Partner Article

European backing for local graduates

North East businesses are being offered a further chance to take advantage of the knowledge and skills of recent graduates.

Entrust’s ‘Graduates for Business’ programme has secured £724,000 from the European Regional Development Fund through One North East.

The project is delivered in partnership with the University of Teesside, and aims to diagnose the needs of individual businesses and offer solutions by sourcing graduates with appropriate professional capability.

Dan Brophy, CEO of Entrust, said: “Graduates for Business is improving businesses’ performance by giving them access to the latest technical expertise at a lower cost, as well as putting local graduates on the first rung of the career ladder.

“With this additional support, SMEs can expand their markets, improve processes, develop new products and introduce new technologies to increase sales and achieve financial savings. The graduates are exposed to the skills required to manage and run a business, as well as the challenges and rewards of being an integral part of a small company’s workforce.”

As well as supporting work placements, the additional ERDF funding will allow the continuation of the ‘GradHouse’ North East graduate recruitment fair.

“The Graduates for Business programme is making a positive contribution towards our ability to create and sustain an entrepreneurial culture,” explained One North East Head of European and skills strategy Lesley Calder. “It will also encourage SMEs within the region to offer new graduate level jobs and stimulate innovation and new ideas in the workplace.”

For further information about the Graduates for Business programme, call Entrust on 0191 244 4000 or visit www.graduatesforbusiness.co.uk.

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