A new partnership has kicked off to encourage Leicester students to keep their skills in the city when they graduate.
De Montfort University has teamed up with Leicester’s ER Recruitment to try and slow the brain-drain.
Together they have launched BrightER Futures, a nine-month programme that will see 20 final-year students seconded into the Leicester business community prior to finishing their studies.
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Students will be matched with employers to learn key skills, enhance their talents and get a feel for the city’s business community.
Local employers, including PPL PRS, Everards brewery and Freeths solicitors, will mentor and guide the students to give them professional skills and the chance to learn about commercial life.
The university is also working with Leicester City Council to encourage graduates to stay on in the city. It says around a quarter of graduates from De Montfort and the University of Leicester stay to live and work locally, compared to a national average of almost 50 per cent.
Eileen Richards MBE, who is also current president of East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, said: “Graduates offer huge potential talent for our city and I’m very excited to announce that ER is taking this new focus on supporting graduates’ early careers.
“I had the huge pleasure of meeting a group of highly talented students at DMU’s Leicester’s Future Leaders conference in February last year and believe that many businesses can benefit from the energy and vision of our graduates.
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“Our marketing exec Scarlett will work with Zul Muhammed from DMU’s employability team to give 20 students an exclusive programme of insights and experience.
“Above all, I want the students to find out that business can be great fun.”
The 20 students will participate in a busy programme including visits to their employer partner, invite-only events in the business calendar, and interview practice and masterclasses from local recruiters.
Adele Browne, head of graduate success at DMU, said: “We know that our students want to build their careers in Leicester, but they can struggle to cross that first bridge into graduate work.
“I’m really excited to be working with Eileen Richards on this new programme that will see DMU students gain such exclusive access and opportunities at the heart of the local business community.”
Sean Smith is managing director of engineering firm Michael Smith Switchgear, in Braunstone Frith, just outside Leicester, which is backing the scheme.
He said: “It is a fantastic opportunity to support the development of the next generation of business leaders that are currently studying with DMU.
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“Leicester is in the heart of the Midlands and has a fantastic manufacturing background, of which we are very proud to be a part of.
“The history of manufacturing and engineering within the city is a key part of the local and national economy and the students from DMU will receive first hand experiences and insights into the businesses that they are partnered with.
“These students can create great value within our city as they become very influential and future business leaders not just within our city but nationally. They are our future.”
Mechanical engineering student Shain Masunungure said: “BrightER Futures is shining light to new graduates giving them greater chance to get up the employment ladder, equipping young people with transferable skills and experience, learning from the best people in the industry around Leicestershire.”
Accounting and finance student Harry Dickinson said: “Getting paired with a business that best suits the accounting and finance course that I am currently taking will allow me to better understand what it is like to work within the many professional fields of finance.
“I am very excited to begin the BrightER futures programme and take this fantastic opportunity to set me up for a successful career in finance.”