The Easy Route to Employment

‘Bridges and Routes into Engineering’ is a new venture launched by the University of Teesside and funded by One North East's Skills Development Fund, which aims to increase graduate skill, experience and ‘employability’, whilst supporting innovation in small-to-medium size companies within the region.

The fifteen-week placements with North East small-to-medium size engineering companies will earn the successful candidates £125 a week tax-free, and will provide them with valuable skills and experience for their CV. Employers also benefit, gaining additional expertise and resource at no cost, and strengthening links with the University to address skill shortages and connect to other initiatives.

You might think that such a venture applies to Engineering graduates only, but as James Bingham is proving, that is simply not the case.

The 23-year-old, who graduated from the University of Teesside with a 2.2 in Marketing, has no background in engineering, but is benefiting from the opportunity to apply his marketing skills at Marske Site Services (MSS), in Middlesbrough.

He said: “My placement at MSS is particularly exciting because the company is currently expanding its sales and marketing activities. I have learnt a great deal since being at MSS.”

Peter Baxter, Sales Manager at MSS, is working closely with James to help develop his experience of marketing in such a specialist environment. “A friend recommended gaining assistance through a Bridges and Routes into Engineering placement student, and the result has been very satisfying. James has been undertaking varied tasks here, including involvement in new systems, estimating, accounts and market analysis. We have developed a 15-week plan, to ensure he gets a chance to try everything.”

Eligible companies will operate in the engineering sector and have no more than 250 employees. Eligible graduates will reside in the North East or be willing to relocate to the region.

For further information or to register an interest, please contact Faye Thomson on 01642 384426 or e-mail f.thomson@tees.ac.uk.

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