Member Article

Website targets student placement demand

The employment market has become a fluid entity where businesses and people come into contact while the necessity exists and move apart when the need fades. Student placements have become an integral part of this process, filling the staffing gaps for businesses and providing relevant experience for students.

Jamie Owens, short-listed for the 2015 Spark Business competition, run by Stockport Business and Innovation Centre (SBIC), is aiming to meet today’s commercial demand for student placements through a fast, efficient and user-friendly platform.

Jamie’s business, Grumpy Vest, is a database of student profiles from which businesses can create posts looking for students. Details from the post will instantly be used to search through the database, matching and notifying all suitable candidates and giving them the opportunity to respond.

Grumpy Vest will allow full information about posts available, including information on start dates, the duration of contract, student availability and the ideal subject being studied. Making searches tailored for both users and companies.

Jamie says: “Business workloads can fluctuate across the year, sometimes unexpectedly. Hiring freelancers to fill the gap can be expensive for a small business, but if you can find the right student placement, it can be beneficial to both the business and the student.”

Having previously worked in the events industry, Jamie is targeting the events and marketing sectors in the North West with his Grumpy Vest idea, but intends to roll the venture out across the UK and to other industries as the business grows.

Jamie believes winning the 2015 Spark Business competition and a package of support worth £15,000, including a year’s free office space at SBIC which is owned by Stockport Council and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, will allow him to build his website platform and develop a Grumpy Vest app.

He comments: “I have had a positive reaction to my idea from professionals, and I believe Grumpy Vest has everything going for it. It provides a valuable service for businesses in today’s economic climate and it gives students the opportunity to gain valuable work skills and experience.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Welton .