Responding to the publication of the Association of Graduate Recruiter’s survey, Libby Aston, Director of University Alliance, said:
“This is great news for graduates. It is particularly striking against the backdrop of the ONS reporting the economy contracted in the last three months of 2010. We strongly believe universities and graduates are key to delivering growth in the UK. Our universities maintain a revolving door with business to help ensure graduate employers get innovative and thoughtful graduates with the right skills to help grow their businesses.
We have to remember too that many graduates will be setting up their own businesses rather than taking up employment. Innovation and enterprise are at the heart of Alliance universities – on average, start-up companies established by Alliance graduates generate more than double the turnover of the average English graduate start-up company.
As well as building on today’s good news about graduate employability we will continue to work with Government to ensure it creates the right environment for new start-ups.”
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Notes for editors
Examples of a different approach to graduate employability:
- Nottingham Trent University is one of the top ten universities in England and Wales for graduate employment with nearly 95% of its students in employment or further study six months after graduating.
- Northumbria University has had more than 200 business start-ups in the past 5 years.
- Liverpool John Moores University’s The World of Work (WoW) initiative aims to ensure that every student is equipped with the skills they need to stand out from the crowd and successfully engage in the world of work, either because they possess skills which are highly valued by employers or because they are well equipped to set themselves up in their own business. (http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow/)
- University of Hertfordshire does not have a career advisory service but an employability centre, matching employer’s needs with student’s skills. They also support professional development for graduates.
About the Alliance:
University Alliance represents 23 major, business-focussed universities at the heart of the sector delivering world-leading research with impact.Alliance universities educate over 26% of all UK students and achieve some of the highest graduate-level employment rates. Alliance universities offer a research- informed, academic learning environment and a culture of innovation and enterprise, equipping graduates who will help deliver growth to the UK economy. Our universities maintain a revolving door with business to help ensure graduate employers get innovative and thoughtful, professionally accredited graduates with the right skills to help grow their businesses.
Alliance universities:
Aberystwyth University, Bournemouth University, University of Bradford, De Montfort University, University of Glamorgan, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Hertfordshire, University of Huddersfield, University of Lincoln, Liverpool John Moores University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, Nottingham Trent University, Open University, Oxford Brookes University, University of Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, University of Salford, Sheffield Hallam University, Teesside University, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, University of Wales, Newport, University of the West of England.
For further information, please contact Sam Jones at the University Alliance office on 07767 673 982 or email sjones@www.unialliance.ac.uk.
