£1.6m bid to retain graduates

STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO STAY

MORE than £1.6 million is set to be invested in encouraging graduates to stay in Leicester once they have finished their studies.

Leicester City Council and De Montfort and Leicester universities have been working together to set up an internship scheme that will support small businesses to offer workplace opportunities to students.

The Leicester: Graduate City scheme has secured £840,000 of money from the European Social Fund, with about £309,000 from the council, £214,000 from De Montfort

University and nearly £317,000 from the University of Leicester.

The money will be used to set up a range of six-week internships at businesses for second-year students.

The internships will also highlight the range and quality of job opportunities available for graduates. City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, pictured, said: “Encouraging graduates to live and work in Leicester when they have finished their studies is a key part of our Economic Action Plan, so I’m delighted we have been awarded this money.

“We need the skills and knowledge graduates bring to Leicester.

“By creating these internships, we introduce our diverse businesses to the skills and talent they need.

“Our aim is to help both graduates and businesses at a very difficult time, stimulating Leicester’s economic recovery.”

De Montfort head of careers and employability, Adele Browne, said: “We know businesses can’t always find the skilled recruits they need, and students aren’t always aware of the diverse range of businesses in and around our city.

“Internship schemes offer a brilliant opportunity to close these gaps.”

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, president and vice-chancellor at the University of Leicester said: “We want to ensure we can retain the expertise and skills our students bring so they can make Leicester their home.

“These internships are critical for students to acquire valuable skills while making useful contributions to their place of work.”

At least 96 small and mediumsized enterprises will benefit. The project will run until February 2023.