The LCR Grad Scheme, a project part funded by the European Social Fund, and delivered by the Careers and Employability department at The University of Liverpool, exists to connect local, graduate talent with SMEs in the Liverpool City Region. At LCR Grad Scheme, we are committed to giving our local SMEs access to a talented workforce and giving our local graduates the opportunities they deserve in exciting, high-value careers, to ensure that the Liverpool City Region is a place where people succeed.
Through our two employment streams of Marketing & Business operations and Technical, the scheme requires applicants to go through a detailed and well supported assessment process, which allows accurate pairing to a local SME. Throughout graduates’ time on the scheme, they also benefit from a six-month professional development programme to accelerate their progression in the role.
Retaining talent is key to growth of any city and is at the forefront of our mission. We are making a consistent effort to address the graduate talent drain by making graduates aware of the opportunities that are available to them in the city region. As well as this, the streamlined access that businesses have to graduate talent has the ability to reposition the region as a powerhouse and ensure a healthy contribution to the local economy. By supporting local businesses, we are providing economic stability that will benefit the circular economy.
A key part of the scheme is a six-month professional development programme that is offered to graduates whilst employed with their SME. Partnering with training developers, Agent Academy and GradConsult, graduates are offered training modules that will allow them to accelerate their progression whilst in their roles and work on the impact they want to make for themselves and the city region. As well as this, graduates complete an additional NVQ qualification in an area which will benefit their new organisation.
Employer Engagement and Economic Impact
The cornerstone of the work that we do is our collaboration with employers in the Liverpool City Region. So far, we have helped 37 graduates land employment with 32 businesses, including but not limited to, Oil Salvage, FourthWall, STEM Women, and Arete Zero Carbon.
The value in this partnership lies with investment in the regional economic sphere. Making use of the incredible home-grown, graduate talent only enhances the city region's offer and boots the local economy, having a long-lasting effect on the future of business. Both parties understand the the demand for skills and the impact of unemployment for recent graduates, which is why the partnership works so fluidly.
We also understand the economic limitations that SMEs may face and that’s why there is zero cost for the advertising and marketing of job roles, recruitment process, and the training and development of graduate employees.
It is incredibly important for graduates who are a part of LCR Grad Scheme to also devote time to their professional development whilst in employment. That’s why the opportunity to partner with Agent Academy and Gradconsult is so beneficial.
Watch a selection of our graduates and employers talk about their experiences of the LCR Grad Scheme here.
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