Feature
Graduate expertise brings an online boost to local companies
The university is at the forefront of a new initiative to inject up-to-the-minute technical expertise into local businesses.
Left to right: James Hearn, Nicky Forbes and Jorrit Jorrisma with some of the outdoor and travel bags produced by the company
Thanks to £3.8m of funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), a new scheme entitled ‘Unite with Business’ is offering small companies across the North West the opportunity to take on a graduate for 20 days at no cost to themselves. This funding is being matched by six universities across the region, bringing over £7m worth of support to assist businesses with a particular task or short project.
One example of the value of the programme is Cumbrian-based graduate James Hearn, who was recently appointed to the role of online researcher for local firm Millican, a young travel and outdoor lifestyle company, based in Keswick, Cumbria.
Over the past eighteen months, Millican founders Jorritt Jorritsma and his wife Nicky Forbes have expanded the company and their products are now sold in UK stockists such as Selfridges and Farlows, London. However, they
had little time or resource available to develop a crucial online marketing and social media programme.
“We were delighted to have the technical input as well as the fresh focus James offered”, commented Jorrit. “He has completed a detailed programme of online activity for the brand that we’ll be able to implement over the coming 12–18 months.”
James says: “Working with Millican has been a brilliant and valuable experience. I have been able to make good effective use of my existing skills to help the company develop and initiate a social media programme to increase awareness of the brand. The project has raised my awareness of this type of work and I hope to be doing more of it in the future with other local businesses.”
Donna Edwards, Managing Director of Northwest Business Link says: “Initiatives such as ‘Unite with Business’ are more important than ever as they will help to speed up the region’s
economic recovery. It is a welcome addition to the region’s business support offer and creating jobs for talented graduates will be essential in developing the entrepreneurs and managers of the future.”
Ewan Pullan, the university’s ‘Unite with Business’ project manager, explained: “This programme offers local companies free, fast, simple and straightforward access to specialist skills, with none of the risk and cost associated with employment or short-term recruitment.
“Popular areas for graduates to work in include IT, marketing and websites but there are no limits to particular areas of expertise.”
For more information on ‘Unite with Business’ please contact the university’s Business Placement Service on 01228 616315 or email
jobsandplacements@cumbria.ac.uk
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