The Graduate Apprentice

The Graduate Apprentice is an innovative programme managed by Birmingham Future’s [http://www.birminghamfuture.co.uk] Graduates into Employment Committee, in conjunction with Graduate Advantage [http://www.graduateadvantage.co.uk] .

The scheme sets out to identify an exceptional graduate each year and offer them a structured, salaried twelve month placement that provides invaluable work experience within three diverse companies in the professional and financial service sectors in Birmingham.

As part of Birmingham Future's remit, the scheme also aims to promote the broad range of career opportunities that Birmingham can offer graduates from across the UK.

Detail

The initial idea of The Graduate Apprentice was dreamt up as a marketing tool for the West Midland Graduate Fair in early 2006. However it quickly became apparent that it could be much more than that; a vehicle that profiled the issues around graduate recruitment and retention and a workable initiative that would offer a graduate a unique opportunity to gain a broad range of experience in a variety of differing business environments- but within a formalised structure.

The Graduate Apprentice 2006

The placement companies for the first Graduate Apprentice programme where; big 4 accountancy firm, Deloitte, NHS Finance and small digital creative agency, 3Form [http://www.3form.co.uk] .

Darvinder Kang, from Burton-on-Trent and a graduate of University of Sheffield (BA Hons Business Studies and Information Management) was selected from 100 applicants to become the first Graduate Apprentice in September 2006. [cite news |title=Birmingham Update - Education |url=http://www.locatebirmingham.com/file/244 |publisher=Locate Birmingham] He was the first in his family to attend university and to set his own career path away from the family business.

The Graduate Apprentice 2007

For the second year of The Graduate Apprentice, property management firm LMM [http://www.lmm.co.uk] replaced NHS Finance as the second placement.

The second Graduate Apprentice was Jason Norris, a 22-year-old originally from Devon and a graduate of Durham University (BA Hons Business and Administration). [cite news |title=Birmingham Future selects the second Graduate Apprentice |url=http://www.birmingham-future.co.uk/news.cfm?news_id=147 |publisher=Birmingham Future]

You can read about Jason's year as the Graduate Apprentice here: [http://www.jasonnorris.co.uk]

The Graduate Apprentice 2008

Mayur Murali was selected as The Graduate Apprentice 2008 by the panel of the employer representative in mid June 2008. The 21 year old, originally from Buckinghamshire and a graduate from the University of Warwick (Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences) was selected from a very strong field of applicants from all over the UK as well as an increasing number of international students. The final five candidates included individuals from China and India as well as strong graduates from the UK.

As part of his formalised year, Mayur will spend four months each, with Deloitte in Birmingham, property management company LMM and with VC Consulting [http://www.vc-consulting.co.uk] . VC Consulting replacing 3Form as the third of the placements. [cite news |title=Birmingham Future selects the third Graduate Apprentice |url=http://www.birmingham-future.co.uk/news.cfm?news_id=191 |publisher=Birmingham Future]

References