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Why was GAP developed?
Across the UK, graduate vacancies have fallen drastically and are now approaching levels not seen since the 1991 recession. In response to this situation, Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster have worked alongside Business in the Community to create a programme centred on providing graduates with meaningful work experience and a valuable qualification in a time they may have otherwise been struggling to gain employment. GAP is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning under the Steps to Work programme.
What does GAP look like?
GAP is a work placement programme, lasting up to 26 weeks, in which graduates will complete a project or piece of work, alongside studying for an EDI Certification in Leadership and Management.
The graduate will work normal business hours, Monday - Thursday.
Given that GAP will be delivered through Steps to Work, graduates must actively seek employment throughout the duration of their placement. The implication is that a graduate may gain employment and therefore will leave before the end of the 26 weeks. If this happens, it is anticipated that the GAP Team will place another graduate within your organisation if desired.
How quickly can I get a graduate?
Given that GAP is delivered through Steps to Work, all of our graduates are referred from their local Jobs and Benefits office. This means we cannot give a definite date as to when we will be able to match you with the right graduate. Some placements are filled within a matter of days, whilst others can take several weeks.
We believe that finding the right fit is crucial, and we work hard to get a graduate in the right geographic location with the suite of skills that you require. Once we find the right match for your placement opportunity, we will refer the graduate to you immediately.
Are there any costs involved?
Participating in GAP will not require any fees. GAP graduates may be eligible to receive their current rate of benefit and an additional weekly training bonus/top-up. However, we do require that you cover all work-related travel expenses incurred by the graduate.
We will also be asking each placement provider to make a voluntary contribution of £1000 which will be payable to Business in the Community during the first month of the graduate placement. Every penny of this contribution will go back to the graduate as a training subsidy to cover expenses incurred during their placement. We can discuss the details of this once we source you a graduate.
What are the benefits?
GAP will give placement providers the opportunity to:
- Benefit from the fresh enthusiasm and the additional skills that a graduate can bring;
- Utilise graduate talent to complete business improvement projects or a piece of work with specific deliverables that will result in added-value for their organisation;
- Benefit from an employer subsidy if their organisation offers permanent employment to a GAP graduate;
- Position their organisation as an employer of choice;
- and Demonstrate their organisation's commitment to the wider community in addition to contributing to a sustainable future for Northern Ireland.
What types of organisations can be placement providers?
Graduates can undertake placements in organisations of all sizes throughout Northern Ireland, in the private, voluntary, and public sectors.
Our criteria for any host organisation is that will provide a really good placement, ideally with an opportunity to enhance the graduate's skills and ultimately employability.
What are my responsibilities?
All placement providers are required to provide a meaningful work placement that is properly supported and conforms to legal requirements. The placement must equip graduates with employability skills and behaviors, with the overall aim to enhance their job prospects.
For further information, please refer to the document - ‘Placement Provider Agreement’, which details all of the responsibilities for placement providers.
Are all graduates eligible to take part in GAP?
Yes, all graduates are eligible to take part, as long as they meet the following criteria:
In addition, we ask that all graduates applying to GAP are hard-working, enthusiastic, and committed to making their work placement a meaningful experience.
What is the recruitment and selection process?
We will ask all placement providers to complete the form Your Placement Opportunity, detailing information about their organisation and the role they would like a graduate to undertake and whether they are supplying an application form or accepting CVs.
Once this is completed, the GAP Team will share this information with graduates who have been approved to go on the Department for Employment and Learning’s Steps to Work programme. Graduates will then apply for their preferred placements.
Our ability to match you with a graduate is determined by the skill-set and preferences of the graduate and the type of work placement they are seeking. Once we find a suitable graduate, we will contact you immediately.
It is the responsibility of the placement provider as to how graduates are shortlisted, and/or interviewed, and/or selected. It is our expectation that the organisation's usual selection procedures will be applied.
Once the placement provider selects a graduate, they should let the GAP Team know and we will contact the graduate directly to inform them of the placement offer.
The graduate will enter the Steps to Work programme and the placement will commence as soon as possible.
How is GAP different from other graduate programmes?
Although there are other valuable graduate programmes, all parties involved in developing GAP thought that it was important to offer graduates a more comprehensive range of provision, from which they could select the most suitable programme.
In addition, the numbers on these graduate programmes are finite and therefore, many graduates will struggle to find a placement, especially given the current recession.
Furthermore, GAP focuses on improving the employability skills of graduates and offers the opportunity for organisations across all sectors to benefit from graduate talent.
What about job substitution?
It is important that you do not use a GAP graduate placement as a substitute for a current job vacancy or to replace the work of an existing member of staff.
If placements are unpaid, how will you ensure that graduates are not exploited?
We are committed to working with placement organisations to ensure that GAP offers genuine opportunities to enhance the employability and career prospects of graduates. We can provide guidance to placement organisations about how to set up and how to get the best out of a work placement.
What if any problems occur?
Should an issue arise in the course of the graduate placement, please contact the GAP Team for guidance.
How do I contact the GAP Team?
GAP
Business in the Community
Bridge House
Paulett Avenue
Belfast, BT5 4HD
T: 029 9046 0606
F: 0870 460 1731
e: employers@gapni.com