South West

Schemes funding different employability initiatives have supported much activity in this region. Over 65 per cent of the original graduate internships allocation for the South West are either in recruitment or have an intern in-post. Further places were secured in April 2010 so more than 1,000 interns will be placed in the region's businesses.

Providing links between graduates and business has been an important role for universities across all of the regions. This is certainly the case in the South West where initiatives such as a speed-networking event enabled new graduates to highlight their skills to potential employers.

University of Gloucestershire

The 'Graduate Challenge' Programme at the University of Gloucestershire offers graduates the opportunity to work as they study at postgraduate level. It seeks to ensure that employers benefit from a low-cost way to add new skills to their workforce, while helping to retain talent within the county.

The programme enables businesses to work with recent graduates who participate in a bespoke, four-month work placement as they study for a postgraduate qualification. It has given 80 unemployed graduates placements so far, and aims to place 120 graduates into 100 companies by August.

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