1. Extra Curricular Skills Programmes and Work Experience Phil Gibson, Southampton Institute Susan Reed, Loughborough University Peter Ireland, University Central England

2. Workshop Plan n Pilot Projects - Southampton Institute, Loughborough & UCE n Our Motivations n Getting People Involved n Lessons and Futures n Q & A

3. AGCAS/MERITS What we did at Southampton Institute

4. AGCAS/MERITS – what we did at Southampton Institute n Target of 35 students and graduates n 12 week programme n Teaching of career management skills n Involvement of employers n Work placements

5. AGCAS/MERITS – what we did at Southampton Institute n ‘Buddy’ approach n Payment n Careers & CV advice n Log books n Prizes n Feedback

6. MERITS What we did at Loughborough University

7. MERITS Get to Work on Your Career Loughborough University Careers Service AIM: To enhance the employability of black and Asian undergraduates. KEY AREAS 1. Work Experience 2. Skills Launch Course 3. Employer Visits; local SME’s

8. UCE Pilot - Engaging SME’s in Minority Ethnic Work Experience n 15 SME Work Experience Placements n Establishing Brokerage Practice n 5 Alumni Mentoring Relationships n Development of Support Materials n Production of Work Experience Web Site n Commitment to Track Students

9. AGCAS/MERITS why we did what we did n FDS n High % of ethnic minority students n Experience and research n A chance to improve work with employers

10. AGCAS/MERITS why we did what we did n A chance to explore the delicate issue of positive action n Conferences n Champions

11. MERITS Securing Student Involvement  Target ethnic minority students  Enhance employment prospects  Include experience on a CV  Industrial placements  Placements with blue chip companies  Payment  Food

12. MERITS Securing Employer Involvement  Established links  Host organisations for previous schemes  Employers with vacancies  Employers on Careers Service Board  Alumni  Personal contacts  Creative networking

13. MERITS Securing Employer Involvement  Establish links with the Careers Service  The business case  Keen to develop a diverse workforce  Chance to enable them to hit targets  Goodwill  Potential future recruits

14. MERITS Securing Employer Involvement Issues Raised:  Timing  Time consuming  Tailor made approach  Selective employers  Lack of flexibility  Students want blue chip companies  IT placements difficult  Employers want to be inclusive

15. MERITS Securing Institutional Involvement  Equal opps. A strategic objective  ‘Careers’ in the Mission and Vision  Impact on graduate employment  Existence of champions  Kudos  Raise the profile of the Careers Service/University

16. Lessons and Futures Will Examine : n Our Learning n Impact of the Pilots n Sustainability

17. Our Learning n Differences in student demand n Clear difference in attitudes between large companies and SMEs n Flexibility required to recruit employers n Preparation time needed is substantial n Have confidence in discussing diversity issues

18. Impact n Careers Service profile with employers and Uni. - Pilots addressed widening participation and employability n Strategic employer/HE body on diversity n Students acquired further experience n Staff developed skills and confidence n Profile with DfES n Students improved confidence in employability

19. Sustainability n Products, systems, web site n Skills and confidence of participating staff and students n Good will of satisfied employer n Work experience (esp.with SMEs) is a resource intensive activity n UCE secured funding to continue work