Scheme offers timely boost for recent graduates

Oct 30 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

RECENT graduates affected by the economic downturn have had a boost to their career prospects thanks to an internship scheme run by Northumbria University.

Forty graduates and employers across the region have benefitted from a HEFCE-funded internship scheme which aimed to help those experiencing difficulty finding employment as a result of the economic downturn which followed the banking crisis.

The Graduate Internship project helped to place recent unemployed or under-employed graduates in 10-week long placements with employers.

HEFCE funding allowed the university to pay a percentage towards the graduates’ weekly salary, with the remainder of the cost being met by the company.

The £64,000 scheme – which was coordinated by the university’s work related learning and careers and employment Teams – was initially restricted to students who graduated in 2009 in the middle of the economic downturn, and was opened up to 2010 graduates this summer.

Placements were organised with employers in sectors identified with high-growth potential, with a special emphasis on smaller businesses.

The scheme has proved highly successful, with a number of graduates going on to secure permanent jobs with the organisations after demonstrating their worth, and organisations praising the benefits the internships delivered to them. Tom Bailey, an estate management graduate, took on an internship with property auction company I-am-sold. He said: “I-am-sold are a new company and weren’t in a financial position to take on a graduate.

This supported internship has meant that I have been able to prove my worth and generate the income which will allow them to keep me on.

“I do everything from organising auctions, doing valuations for clients and negotiating with vendors and buyers. It’s been a fantastic opportunity and has given them, and me, a real head start.”

Emily Pitkethly, owner of creative crafts and textiles business Emily’s Ark, said: “Having a subsidised full-time employee has allowed us to see how valuable such a member of staff can be, and it has encouraged us to take on a full-time graduate.”

Ann Smart, head of Northumbria’s careers and employment team, said: “We are delighted that through co-ordinating this project we have been able to support graduates in gaining valuable paid work experience at the same time as supporting a range of small businesses in the local area.

“Feedback from both graduates and employers has been very positive and we are particularly pleased with the number of graduates who have had their contracts extended as employers see the gains that graduates bring to their businesses.”