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Sunderland University partners with North East organisations to create 500 graduate jobs

Sunderland University has partnered with organisations across the region to launch one of the largest ever graduate careers support programmes, benefiting not only students, but hundreds of businesses, as well as the wider regional economy.

Around 500 graduate level jobs and paid internships have been made available through the project, led by the University of Sunderland. Around 300 are available now with the other 200 to follow next year.

The internships will see graduates working full-time for an organisation for between 3-12 months, while earning a salary.

This is a massive boost in the effort to keep talented graduates in the North-East and will help significantly in tackling the skills shortage in the key areas affecting regional productivity.

University of Sunderland works with businesses large and small to provide opportunities to students and graduates, including Nissan Motor Manufacturing, BBC, Accenture, John Lewis, British Airways, Nexus, SAFC, PWC, Nexus and Police UK.

University of Sunderland Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Julie Mennell, said: “It’s heartening that such a large proportion of students want to stay in this great region after graduating.

“We need to ensure that they have the graduate level job opportunities to help them to do that, as it’s not only a benefit to the students.

“Talented and skilled people like these have such an important part to play in the social, cultural and economic well-being of a region.

“That is why we are launching the Graduates into Enterprise scheme, which will connect our talented leavers with opportunities in their chosen careers, helping boost productivity, the skills agenda and innovation.

“Latest figures reveal how important it is that we retain these types of graduates. Every year, the University of Sunderland and its graduates contribute £428 million to the regional economy, supporting 5,383 jobs.

“Getting a first graduate level job out of university can be a challenge generally, which is why we put in place the Sunderland Futures scheme to encourage our students to take up the support on offer and prepare them for employment from the moment they step on to campus.

“Lack of work experience can be a barrier to securing employment, particularly at graduate level. We know that employers are looking for specific abilities and at Sunderland we work hard to make sure all our students have the skills employers are looking for.

“An impressive 80-90% of graduates go onto a full time job for at least six months on the back of their internship.”

Senior Legal Analyst at Yerra Solutions, a legal consultancy firm based in Doxford Park in Sunderland,Robert Gillis said: “I started off studying at the University of Sunderland, where I did an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature.

“From there I moved straight into a 12 month scholarships internship with the student recruitment team, before I moved on to Yerra Solutions. I was there for about three weeks before being made a full-time permanent member of staff.

“Yerra Solutions has been recruiting from University of Sunderland since day one. Our first batch of graduates were from the University of Sunderland and that’s something that we’re keen to continue.

“I think Sunderland graduates have lots of transferrable skills that they get from a wide range of degrees and that’s something that we’re keen to draw on.

“Businesses ask for skills that graduates may not have realised they possess, so my advice to them is to think about your degree and apply the skills and knowledge that you’ve gained throughout your years of study.”

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