News, Training & Funding Opportunities from Gradsouthwest - Recruiter Update December 2019.

In this December 2019 issue:

South West: SW Cities Fare Well for Economic Growth in 2020 ~ New Recruitment Support for SW SMEs ~ Growth Hubs ~ Helping Unemployed Graduates ~

Wales: Western Gateway ~ Linking Wales and south West England: how the removal of tolls has changed journeys ~

SW Cities Fare Well for Economic Growth in 2020

South West economy predicted to outperform weak UK growth in 2020

According to PwC’s latest UK Economic Outlook report, Brexit and trade friction will mean the UK economy will be 'subdued' in 2020. The good news is that Oxford, Reading, Southampton, Bristol, Swindon and Plymouth will be among UK's best cities for growth (The Good Growth for Cities Index also by PwC).

Although consumer spending has continued to drive the UK economy, supported by recent rises in real incomes, a cooling housing market coupled with slower jobs growth means there is likely to be only moderate consumer spending growth in 2020. As inflation has fallen back below the Bank of England's 2% target in recent months, real earnings have started to grow again at a relatively strong pace.

While this upward trend is expected to continue into 2020, it is difficult for strong real wage growth to be sustained on a longer-term basis unless productivity also picks up.

New Recruitment Support for SW SMEs

Led by Bath Spa University, the GradTalent Development Agency is a new initiative funded by the Office for Students which aims to help local* graduates secure graduate opportunities in the south west.

This is partly in response to research** which shows that in 2017, two thirds of new graduates started work in their home region. Boosting local employment opportunities is now very much on the agenda of universities and local industrial strategies.

"In 2017, two thirds of new graduates started work in their home region"

As a longstanding champion of local opportunities, Gradsouthwest is delighted to be a delivery partner for this new service. As such we can now offer a range of recruitment services free of charge to eligible employers including:

• A recruitment advert on Gradsouthwest (worth £140 + VAT)
• Candidates sourced direct from our live job listings and comprehensive CV database
• Assistance with designing an effective recruitment process (if required)
• Assistance with designing an induction and training and development programme (if required)
• Specialist advice and guidance to assist businesses in employing disabled graduates (if required)

To be eligible via Gradsouthwest, employers must:

• Be a SME based in Devon, Somerset or Dorset and;
• Not have advertised on Gradsouthwest in the last 2 years and;
• Be recruiting to a graduate level position

What if I am outside of Devon, Somerset or Dorset?

If you are a SME with a graduate vacancy based in Bath, Bristol or Wiltshire, it is likely that you will still be eligible for support from one of the other project delivery partners and we can refer you to them. Other project delivery partners include Bath Spa University, the University of Bath, Bath College and the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnerships.

Who do I contact?

Please contact the Gradsouthwest team and we'll be pleased to assist.

Tel: 01392 241 302
Email: admin@gradsouthwest.com

*Graduates originally from the South West, who went to University in the South West and are looking for jobs in the South West.

**What Do Graduates Do Regional Edition, October 2019, Prospects & AGCAS.This is based on data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) 2016/17 survey, and the Employer Skills Survey 2017.

In Brief:

Growth Hubs

Growth Hubs are local public and private sector partnerships led by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). They provide a mechanism for integrating national and local business support so it is easier for businesses to access the help and advice they need to thrive and grow. Have you checked out what's on offer from yours lately?

Helping Unemployed Graduates

We are pleased to be working with Jobcentre Plus to support unemployed graduates get a foothold in the graduate labour market.

Since September we have been supporting unemployed graduates by providing comprehensive CV reviews and interview coaching. It's early days but so far the feedback from jobseekers has been really encouraging.

>>> Find out about what we've learnt so far

Funded by the OfS through the GradTalent Development Agency

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Western Gateway

The Western Gateway is the first cross-border ‘powerhouse’ partnership of its kind and will lead to one shared vision of delivering economic, social and educational benefits to a region of over four million people.

FIND OUT MORE

Linking Wales and south West England: how the removal of tolls has changed journeys

A close relationship between the sister graduate recruitment sites GradWales and Gradsouthwest enables an easy flow of students and graduates between the two areas via easy access to graduate level jobs.

The key link to this flow were the bridges between the areas. When the bridges became toll free everyone predicted a growth in people commuting in both directions. A year later and the impact is clear...

MORE INFORMATION