SME Graduate Recruitment – Why and How? Helene Turley and Jo Terry

Agenda Introduction SME’s perceptions of Recruiting a Graduate - Pros and Cons Schemes available Cost of advertising How a Job Description is written - employer versus graduate

SME’s perceptions of Recruiting a Graduate Pros and Cons

ERDF part-funded project, aims at giving help and support to students and graduates wishing to start their own business Partners: Birmingham City University Coventry University Keele University Staffordshire University University of Wolverhampton plus.org/ Self-Employment 44 weeks + full- time Any size company- public or private sector At least national minimum wage Or Use STEP Sandwich Year Placements Student for 8-12 weeks. Any size company- public or private sector £295 + VAT per week. No company NI or tax. Classic STEP 1 day p/w, 1 semester (12 weeks) At least national minimum wage Short-term Placements Student Employment Opportunities Fixed term or permanent Fully managed recruitment service Student Positions

Academic supported project months. £17,300 - £26,000 company cost p.a. High impact / innovation projects. Graduate employed by University. Based full time at the company. Access to university resource and facilities. KTP – Knowledge Transfer Partnership Academic supported project months £17,000 average company cost p.a. Pre- Innovation based growth projects Employed by company Dedicated liaison officer support Part-funded by ERDF KEEN – Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise Network Recent graduate weeks £ vat per week No company NI or tax Or Recent graduate 25 weeks -12 months £325+ vat p/w Graduate STEP Open to private sector SMEs in the West Midlands minimum of nine weeks paid work experience Cash bursaries of up to £850 are available Paid Internships – min. £6.90ph. Part-funded by ERDF Graduate Bursary Scheme Graduate Employment Opportunities Fixed term or permanent Fully managed recruitment service 92% employment rate Full or Part-time Graduate Positions

Cost of advertising Examples: Local: Express and Star Newspaper - £39+VAT (for small ad, 3-4 lines), £5,000 (for 20cm x 15.2cm + logo) WMJobs - £150 (for 28 days) National: Reed - £175+VAT (for 6 weeks) Monster - £199 (for 30 days) Totaljobs - From £72 (for 10+ jobs for 28 days) NASES (multiple universities) - Sponsorship opportunities (from £150 for monthly s to £10,000 for full website branding)

How to recruit a graduate Task 1 Key things a graduate would need to know about the role and the company (10 mins) Task 2 Place the key Job Description sections in the order you feel a)A graduate would read in order of importance b)An employer would write a job description

Our experience: Employers: 1)Job Description 2)Salary 3)Length of contract 4)Person Specification 5)Company Details Demonstrates the requirement for all sections to be completed to a high standard in order to actively encourage applications from the right candidates. Graduates: 1)Company Details 2)Job Description 3)Person Specification 4)Salary 5)Length of contract

Sample of Adverts and Job Descriptions

Job description should include the following: Company Name and Address Job Title Location Description of Job Personal Specification Salary Length of Contract Hours – Full-Time /Part-Time Degree Requirements Method of Application Contact Closing Date

Contact Details Jo Terry Helene Turley General enquiries