Member Article

Fresh drive to keep graduates in the region

A new programme aimed at halting the ‘brain drain’ of digital media and technology graduates out of the region has been announced. Codeworks, the North East’s centre of excellence for digital media and technology, has received £390,000 of funding from regional development agency One NorthEast (ONE) to put 51 recent graduates to work in digital companies within the North East on paid placements lasting either three or nine months.

Codeworks has run a successful 10- to 12-week long placement scheme for students and graduates in the region for the past three years. The new, lengthier scheme is designed to give graduates a more in-depth experience and better chance of securing a permanent position, as well as enabling host companies to get the most out of their employee. The first batch of 23 graduates is being recruited now to begin their placements immediately, with a second group of 28 graduates scheduled to start next summer.

Hilary Armstrong, Social Exclusion Minister and MP for North West Durham, and a former lecturer at Sunderland Polytechnic, said: “I’ve heard about the success Codeworks has had with the placement schemes it has run over the past couple of years. Student retention is a massively important issue for the North East – particularly in the technology sector – so it’s terrific news that they’ve received funding for another set of placements. “I’m very happy to see the continuing progress and success of Codeworks. Their work is greatly enhancing the economic prospects of the North East.”

Herb Kim, CEO of Codeworks, said: “With regard to the regional skills agenda, ONE are not just talking but taking action. Their strategic support of the Codeworks placement programmes has already made a significant impact on the fortunes of digital companies in the North East and their renewed support means that we can continue working to improve the links between industry and universities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .