Gisela Stuart MPWorking hard for Bartley Green, Edgbaston, Harborne and Quinton

Jobs and training boost for graduates // June 30th, 2009 // Constituency News

Edgbaston MP Gisela Stuart has welcomed a new programme to offer subsidised jobs, training places and low-cost university courses to graduates struggling to find work in the West Midlands this summer.

Universities, employers, business groups, Jobcentre Plus and Advantage West Midlands have drawn up the programme - the first of its kind in the country - to help students from the West Midlands start their careers and businesses to benefit from graduate-level skills despite the recession. 

The region’s businesses will be encouraged to identify work placements and job opportunities for graduates.  SMEs in particular can benefit from graduate input to make them stronger in the downturn and better placed to meet the upturn when it comes.

The plan consists of:

• Training places funded through the European Social Fund. Graduates will be offered 30 hours a week work placements and still be able to receive Jobseekers Allowance.
• The region’s universities offering post-graduate courses at reduced costs so that students can continue their studies and increase their skills so they can get better jobs after the recession.
• Internships and work placements lasting for up to six months in which students will be able to continue claiming benefits and get extra help to cover transport and other costs.

 Gisela says:

“This programme is a welcome boost to graduates and another example of the government providing real help to get the West Midlands through the recession. It will be particularly important in our region to help new and smaller businesses that have not traditionally employed graduates to take them on - not just to provide valuable work experience for the graduates, but to help businesses to withstand the recession and prepare for the upturn”.

Employers and graduates interested in taking part in the West Midlands Graduate Internship Programme should contact Advantage West Midlands - http://www.advantagewm.co.uk/.

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