GO Wales

The GO Wales project (Graduate Opportunities Wales) is a Wales-based employability and business support project. Managed by HEFCW (the higher education funding council for Wales) and delivered in partnership by all higher education institutions in Wales, the project is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and has also received funding from the European Union’s Social Fund.

Background

The GO Wales project started in April 2003 from an amalgamation of the Cymru Prosper Wales work placement scheme, the Graduate Wales project with the addition of a range of additional services. Its inception followed a period of consultation with key client groups to ensure the project developed services that met the aims of the project and of its customers.

Aims

The project’s overall strategic aims are to upskill the Welsh economy by providing services that better enable graduates and businesses to work together for mutual benefit. Wales has aims to become a knowledge economy and a skilled and adaptable workforce is key to fully achieving this aim. The GO Wales project provides a range of services that encourage and facilitate students and graduates to develop their careers in Wales and also for businesses in Wales to access these skills.

Services

As of autumn 2007, services on offer are:

Work Placements

A short-term period of project-based employment organised and monitored by GO Wales staff. The employee is a higher education student or a graduate and the employer is a business based in Wales, normally an SME (small to medium sized enterprise). The placee gains experience and the employer can save time and money by using the scheme as many placement salaries are subsidised by GO Wales. This saves the company money, thereby allowing them to use the scheme to access highly skilled staff to complete projects that are of strategic benefit to the company whilst receiving some financial support. Independent research shows that 71% of placees continue to be employed by the company at the end of the work placement period thereby proving the project is creating skilled jobs in Wales. All candidates are offered the opportunity to gain a City & Guilds Professional Development Award during their work placement.

Work Tasters

These are short, flexible periods of unpaid work experience which are organised and monitored by GO Wales. They are designed to encourage students to make informed career choices by gaining experience of particular industries or roles.

GO Wales Jobs

A web-based service advertising graduate-level jobs in Wales. Companies can advertise their vacancies and job-seekers can search for jobs and apply online. Both advertising vacancies and applying for vacancies are free of charge.

Continuing Professional Development

Clients of this service are SMEs. These companies may not have the resources available to larger companies for staff development and training. A company that has hosted a GO Wales work placement can then access a training fund which is designed to assist with the business-specific training and development costs of that individual.

Careers Advice and Information

GO Wales services are primarily delivered by University Careers services who have Careers Advisers to provide careers advice and guidance to eligible individuals. GO Wales also produces a range of information sheets on relevant subjects for client groups.

External links

* [http://www.gowales.co.uk]