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| The Futures Programme |
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Looking to the Future… The Futures programme has been developed by Staffordshire University, match - funded by the Higher Education Funding Council, to provide support to the business and workforce community within the Staffordshire region during the economic downturn. Redundancy, re-deployment and reduced opportunities to build skills are major effects of recession, no more so than in Staffordshire. Acutely aware that when the recovery takes place, employers throughout the region will need a skilled workforce, the Futures programme focuses on three strands of activity to ensure that Staffordshire retains its employee talent. Firstly, over the next 12 months a variety of short courses ranging from ½ to 5 days in duration will be available free or subsidised to individuals or companies affected by the recession. These will cover the areas of science, technology, maths and engineering (STEM) and leadership and managment. The first courses commence on 22nd & 29th September 2009 and will be looking at IT Service Management. For further information contact the Technology Hub: t: 01785 353377 or E-mail: technologyhub@staffs.ac.uk to check eligibility & availability. Secondly, a programme of “knowledge network” activity co-ordinated with all of our project partners, to ensure the transfer of essential expertise from business to academia and vice-versa, will help to build a stronger commercial community for the future. This will involve near market technology diagnostics and a series of market making events starting in October 2009 and running into the summer of 2010.
Finally, the retention of high level skills within the county is key to future prosperity of the Staffordshire economy. Working with the Careers Centre within the University, graduates (from any university) that are unemployed or under threat of redundancy can receive up to date advice and guidance on the job market for free. Workshops run by professional careers advisers provide tips, advice and tactics to use to track down advertised and hidden vacancies, produce strong and impressive job applications and prepare candidates for the challenges of the graduate recruitment process. Contact the Careers Centre for more details on 01782-294991 or see www.staffs.ac.uk/careers
Direct links to West Midlands Graduate Internships generates valuable work experience placements to benefit graduates but also to assist employers, who require the skills of a graduate but cannot fund a long term position. There is no wage cost to employers, and graduates gain access to Jobseekers' Allowance and other benefits while they are on the 1 - 6 month internship; internships are 8 - 30 hours per week.
Log on to http://westmidlandsgraduateinternships.co.uk/ and contact the Careers Centre for further details Tel: 01782-294 991 “The Futures Programme is here to provide positive and immediate support to the Staffordshire region. Building on employer engagement, through the provision of a focussed knowledge intensive support programme, this initiative can address the immediate impacts of the recession on high level, skilled individuals and local businesses. Our aim is to retain talent within the region and strengthen business resilience for the future, says Programme Manager, Sian Dunning.”
If you would like further details about any aspect of the Futures Programme contact Sian Dunning, Programme Manager on 07766 520280 or email info@staffs.ac.uk
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