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Are you an employer looking for highly skilled talent?

Last updated 15 September 2020
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In the first of a series of 3 bulletins for employers, our Skills Strategy Manager, Jamie Mackay, sets out some practical advice for finding the talent you need.

Pitch up at a Virtual Careers Fair

Did you know the Enterprise M3 LEP area has five universities – five institutions offering your business high skilled talent from a broad range of courses and specialisms?  

Every Autumn, universities typically run big careers fairs where they invite local, regional and national employers to set up an engaging promotional stand and facilitate discussions with their students to get a first look at potential graduate recruits for the following year. Here are some reasons why employers attend these events:
 

  • Gain access to a large number of candidates in a single setting
  • Increase brand awareness (particularly important for SMEs)
  • Address skills and knowledge gaps (including how to market to Gen Z!)
  • Explore other ways to collaborate with universities
  • Measure a return on investment.

Looking ahead to Autumn 2020 and the careers fairs will be going online. Below are some insights into what our universities will be offering and how to get involved:

Royal Holloway University of London

Taking place on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October (10am – 5pm each day), the Careers Service at Royal Holloway are looking forward to facilitating the Virtual Careers and Placements Fair as part of a jam-packed programme of Virtual Careers Events for the autumn term.

Alongside fairs there will be sector-themed weeks, employer drop-ins, skills sessions and more. The Service writes, “We invite any employers looking to engage with our student community to get in touch with us to discuss the opportunities available. Whether you will have vacancies to fill or would simply like to offer your expertise and advice to our students at this time, we would love to hear from you!

The Virtual Careers and Placements Fair will welcome current undergraduate and postgraduate students and welcome back graduates from the last two years.

To book your place / find out more visit the Virtual Careers and Placements Fair page. Please note there is a booking deadline of August 31.

University of Southampton

Taking place on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 October (10am – 4pm each day), the University of Southampton's Virtual Careers Exchange is the University's largest online Careers Fair of 2020/21. The team write, “Hosted on an amazing 3D platform, this event offers you the opportunity to engage and interact with our talented students and graduates. With text, audio and video functionality available, this fair will connect you with your future workforce.

The Virtual Careers Exchange will welcome current undergraduate and postgraduates alongside university alumni.

To book your place / find out more visit the Virtual Careers Exchange page. Bookings will close early September and early bookings will provide more time to tailor your online booth for maximum impact as well as the time to become familiar with the platform.

University of Surrey

Bookings are now open for the University of Surrey’s flagship Autumn Careers and Placements Fair on the Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 October. The team write, “Held virtually over two days, this fair provides employers a key opportunity to connect with our talented students from undergraduate, postgraduate and also this year’s Alumni to help support the class of 2020. On 7 October the Fair will be open to all employers wishing to engage with all our students. On 8 October, the Fair will specifically be for those employers who have a focus on STEM students in their recruitment plans.

An early bird booking rate is available until 21 August. For more information or for any questions please contact the Employer Engagement team at employers@surrey.ac.uk.

 

University of Winchester

Details of employer events at the University are coming soon. In the meantime, you can contact the Careers Service at careers@winchester.ac.uk.

 

University for the Creative Arts, UCA

The Careers and Employability team write, “At UCA, we liaise closely with employers on many of our programmes. Due to the multi-campus nature of UCA, we don’t tend to have Careers Fairs. We always welcome employers getting in touch to explore ways to engage with our students. If your business would like to learn more, please email careers@uca.ac.uk.

 

If you would like to know more about how the LEP is working with our universities, please contact: Jamie.Mackay@enterprisem3.org.uk.

Upcoming Government webinars

The Department for Education and the Strategic Development Network (SDN) are hosting three webinars for employers, looking at industry placements in the following skill areas:

  • Education and Childcare (10 Sept)
  • Construction (15 Sept)
  • Digital (23 Sept)

In the webinars, you’ll have a chance to hear from employers who are already hosting placements in these roles, how industry placement students might contribute to your workforce development in the current circumstances, and the support now available.

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