Graduate placements

Employers are increasingly demanding that graduates have some knowledge of the working world and yet graduates can often find it difficult to get this without experience. Graduate placements provide the ideal opportunity bridge the experience gap.

“We are always trying to bring companies together with academics in order facilitate the building of successful relationships”.   Unlocking Cornish Potential

In this section, you will find:

Benefits

There are tangible benefits to all parties:

Graduates 

  • Opportunity to put theory into practice
  • Opportunity to consider career options within a 'real' environment
  • Find out what they do and don't like doing
  • Opportunity to develop key transferable skills and enhance employability
  • Opportunity to get their 'foot in the door' - many go on to permanent employment with the host organisation

Employers 

  • Opportunity to see what students are capable of
  • Potential to shortcut the recruitment process and reduce costs
  • An extra pair of hands to develop new projects and ideas
  • A fresh perspective to solve problems
  • The opportunity to 'try before they buy'

Academics

  • Opportunity to showcase the knowledge and skills you are developing on your programme
  • Increased awareness of what your students can offers which leads to enhanced employability
  • Incorporates industry expertise into your programme
  • Widens your professional networks
  • Enhanced DHLE statistics

Case study

Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) organises graduate placements throughout Cornwall. This provides an opportunity for Cornish businesses to access expertise, resources and support to enable them to implement a business development project for their business.

Over 150 businesses in Cornwall have already reaped the benefits of this programme and the additional support it offers. UCP engages employers with higher education staff through mentoring and business skills training. The programme also directs graduates, and the companies they’re placed with, to appropriate training.

A Celebration Event is held each year to celebrate the success of the graduates who have been through the programme and this helps to bring together businesses and academics in an environment where they can network with one another. UCP issues newsletters on a regular basis to keep those involved in the programme up to date with what has been achieved.

Learning from UCP

  • Talk to HE lecturers that you think would be suitable mentors and find out about their background so that they can called upon for suitable projects
  • Introduce companies to expert academics who are able to help their graduate to develop their skills
  • Where appropriate, utilise the skills of academics to deliver training which is useful to the company
  • There are other similar schemes in other parts of the South West, including Graduate Business Partnerships in Devon (delivered by the universities of Exeter and Plymouth)
"UCP has enabled us to acquire an 'in-house' creative design capability. What was once thought to be a luxury has now become a vital element in the function of our business. Charlotte has been an inspiration to the company, fitting in well with the team and always delivering true innovation and creativity against all odds".    Mark Brian, County Confectionery

Resources required

  • Financial: UCP can offer the company a £6,000 subsidy towards the graduates salary; the programme also pays the mentor for their time spent with the graduate at their host company
  • Time: The Business Development Managers (BDM), who work with companies to develop the projects, are also involved in the recruitment of the graduate and have meetings with all parties every 6-8 weeks. The BDM is also charged with identifying an appropriate meeting time.

Logo: Higher Education Learning Partnerships (HELP CETL)

More in the employer engagement guide...

Find employers

Know the job market

Realise your goals

Understand employers

Other case studies

Why engage?

 

More in this sectionÂ…

Graduate placements
  1. Employer based student…
  2. Employer mentoring
  3. Graduate placements
  4. Higher education in th…
  5. Industrial visits
  6. Mock interviews
  7. Student led events
  8. Student placements
  9. Work based consultancy
  10. Work based learning

Resources and useful links

Useful links

 
 
 

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