e-skills UK – Company Profile

Every year more than 10,000 new graduates turn up for their first day as an IT professional. They arrive from an increasingly varied background to do an increasingly varied range of job roles. How ready are they for what lies ahead?

As part of a major initiative with employers and universities to boost technology-related higher education in the UK, supported by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, e-skills commissioned research on the extent to which graduates are prepared for work in a business environment.

Employers spoke highly of the technical and business competence of new graduates. They praised their enthusiasm, positive attitude, passion, creativity and team working skills but they remain concerned about the ‘employability’ of new graduates. Criticism of new recruits still includes a lack of interpersonal skills as well as a limited appreciation of how an organisation works. Areas of concern include a lack of problem solving skills, poor attention to detail, an apparent reluctance to show initiative, take ownership of work or make decisions.

Evidence from employers and universities indicates that that one of the best ways of developing ‘business-ready’ interpersonal skills is through business placements. Many excellent placement schemes exist already in higher education but sadly, students are not making the most of them. Only 20% of UK IT undergraduates participate in placements as part of their degree compared to a degree-wide European average of 55%.

e-skills UK is working to transform the way young people think about business placements and make it easier for them, their universities and employers to participate.

To help achieve this, employers such as British Airways, CA, GlaxoSmithKline, Google, IBM, Network Rail and P&G have developed an IT internship programme that builds on and adds value to the great work already being done. The programme aims to increase significantly the number of students undertaking placements, and to ensure that the skills and knowledge acquired are judged against standards set by employers.

The e-skills internship programme encourages more employers to get involved and supports them in providing a valuable experience for students. It also helps universities to recognise the skills and knowledge developed during a placement.

To find out more, click on the button below...

www.e-skills.com/internship

We have produced a series of videos about life on the e-skills Internship programme with GlaxoSmithKline, IBM & Network Rail...

View more videos...

Click on the button below to view the rest of the e-skills Internship videos:

e-skills Internship Videos