Two computing science students are soon to join the ranks of Newcastle University graduates at thriving North East software consultancy and development company, Scott Logic.

Joel Magee and Ashley Matthews are the latest in a long line of graduates to be offered employment by the firm, having been introduced to the company by the University via subsidised placement schemes designed to match student talent to work opportunities.

The business employs 120 staff across its Newcastle headquarters and offices in Edinburgh and Bristol and provides software consulting and development services to global businesses in financial services, energy, healthcare and the public sector. It began working with the University’s Careers Service five years ago through the Newcastle Work Experience programme and Graduate Apprentices scheme.

Since then Scott Logic has been so impressed with the six students it recruited for work experience placements that all have been offered permanent jobs – two of these through the Graduate Apprentices scheme.

Michal Brosh, Resourcing Manager at Scott Logic, said: “The relationship we have with Newcastle University is incredibly important to us. We are going through a period of rapid growth and as our business is knowledge-based, we depend on recruiting the very best talent.

“The Newcastle Work Experience scheme offers a win-win situation for everyone concerned. We get the opportunity to meet and develop top talent that we can then hopefully hire, and students get the chance to get to know us and jump-start their career.”

Joel and Ashley are now completing their studies and will join Scott Logic after they have graduated in August 2014.

Joel said: “My work experience placement provided me with an incredibly positive first experience of my chosen career and it is fantastic that it led to me to being recruited. It’s great that the programme helps students to move straight from their learning and into the world of work.”

The University’s Careers Service has just launched its Newcastle Work Experience summer programme and is offering firms the opportunity to utilise the skills of one of its talented undergraduate or postgraduate students with a project-based work placement.

The 10-week placements cover a wide range of disciplines from business management to marketing and laboratory assistance to engineering.

The Graduate Apprentices scheme has recently been extended until June 2015 to benefit more businesses and offers regional SMEs a way to take the stress and risk out of recruitment. This free service run by Newcastle University includes advertising, candidate screening and shortlisting. It provides companies with a grant to subsidise the first three months of the placement, allowing firms to experience the benefits of employing a graduate before committing to a permanent role. 

Candidates range from fresh graduates to those with up to three years’ work experience through the project, which is financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.

Marc Lintern, Director of Newcastle University’s Career Service, said: “Graduate talent, fresh ideas and cutting-edge skills are now available to regional companies to help them boost their commercial performance thanks to these two subsidised initiatives.

“The Newcastle Work Experience and Graduate Apprentices schemes are designed to bring together rising stars of the business world keen to gain valuable experience in the marketplace with firms whose ambitions for growth they can support with their expertise and enthusiasm.”

• For information on opportunities to work with the Newcastle Work Experience initiative contact Kate Chambers on tel: 0191 208 5183 or email: kate.chambers@ncl.ac.uk and for ways to work with Apprentice Graduates contact Gail Moore on tel: 0191 208 7576 or email: gail.moore@ncl.ac.uk

published on: 3 April 2014