Latest news: Job hope for Glasgow graduates

Glasgow City Council has launched a new scheme, vowing to pay employers 50% of the salary costs for newly recruited graduates. 17/11/2011

The Commonwealth Graduate Fund will help employers by offering up to £10,000 per graduate for one year. The new scheme follows the Council’s Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative, which has helped approximately 1,800 Glasgow school leavers into apprenticeships since its launch three years ago.

It is hoped that the new fund will convince more employers to take on university leavers.

‘Graduates account for 32% of our workforce - well above the UK average - and I want those leaving university to believe they can fulfil their dreams in this city,’ explained Councillor Gordon Matheson.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said, ‘We warmly welcome this move by the City Council. We know the labour market is especially tough for young new entrants at this time at all skill levels.’

The scheme which cost £10million will provide the jobs as a legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth games. It follows several other initiatives which also include the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative and the Commonwealth Jobs Fund.

Mr Matheson also announced plans that include the creation of youth enterprise zones, offering young people mentoring, business start-up advice, training and support as well as micro-finance.

‘We have already seen the positive impact of the two existing Commonwealth funds on youth unemployment in Glasgow,' he said.

To find out which other companies are recruiting search graduate jobs.