It’s a win-win situation when small businesses stretched by the downturn offer work experience to jobless graduates
As unemployment soars, what hope is there for the 400,000 students due to graduate this summer—let alone those that graduated last year? Shell Step, work experience provider for students, is this year extending its programme to include recent graduates from 2008, as well as those about to graduate this year, in an effort to plug the gap.
The scheme offers businesses the chance to blood new talent, and gain new perspective from the eight-week placements, which can also deliver substantial financial rewards. In return, graduates gain valuable work experience. In 2008, almost half of Step students added more than £5,000 worth of value to their host business while 17 per cent added more than £30,000, according to figures published by Shell, the program’s sponsor.
When Chris Haigh, a project management student at Warwick University did some work experience at manufacturing company Cressall Resistors, he delivered more than half a million pounds of value. As well as tackling inefficiencies and waste at the company, Haigh developed a bespoke product for a new contract opportunity, which won the business an account worth up to £500,000.
Helen Collier, Director of the National Council for Work Experience (NCWE) says: “Small businesses are the engine drivers of the UK economy and it is fantastic that more of them will be able to tap into the enterprise and initiative of the UK’s most talented recent graduates.”
Graduates can work on a wide range of projects ranging from designing websites and bespoke software to devising marketing strategies and identifying potential new markets.
Posted 15 April 2009 : Director.co.uk
