Coventry University has launched its own commercial recruitment agency, called Thefutureworks, which matches undergraduates with local employers eager to tap into the university’s 14,000-student talent pool.
It also recruits for graduates looking for their first job, and senior-level opportunities for its postgraduates and the general public. Almost 1,000 students are registered with the agency, which is run by the university’s commercial arm, Coventry University Enterprises.
The launch also bodes well for local employers looking for quality candidates. A poll by the Association of Graduate Recruiters earlier this year found that firms expect their vacancies to increase by up to 15% this year. However, about half of employers said they did not expect to fill them all, because applicants lacked the right skills.
Obi Okwuadigbo, programmes manager at Thefutureworks, said: “We see part-time work for students as an important factor in their development and, in turn, it will help them secure graduate employment.”
Mark Ashworth, chief executive of education charity Young Enterprise West Midlands, has employed several students through the new agency. “This is a win-win situation for everybody,” he said. “The student is getting gainful employment, while we’re getting a top-quality candidate who is motivated and highly flexible.”
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http://www.thefutureworks.org.uk/default.asp
http://www.agr.org.uk/news/agr_in_the_news/id.46.html
