News Release issued by
the COI News Distribution Service on 29 September 2009
The Government has
joined forces with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to
offer up to 10,000 graduates a boost to their future
employability, through internships in small and micro businesses
announced the Prime Minister Gordon Brown today.
The Prime Minister said:
“Our guarantee to all young people is that with millions of new
opportunities from apprenticeships to internships to a new class
of modern technicians, we will discover, coach, develop and
showcase the wealth of aspiration and talent that exists in Britain.
“To add to the 100, 000 new young people’s jobs we are already
creating, we can today offer in partnership with the Federation of
Small Businesses, 10,000 skilled internships so that, even in the
midst of tough economic times, we are encouraging a whole new
generation of young Britons to embrace ambition and British enterprise.”
Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman John Wright said:
“Over the past few months, the FSB has been calling for the
Government to recognise the importance of small businesses in
creating jobs for skilled young people graduating from college and
university. Small firms are the country’s job creators – central
to our economic recovery – and more than half have said they would
employ more staff if they were given the right support.
“The Government’s pledge to set up 10,000 skilled internships is
a real victory for the FSB and a victory for small businesses
across the country.
“This will help those graduates leaving university at a time when
the job market is sluggish at best – they will get real work
experience and develop real skills. And small firms will benefit
from the skills of this workforce, which they traditionally find
harder to recruit. Research from previous schemes shows that one
in four graduates are also offered full-time employment in the
business at the end of their placement.
“The FSB is committed to promoting this scheme among its
membership, and to encouraging all small businesses to link up
with university careers services to offer vacancies and create placements.”
Minister for Higher Education David Lammy said:
“I am delighted that the FSB is going to use its network to
encourage its members to take advantage of the talent on offer
from our recent graduates.
“We believe this will give more graduates the chance to work on
serious projects, getting hands on experience of working in
businesses and to understand the potential which exists in the
small and micro business sector.”
The Federation of Small Businesses, which represents 215,000
small businesses across the UK will campaign to encourage its
members to offer these internships in addition to places already
on offer under existing schemes. This will take the total number
of opportunities to 20,000, with 10,000 in small businesses.
The extra places being announced today will be funded through a
grant, administered through Higher Education Funding Council for
England (HEFCE) and the universities who will administer the
scheme. That will provide £ 100 per week towards the wage costs
involved. Employers will meet the balance. University Careers
services will help match graduates to the opportunities available.
Notes to Editors
1. The 10,000 internship opportunities offered with the FSB
comprise 5,000 announced today and 5,000 announced as part of the
launch of Backing Young Britain last month.
2. These new internships will sit 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:
· Thousands of internships delivered through the Graduate Talent
Pool matching service and the Low Carbon Future Leaders placement scheme;
· Around 24,000 additional postgraduate places
· 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.
3. For more information please contact Emma Griffiths in the BIS
Press office on 020 7215 5
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Emma Griffiths
Phone: 020 7215 5982
Emma.Griffiths@bis.gsi.gov.uk