NI graduates fill the GAP in Belfast
08 June 2010
Business in the Community’s Graduate Acceleration Programme (GAP) which began in January of this year is making a huge impact for unemployed graduates.
Sixty graduates are now in placement at a variety of businesses and not for profit organisations across Northern Ireland.
James Stevenson, a GAP graduate currently completing a Marketing placement with Abacus Professional Recruitment in Belfast says of his experience: "GAP provides the ideal opportunity for enthusiastic graduates to complete the missing link between having university qualifications and gaining much needed job experience. I would highly recommend this fantastic venture to any graduate as there is also the added benefit of completing a free graduate certificate to enhance your CV, alongside gaining active employability skills."
James is simultaneously studying for a Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice with the University of Ulster.
Businesses are benefitting too.
“The GAP Programme is excellent because it provides Abacus with a recent graduate who is adding some real value to our team. We now have access to a new resource with fresh knowledge of general marketing and design alongside an insight into specific issues such as digital media” says Alan Braithwaite from Abacus.
"As a specialist recruitment agency, it is important we improve our Google rankings and attract key candidates for jobs in Belfast and Northern Ireland. As a process, it was very straight-forward – a brief application form, a swift CV response and an open interview; in fact just the same way we run our recruitment service!”
Gerard O’Hare, Chair of GAP highlights: “Business in the Community, in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster developed this initiative in response to worrying need for graduates to gain experience which was made more difficult by the recession. The initiative is funded by the Department of Employment and Learning under its Steps to Work programme.
“It is so encouraging to see how much impact GAP has had in such a short space of time. To be able to assist 60 graduates so far into a position where they can gain valuable work experience is a great achievement. And the programme is growing exponentially. We have over 150 graduates who have expressed interest.
“250 businesses are also registered for matching. I would like to congratulate the business community for rising to the challenge and for being committed to helping Northern Ireland’s unemployed graduates."
If you are an unemployed graduate and are looking for your next step into employment, please visit www.gapni.com
For more information on Business in the Community, visit the website www.bitcni.org.uk
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