Small to medium Chesterfield businesses are being invited to access expert help to attract, select, recruit and train graduates through a city region-wide funded scheme.

The Sheffield City Region RISE graduate recruitment programme is delivered in partnership with the SCR Growth Hub, University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University and the private sector.

It aims to connect growing businesses with ambitious graduates – and take the hassle out of recruitment. Local organisations that have been involved in the project to date include Chesterfield Champions Casa Hotel and Global Brands.

Kylie Cook, RISE Project Manager, said:-

“RISE has had a fantastic year so far, supporting more than 50 businesses to take on graduates across the region. We work with all sectors and disciplines, and are excited to hear from more SMEs who want to join the final round of 2017. From digital marketing to design engineering, there’s not many roles we haven’t helped to fill in the past.”

Business can participate in RISE, whether they want to appoint a graduate to a six month internship or a permanent post with a six-month probationary period. The only eligibility criteria is that they have less than 250 employees and are based in the Sheffield City Region.

The organisation must commit to an excellent induction, management support, salary and appraisal package. In return, they can access a fully-funded recruitment programme to help manage the process and ensure the best possible result for both employer and employee – plus there’s a £1,000 wage subsidy available.

To find out more about the RISE project click here. The deadline for applications to get involved is September 27th.

Companies are being asked to what extent they want to work with schools to improve employability of ‘leavers’.

The lack of basic skills demonstrated by ‘leavers’ but demanded by employers is a perennial complaint of recruiters.

But little has been done over the years to ensure young people have even the basic skills required by potential employees, including maths, English and the ability to communicate on the phone and solve simple problems.

In its Quarterly Economic Survey for the third quarter of 2017, East Midlands Chamber is asking firms about their experiences of trying to engage with schools for work experience, mentoring, work placements for pupils and teachers and more.

Launched today on the 21 August, the latest survey asks firms in what ways they would consider engaging with schools, from having staff who are school governors, to taking part in careers fairs, participating in classroom-based teaching activities, offering interview training and more.

Chris Hobson, Director of Policy at the Chamber, said:-

“Our survey results for the second quarter of 2017 revealed that two-thirds of firms wanted to recruit new workers but two-thirds of those companies struggled to find suitably skilled staff.

“This has been a problem identified by employers for surveys going back a long, long time. It has gained higher profile in recent years but we want to do is see if there has been any success in closing the skills gap and what levels of engagement employers feel they need to make sure youngsters leaving education have the skills they seek.”

To take part in the survey, visit http://bit.ly/2fYTN9c.

Chamber strategic partner bmi regional is offering two return flights from Birmingham to Nuremburg as a draw prize for completing the Q3 QES. The winners will be advised on 14 September and the tickets will be valid until 31 March.

Earlier this year, bmi regional created a new hub at Birmingham Airport, launching three new European routes from the UK’s second city to Graz, Gothenburg and Nuremberg, to provide improved connectivity to and from the East Midlands.