Member Article

Manchester graduates boost city’s economy via new university recruitment scheme

The University of Manchester’s Recruitment Service for Business, a free recruitment initiative that offers Manchester SMEs access to graduates seeking employment opportunities in the city, has already helped nearly 200 newly graduated students secure full-time employment or paid internships since launching in May. In addition the service has on average handled over 500 enquiries from local businesses interested in employing University of Manchester graduates.

The reason for the scheme’s success is a combination of the University’s access to a pool of high calibre graduates - who are keen to stay and work in Manchester after graduating - together with free specialist recruitment advice and support provided by the University’s experienced recruitment team. Employer services include helping to draft graduate job descriptions, advertising vacancies to recent graduates and final-year students, short-listing of applicants and helping to facilitate interviews.

The University also advises businesses on what it considers to be a fair rate of pay for the role in question which is commensurate with the qualifications, skills and experience required.

Anne Milligan, Head of Regional Development at the University said: “We launched our Recruitment Service for Business specifically to help SMEs and other organisations in Greater Manchester tap into graduate talent without the hassle, disruption or costs associated with trying to fill a vacancy and in less than six months have handled over 500 enquiries from local employers looking for bright, hardworking and capable candidates.

“We have already been able to successfully place nearly 200 graduates into full-time paid positions in local companies, giving them a crucial foot on the career ladder, and in doing so we are helping to keep young and emerging graduate talent within the city.”

One Manchester firm that has taken full advantage of the Recruitment Service for Business is Hamburg Sud (www.hamburgsud.com), the UK office of a global container shipping line based in Salford Quays. Hambug Sud has already employed several University of Manchester graduates across a range of sales, marketing and administration roles and is currently looking to add to this cohort.

Hamburg Sud’s Managing Director David Barbour said:

“Since we began using the scheme I have been very impressed with the University’s service. From the way our vacancies are marketed to graduates, through to the quality of the applicants that are short-listed, it is a very effective recruitment tool.

“With regards to the graduates we have appointed their qualifications and intelligence have been matched with maturity, a work-ethic, enthusiasm and interpersonal skills which really helps them fit into the world of work. I would strongly recommend the service to other Manchester businesses, although I do worry once the secret is out we will face much stiffer competition for these high calibre and very employable candidates.”

A recent survey of 200 Manchester SMEs undertaken by the University further revealed that 65% anticipated employing at least one graduate within the next 12 months, and that The University of Manchester would be the first port of call when filling a graduate vacancy for a majority of local employers.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Bond .