£10million worth of graduate jobs
Thursday 26 May 2011
Southampton Solent University is spearheading a ‘£10 million worth of Graduate Jobs Campaign’ to help regenerate the Southampton and regional economies.
The initiative which focuses on increasing graduate employment opportunities and encouraging entrepreneurship is challenging businesses in the area to help Solent reach a £10m target by the end of June. This will be achieved by collectively pledging internships, placements and jobs – thus encouraging graduates to stay and work in the area that has provided their university education.
Graduate Jobs South (GJS), a Solent University initiative, has already advertised £8.2 million worth of jobs since January 2011. GJS works in partnership with the region's University Careers Services to deliver a recruitment service to students, graduates and employers in the South.
The campaign will also challenge businesses to match or beat the 25 internships already provided annually by Southampton Solent University to its graduates.
The culmination of the ‘£10m worth of Graduate Jobs Campaign’ will be the ‘Vision for 2020’ symposium hosted at Solent University on 28 June - to thank businesses who have supported the campaign and to hear views from local business leaders and decision makers on the likely future development of the Southampton economy. It will also give the University the opportunity to showcase its numerous entrepreneurial, employer-facing and graduate employment initiatives.
Professor Van Gore, Vice-Chancellor of Southampton Solent University said:
“Solent offers students a distinctive university education that combines theory and practice and carries good job prospects. With a 91% employment rate we believe that we are already producing high calibre graduates with the skills that employers want. We are especially pleased to be part of campaign that promotes closer interaction with local business in the pursuit of growth and development for our local economy. Together we can do it!”
The campaign which has the support of Southampton City Council, Business Southampton, Hampshire Economic Partnership, The Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors will be promoted by the region’s media.
For further information contact the media Office on +44(0)23 8031 9040
Graduate Jobs South
Graduate Jobs South (GJS) improves graduate retention in the city through employment in local businesses. They give employers cost-effective and high quality help in recruitment from large pool of graduates in specialist areas. For further information visit www.graduatejobssouth.co.uk| or Tel. 023 8031 9329.
Southampton Solent University – Other business initiatives
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Student Entrepreneur Programme: The University’s Student Entrepreneur programme gives students training and support in setting up businesses and self-employment, largely within the city. More than 100 businesses have been set up through Solent’s entrepreneur scheme since 2006 and 40 per cent are still trading, adding to the wealth of the city.
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Southampton Skills Development Zone: This Southampton partnership initiative chaired by Southampton Solent University, Vice Chancellor, Professor Van Gore, focuses directly on the needs of local employers and individuals addressing skills and workforce development and providing enhanced routes into work and education.
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Solent Creatives: Solent Creatives is a new organisation utilising the skills of lecturers and students, using industry-standard technology, to provide media services – including copywriting, public relations and website design – for Southampton businesses and other organisations.
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Solent Productions: Using graduates, staff and students with specialised skills and industry standard equipment – including film and editing studios and fully-fitted outside broadcast truck, the organisation has been involved in about 100 media projects for industry and provided filming for BBC (Children In Need), Cowes Week, Skandia.
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Knowledge Transfer Partnership: The University has just set up a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) - with Business in the Community (BITC), a charity-led business that encourages and supports companies to take on Corporate Social Responsibility. BITC is the UK’s largest business-led coalition dedicated to corporate responsibility. Solent University will provide expertise for BITC’s project, involving researching areas in Hampshire which have the most profound employment barriers due to deprivation of skills and education and investigating which companies could help.