county company.

Sean from Newent has secured full-time employment as a sales executive with Crown Timber on Cirencester's Love Lane industrial estate following his Graduate Challenge placement.

Sean graduated in June 2009 with a BSc in Business Management from Swansea University but like so many others was unable to find work.

"Graduate Challenge has provided me with an ideal opportunity to take forward what I have learnt in the classroom and apply it in the workplace," said Sean, who was placed with EESI Limited in Stonehouse.

"It really helped me and I would definitely recommend it to others."

"This is a great option as not only does it improve your employability, it enhances your skills and the money certainly helps while living at home."

With three rounds of placements yet to come, those who have graduated since 2007 who are unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week are invited to apply.

More information about the scheme can be found at the website www.graduatechallenge.co.uk.

The University of Gloucestershire secured £480,000 of funding last year from the Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF) provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Gloucestershire First matched the funding to provide a total pot of nearly £1 million.