Working in the south west
The data we collect illustrates the wealth of opportunities for graduates in the South West.
- Graduate starting salaries in the South West are on a par with other regions. The average starting salary advertised on Gradsouthwest is 20K and the most common salary band is £17-19.5K.
- Seven of the top 100 companies are located in the South West - some have several offices accross the region.
- Small to medium enterprises (SME's) offer an excellent range of graduate oportunities and the chance to 'make a difference'.
- Over 3,500 employers advertised graduate vacancies with us in the last academic year.
- Students and graduates rate the South West as a good place to live and study.
- Workers and bosses in South West England enjoy the highest levels of well being at work.
This makes the South West a great place to develop your career. Read on to find out...
Get paid to develop experience
Many graduates find it difficult to get on the first rung of the career ladder; employers want experience but it can be hard to develop it without that first opportunity. Several paid placement schemes offer the opportunity to develop valuable skills and experience to increase your employability. Interested? More about paid placements...
The South West labour market
The more you know about the regional labour market, the better placed you'll be to find what you're looking for.
Types of employer
When you think of a graduate job, you might imagine a position with a large well known graduate employer. However, only a small percentage of graduates go on to work in such organisations and lots of good opportunities exist accross the board; with small, medium and large employers - and even self employment.
The big employers
Seven of the 'Top 100 Companies' are located in the South West. Most run graduate training schemes which offer a good starting salary and the opportunity to get direct experience - often in several different departments. Graduate training schemes will give you lots of support and many offer training towards a professional qualification.
The biggest employer in the region is the public sector. The financial service sector is also particularly strong throughout the South West.
Check out our Directory of Employers to see which big employers recruit in the region.
Small to medium employers
Small to medium enterprises (SME's) make up 99% of South West employers, so it stands to reason that if you want to work in the South West, you need to consider a career within a SME.
Graduate employment with a SME can offer:
- Flexibility and breadth - try your hand at everything
- A flat management structure - get noticed and learn from senior colleagues
- Job satisfaction - the chance to make a difference
- Informal and less bureaucractic structures
- Variety, early responsibility and working under your own steam
In return, SME's expect you to:
- Learn quickly
- Be practical and flexible
- Muck in to all tasks - no special treatment just because you're a graduate
Check out our Directory of Employers to see which SME's are recruiting in the region.
Self Employment
If you've got a great idea for a business, universities offer a wide range of support including:
- Training and workshops - everything from developing and testing and business plan to market research and finance
- Business accommodation - specialist accommodation and support (sometimes referred to as business incubation)
- Information and advice - everything from intellectual property to recruiting staff
For more information about the support available to you, visit our business start up pages.
Employment Sectors
Research* indicates that the South West is characterised by:
- Relatively high economic activity rates
- High levels of employment (and self employment)
- Low rates of unemployment
* State of the South West, 2007, South West Observatory
The largest employment sectors
The public sector is the biggest employer in the region, and financial services are also particularly strong throughout the South West.
The largest South West employment sectors are:
* Services - 73.2%: Distribution and retail, business services, health and social services, ublic administration and defence, education, transport and communication, hotels and catering, finance and other.
* Manufacturing - 14.3%: Transport equipment, electronics, food and drink, paper and printing and metal / non metal products
* Construction - 8.1%
* Agriculture, forestry and fishing - 3.8%
Check out our Directory of Employers to find employers in these sectors.
The South West Regional Development Agency has identified eight priority sectors for development (listed below). Visit these pages to find out more about each sector - including key drivers and industry news... all very useful for interviews!
- Advanced engineering
- Biomedical and healthcare
- Creative industries
- Environmental technologies
- Food and drink
- Information and communication technologies
- Leisure and tourism
- Marine
Check out our Directory of Employers to find employers in these sectors.
If your chosen career doesn't feature in the largest or key employment sectors, it doesn't mean that there aren't good opportunities for you within the South West.
Remember - each sector needs graduates for a wide range of roles including general management, business management, project manamagement, sales and marketing, law, accountancy, human resources, design, public relations, quality assurances, logistics etc.
Gradsouthwest advertises lots of these roles, plus many interesting and rewarding jobs that encompass several of these elements.
Check out our live vacancies and Directory of Employers to see who's recruiting now!
