GRADUATES of a North-East university involved in Foundation for Jobs have credited internships with helping them secure employment.

Teesside University graduates Ben Robinson, Emma Limon, and Nick Twiname have found jobs after being amongst 80 of the institution’s students, who graduated in 2012, to take part in the three month internship scheme.

The university, which opened its Darlington campus in 2011, also works with Foundation for Jobs to secure internship places for young people.

The national award winning Foundation for Jobs, a private/public sector campaign to tackle youth unemployment, led by The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council and the Darlington Partnership, views internships and work experience as a vital tool in giving young people practical skills that will help them into work.

More than 120 young people in Darlington have benefitted since Foundation for Jobs was launched either through graduate internships or Job Centre Plus work experience placements.  
The trio credit the Teesside University scheme, which also led to employment for many of the others taking part, for giving them the knowledge, experience and confidence to excel in the job market.

The scheme, which ran from January to March, is designed to offer graduates paid work experience with firms in the North-East and help them kick start their careers.

As well as work experience, the internship scheme also included fortnightly workshops at the University which covered subjects such as interview techniques, CVs and applications.
Mr Robinson, 23, who graduated with a BA (Hons) International Business Management, was placed at Entrust in Newcastle, and has since been offered a six month contract with the company that he hopes will turn into a permanent position.

He said: “I applied for the internship scheme because it seemed like a great opportunity to enhance my knowledge.

“I learned a lot of theory during my degree and this was an opportunity to put that theory into practice.

“The three months were so in depth and it has brought me on leaps and bounds. It has been a breath of fresh air to have an opportunity like this available.

“I will be approaching the next six months in the same way I have the last three – finding out more about the company and hopefully excelling in my role.”
Mr Twiname, 30, graduated with a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise.
He completed a successful internship at Time Out of the Box and has since been successful in gaining a position on the Marks & Spencer Graduate Management Programme.
He said: “It is an amazing opportunity that can launch my career.
“The internship scheme and the careers service in general at Teesside University have been so beneficial and I feel a lot more confident now going into Marks & Spencer’s Graduate Management Programme as a result of the support I received.”

Emma Limon, 22, graduated with a BSc (Hons) Psychology and completed her internship at Sanctuary Supported Living, where she has now been taken on as a Carers Outreach Worker.
She said: “The internship has been a really positive experience and I have learned a lot about the sector. I am happy to have secured a job with the company which is relevant to my degree.”
Professor Eileen Martin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Student Experience), said: “Here at Teesside University we want to equip our graduates with all the skills they need to find employment or start their own businesses. We understand that employers are often looking for experience and entrepreneurship alongside qualifications and these schemes provide an ideal opportunity for graduates to gain vital experience and enhance their CVs.”