EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Add a bright spark to your business

11 February 2010

A £1.2 million scheme to fund 770 graduate internships with businesses in the East of England goes live today.

The national programme, announced by the Prime Minister this morning, will focus on the future growth sectors, such as low carbon, bio sciences and ICT - areas in which the East of England is particularly strong.

The programme will benefit businesses by bringing in fresh talent to help boost their productivity. Graduates will gain valuable experience and training through a structured support programme which will help them into employment.

EEDA has worked closely with the region's universities and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to ensure regional co-ordination in the allocation of resources to match the supply and demand for places. 

Alison Lys, head of skills at EEDA, said:

“Businesses need well qualified and dynamic people to help them compete in the global economy.  Yet there are many high-calibre graduates in the region who are desperate for an opportunity to demonstrate their skills.  We want to ensure that graduates educated in the region stay in the region and fill the skills gap. 

“With this £1.2 million scheme, working closely with the universities and the Federation of Small Businesses, we will match the right business with the right graduate. Businesses, graduates and ultimately the economy of the East of England will all benefit from this new scheme.”

David Burch, Federation of Small Businesses East of England Policy Manager, said:
“We have seen encouraging signs that unemployment in the East of England is beginning to fall, but youth unemployment is still at a record high. Research by the FSB shows that one in five small firms say they are keen to take on graduate interns.
“Graduates on placements in small firms will be able to gain invaluable work experience and develop real skills, while the businesses will benefit from the skills of this trained and available workforce. Research shows that one in four graduates are offered full time employment in the business at the end of the placement, so graduate internships are a win-win for both the business and graduate. We will be encouraging our members to fully play their part in this innovative scheme.”

Universities offering the internships:
Anglia Ruskin University 
Norwich University College of Arts 
University of Bedfordshire       
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Hertfordshire
Writtle College    

The scheme will be advertised through Business Link East (www.businesslink.gov.uk/internships), as well as the Federation of Small Businesses, Grads East, and individual university websites. 

 

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