The brand-new ‘Employer Graduate Guide’ aims to support businesses attract, recruit and keep graduate talent, allowing young people to build their futures right here in North East Lincolnshire.
Developed by the Council’s InvestNEL team, the guide is a practical resource designed to give employers the confidence and tools they need to either take on graduates for the first time, or strengthen the graduate opportunities they already offer.
Whether you’re a small business that’s never hired a graduate before, or an established employer looking to set up your first structured graduate programme, the guide provides straightforward advice, practical tips and clear contacts for support.
Every year, young people from North East Lincolnshire leave to university. Some return home looking for opportunities, others study locally and hope to build their careers nearby. Too often, graduates struggle to find suitable roles and feel they need to move elsewhere to progress.
Matthew Sylvester, Economy and Funding Specialist within the InvestNEL team, believes the support on offer to businesses is key to making meaningful change. He said: “Local businesses have a real opportunity here to change the narrative. Hiring a graduate isn’t just about filling a vacancy. It’s about bringing fresh thinking, new skills, and long-term potential into your team, while helping to keep the brightest local talent in the area.
“This is why we designed the Employer Graduate Guide to be useful from the first page, whether you’re just exploring the idea of hiring a graduate or ready to launch your first scheme.”
Businesses will find inside the guide:
- The benefits of hiring graduates and how they can drive innovation, close skills gaps, and strengthen your future workforce
- A clear overview of the graduate landscape, including what today’s graduates are looking for from employers
- Practical advice on promoting your business to students and graduates, including how to use university careers fairs, job boards, and social media
- Guidance on building strong relationships with universities across the wider region
- A step-by-step approach to designing your first graduate programme, from purpose and planning through to onboarding and progression
- Tips on supporting and retaining graduates once they’ve joined your team
- A handy checklist and a recruitment timeline to help you plan your year
- Contact details for universities, careers services, and support organisations across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and the Midlands
The guide also highlights how the Find Your Space campaign can help you sell North East Lincolnshire as a fantastic place to live, work, and build a career, an essential part of attracting graduates who might otherwise assume their future lies elsewhere.
The Council understands that hiring a graduate for the first time can feel like a big step. That’s why the InvestNEL team, working with partners including TEC Partnership and local university careers services, is on hand to support businesses at every stage.
From shaping a role and advertising it to the right audience, through to exploring funded options like Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, there’s a wealth of practical support available to help you get started.
The Employer Graduate Guide is available now as a free download, with printed copies also available on request:
Businesses interested in hiring graduates, setting up a programme or accessing support are encouraged to contact the InvestNEL team at [email protected].
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