A new pilot scheme launched by the Graduate Works group,aimed at helping graduates develop better workplace skills during the early years of their careers, has been hailed as a major success.

The unique initiative, launched with the support of Advantage West Midlands Business, has brought together a variety of businesses to deliver sustained one-on-one and groupsupport to graduates in the local area.

Will Jordell, marketing director of Graduate Works, said: ‘This is the first initiative of its kind in the country to specifically support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that may not have the capacity to provide in-house training but who still have a wealth of extremely talented graduates to develop.’

Mr Jordell maintains that in addition to helping graduates achieve their full professional potentialthe programme also helps SMEs both train and improve the performance of their graduates, encouraging the retention and enticement of high quality talent to the region.

The goal of the initiative is to help graduates who participate to feel more confident and focused on how to do their jobs as well as understanding how the work that they do positively benefits the company.  

The company helps young workers to identify the goals that they would like to achieve in their professional lives as well as helping them create a proactive plan in order to achieve these goals.

In turn employers and the graduate’s line manager work closely with Graduate Works to ensure that a strong support network,training and guidance are readily available.

The first trial of the scheme was introduced in Stoke-on-Trent with a total of 25 graduates from local SMEs and the success of this initial trial has now allowed the programme to expand, with a second schemenow being launched.

‘We’re very excited that our pilot programme has thrived in Stroke on Trent, which has enabled Graduate Works to launch a second scheme in the Black Country,’ said Mr Jordell.

‘It is crucial for companies of any size to devote time and energy to the progress of their graduates, to ensure that our future business leaders want to work and live in the West Midlands when they have left university.’