News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 10 September 2009
Low carbon vehicle
and marine energy industries are to benefit from a new placement
scheme that will see more talented graduates enter this key
sector, putting their new skills to use while gaining vital career experience.
Speaking at the UUK conference David Lammy announced the creation
of the Low Carbon Future Leaders placement scheme, a Backing Young
Britain initiative that will give 1,500 graduates the opportunity
to work and gain paid work experience in a sector that will be
providing the jobs for the future.
Graduates will work with businesses to help raise awareness of
technological developments and new business opportunities while
gaining work experience in these emerging industries.
David Lammy, Minister of State for Higher Education said:
“Our young people are key to the UK’s future success in winning
the jobs of the future, which is why we have created the Future
Leaders initiative. This will give graduates opportunities in a
fast growing and increasingly important industry, improving their
future job prospects while providing businesses with their
specialist knowledge and skills.
“Backing Young Britain is not just a response to the recession
but an investment in our future. This is why we launched the
Graduate Talent Pool, matching graduates to more than 5,000
internships and announced 47,000 new jobs for young people as part
of the Future Jobs Fund. We also made an additional 10,000
university places available this year for STEM subjects to ensure
we continue to provide highly skilled individuals for these
sectors.”
The Low Carbon Future Leaders sits alongside the thousands of
other opportunities available to new graduates that will help them
improve their chances to get a long term and well paid career.
These include:
· Over 5,000 internships through the Graduate Talent Pool
matching service;
· Around 24,000 additional postgraduate places - supported by
extra Professional and Career Development Loans next year;
· 250 short term placements through Mini Knowledge Transfer
partnerships, rising to 500 in 2010/11;
· Thousands of existing volunteering options available through
“V”, an organisation aimed at young people between 16-25, and
other voluntary organisations;
· 500 teach first opportunities in 2009, up 130 from 2008.
This initiative is part of the Backing Young Britain campaign
which is providing funding of £40m for new internships and work
placements for graduates and 10,000 places for non-graduates. This
funding will support the development of a new mentoring network to
help young people find their feet in a tough jobs market and offer
more help from day one of unemployment through job clubs and 1-2-1
support.
HEFCE will work with universities and regional partners to
determine the most effective way of implementing the initiative.
Notes to Editors
1. David Lammy’s speech to UUK can be found online at www.bis.gov.ukb
2. The Graduate Low Carbon Future Leaders will initially work on
marine energy in the South West and on low carbon vehicles in the
North East.
3. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills will promote
open and competitive markets, proportionate regulation, an
enterprise and
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Adam Smith
Phone: 020 7215 5955
Adam.Smith@bis.gsi.gov.uk